Slovak Film Commission

The adjustments to the Audiovisual Industry Support Program of the Slovak Audiovisual Fund have led to the establishment of the Slovak Film Commission (SFC) as a new organizational unit of the Fund. With this step Slovakia has gained another impetus to become a more attractive and accessible partner for foreign film productions or domestic investors.

The main tasks of the SFC include:

intensive promotion and marketing of Slovakia as a competitive film country with suitable conditions for audiovisual production,
presentation and mediation of creative business opportunities for Slovak audiovisual professionals with emphasis on all stages of film production,
presentation of related services and individual regions of Slovakia in order to increase employment of the population and professionals in the audiovisual field,
to strengthen the demand for film production services (technology rentals, production and postproduction services, animation, catering, etc.)

SFC intends to achieve these goals through active presentation in Slovakia and on international film markets, personal meetings and specialized events. SFC created and continuously updates a public database on film infrastructure in the Slovak Republic, launched a website as well as printed materials with information on the Slovak audiovisual environment, administers the provision of expert advice and maintains active cooperation with foreign film commissions and professional audiovisual organizations. SFC became a member of the European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN) and Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI).

Primary focus of SFC is to attract producers of feature, documentary and animated audiovisual works to Slovakia and its regions and to progressively streamline the benefits of audiovisual production in Slovak regions for both foreign and domestic producers and investors. The secondary objective is to support tourism in individual regions.

The Slovak Film Commission is your first contact for shooting in Slovakia.

Connecting professionals and providing expert guidance, the Slovak Film Commission is here for anyone seeking to create audiovisual content in Slovakia, whether it be a feature, a documentary, animation, TV series or a commercial.

The SFC can assist with:

finding a production partner and putting you in touch with Slovak film professionals and service providers;
obtaining relevant information about shooting possibilities in the Slovak Republic;
consultation on the cash rebate system;
searching for locations & negotiating film permits;
handling formalities;
organizing leisure activities for film crews.

Our Team

Zuzana Bieliková

Film commissioner

On June 1st 2018, Zuzana Bieliková was appointed the manager of SFC. She is a Prague´s FAMU production graduate having worked on various professional positions in film production for almost 15 years. She has also actively devoted herself to foreign film marketing, where she has gained worthy knowledge of the current situation on the film and television market in an international context. She has experience with managing projects for important film and television events (Marché du film in Cannes, European Film Market in Berlin, Discop and other) as well as a large database of contacts of film professionals.

Jana Smokoňová

Project coordinator

Jana graduated Academy of Performing Arts and is curator for film, dance and theatre programme in cultural and creative centre Nová Cvernovka.
She worked in digital agency Follow Bubble based in Prague in the role of copywriter and
director of commercials.
In March 2019, she was shortlisted for final round of Young Directors competition in Prague.

The Slovak Audiovisual Fund

The Slovak Audiovisual Fund, operating since 2010, is the main public funding institution for the Slovak audiovisual culture and industry. The aim of the Fund is to support the entire film value chain - development, production, distribution and promotion of audiovisual works, cinemas, festivals, research, training activities, innovations and technologies. Recipients of financing from the Fund shall be individuals or legal entities registered in the Slovak Republic.

The Fund has the following essential goals:

to increase cashflow in the audiovisual culture and industry
to encourage the flexibility and effectiveness of the financial support
accountability of the support recipients
extended forms of available support (grants, loans and stipends)
support to all parts of the film value chain: development, production, distribution, promotion and sales, festivals and other events, cinemas, research, education, publishing, workshops, etc., development of the Slovak audiovisual industry and its infrastructure
transparent and professional decision making

Total support provided (standard grants for audiovisual culture):

average 2010 – 2015 = 6.2 mil. €
2016 = 7.5 mil. €
2017 = 7.9 mil. €
2018 = 8.0 mil. €
2019 = 8.0 mil. €
2020 = 11.3 mil €
2021 = 9.6 mil €

The maximum given to one standard grant project/application:

Development – 30 000 €
Production – 2 mil. €
Minority co-production – 200 000 €
Distribution – 25 000 €
International promotion – 50 000 €
Festival – 300 000 €
Research, training, publishing – 50 000 €
Technological development – 200 000 €
Individual scholarship – 5 000 €

MINORITY CO-PRODUCTIONS:

The co-production project has to fulfill the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-production criteria.
The co-production which applies for a co-production grant has to have a Slovak co-producer onboard who submits the grant application for a minority co-production.
Deadlines are usually in September and February of the current year.
Minority co-production projects shall be supported only once.
The maximum grant allotted for minority co-productions is 200,000 EUR per one project. The granted sum varies according to the submitted project (in 2020 was approved 863 000 EUR for minority co-productions in total).
Minority co-producers can enter the co-production in all the phases of film production, except for development phase (i.e. in the production/post-production phase).
Co-production grants can only be awarded to feature, animated and documentary films intended for theatrical release. TV series are not supported in this scheme.

For more info, visit: www.avf.sk