The Czech Republic and Prague have created new production guidelines in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic, allowing productions to return including Disney+’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. If you remember, production was forced to halt earlier this year due to the scare.
The new regulations were drawn up by the Czech Audiovisual Producers’ Association in cooperation with the Czech Film Fund and the European Institute for Health and Safety in Film Industry.
“Film production as a significant part of the cultural and creative industry is essentially a type of manufacturing and an independent sector. The severe restrictions were a result of necessary measures that the Czech Republic was forced to adopt, affecting all areas of society,” said Minister of Culture Lubomir Zaoralek.
Prague has had a relatively low number of COVID-19 cases, so it’s feasible that studios such as Disney, Netflix and Amazon.
“Three-quarters of audiovisual productions in the Czech Republic stopped in March. In full compliance with the Ministry of Health, filmmakers are no longer affected by measures restricting cultural and sporting events and large gatherings. We therefore consider audiovisual production to be resumed,” said Helena Bezdek Frankova, director of the Czech Film Fund. “Even during the state of emergency, however, the incentive program ran without interruption, the Czech Film Fund continued to register audiovisual projects, and payment of incentives was not delayed for those projects where all conditions stipulated by law were met,” she continued.
Some of the highlights – foreign actors and crew members will have to show negative test results before leaving the country and entering Czech Republic. They will also be given a second test upon arriving, and will remain quarantined for a maximum of 72 hours. Right now, other countries require 14 days.
There are other series which may return in addition. Amazon has Carnival Row and The Wheel of Time, while Netflix has 473 Transatlantic and Margret. Justin Kurzel’s war thriller Ruin starring Margot Robbie is another major one.
U.S. Ambassador Stephen B. King emphasized the importance of reviving film production in the Czech Republic, “With its beautiful castles, iconic landscapes, and talented support capabilities, the Czech Republic has always been an attractive film destination for Hollywood. While this crisis has rocked the industry, I am glad that we can start looking to the future and continue this cooperation, the roots of which film historians have traced to the late 1800s. I look forward to welcoming back our filmmakers, actors, and crews.”
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According to the Institute of Health Information and Statistics, the basic replication number of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the Czech Republic at the onset of the epidemic in the first week of March was 2.64. This figure has since been steadily declining to the current 0.7. An R-number of less than 1 indicates a decrease in the presence of the virus in the population. It indicates the number of people that the disease can be transmitted to by one infected person.
For Marvel fans dying for something new this comes as good news. It’s possible that The Falcon and The Winter Soldier will arrive this summer on schedule.
SOURCE: Czech Film Commission
