Veronika Slámová, head of the Czech Audiovisual Fund, has reassured the audiovisual industry that the institution's selective support programs for 2027 will not be affected by the latest uncertainty surrounding its funding and governance. In a recorded address to delegates at the Heart of Europe Festival in Warsaw, she said the government had agreed to approve the Fund's 2027 budget without changes.

Slámová was unable to attend the festival in person due to developments involving the Fund. She explained that the institution had been asked the previous week to make substantial cuts to its budget for next year. The Fund's board opposed the proposal, arguing that the reductions would generate no savings for the state budget, affect the institution's own revenues from audiovisual levies and disrupt an already announced and publicly presented selective support program.

The situation escalated when Petr Dvořák, chairman of the Fund's board, was dismissed by the Minister of Culture. The government also announced plans to amend the legislation governing the institution, although the Fund had not yet received the proposed text.

According to Slámová, statements by the Minister of Culture indicated that the planned changes could involve significant funding reductions and changes to the composition of all the Fund's bodies, including its board of directors, four specialized councils and pool of experts. She described the developments as a major intervention in the integrity of the Fund's work, noting that the institution was still implementing the transformation introduced by the 2025 legislative amendment.

In response, 16 associations representing the Czech audiovisual sector signed a joint statement and requested a meeting with government representatives. The meeting took place on October 28, with the Prime Minister and Minister of Culture in attendance. According to Slámová, the parties agreed that the government would approve the Fund's budget for 2027 without changes at its meeting on Monday.

The Fund was also assured that the government did not intend to jeopardize the support system or film incentives. The Minister of Culture issued a public statement reassuring investors that commitments under the incentive scheme would be honored. Further discussions are expected in the coming days.

Slámová emphasized that the current uncertainty would not affect the Fund's selective support for 2027. She also defended the importance of the audiovisual support system and film incentives, describing them as a predictable framework that encourages international investment, maintains production infrastructure and supports Czech culture.

She highlighted the growing contribution of businesses distributing and exhibiting audiovisual content to the financing model. This year, the Fund has generated record revenues from levies paid by television broadcasters, Czech and international video-on-demand platforms, cinemas and retransmission operators.

According to Slámová, the combination of industry contributions and public funding provides a sustainable basis for the future of the Czech audiovisual sector. She called on the industry to support efforts to explain and defend the Fund's role and its financing model.