On April 29, Martin Šmatlák was unanimously re-elected by the Board of the Slovak Audiovisual Fund as the Fund´s executive director for the next five-year period. Martin Šmatlák became the first director of the Fund after its establishment in 2009.

As presented in his project of the Fund´s development and management strategy, Mr. Šmatlák puts priority to the continuous efforts of the Audiovisual Fund as follows: focus on all stages of the value chain of film production, help to reduce producers´ risks and enhance their competitiveness locally and internationally, provide an effective support of distribution and promotion of Slovak cinema and continuous support of European film distribution in Slovakia, put accent on new distribution possibilities in the digital age, pay a special attention to films for children and youth and to film and media education. Important role in the Fund´s development will be the inclusion of the Slovak audiovisual industry to the strategy of Slovak cultural policy and to the long-term development strategy of creative industry. Mr. Šmatlák proposed to enhance international profile and contacts of the Fund and to help to increase international co-operation of Slovak film industry and culture.

As already announced in January 2014, the Fund developed a new program for audiovisual industry support, based on 20% cash rebate of certified private expenses spent for film or TV production in the Slovak Republic. The scheme is currently under consideration of the European Commission and awaits official approval.

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published: 07.05.2014
updated: 09.05.2014