More than a million viewers! 

After the record-breaking year of 2016, Slovak cinema is again hitting the peak of attendance. In 2017, a total of 6,692,871 viewers attended Slovak cinemas. That represents an 18.1% increase on 2016 and it is the second highest attendance since 1993. The gross box office takings increased by 18.91% year-on-year. Viewers paid 34,513,049 EUR in total for tickets, which is the highest amount in Slovakia´s independent history (January 1, 1993). The share of all Slovak films and majority co-productions has risen during previous years to an unimaginable 18.9%. The most attended domestic film was romantic comedy All or Nothing (d. Marta Ferencová).

Four national premieres in 2017 reached the TOP 10 most attended Slovak films from 1993 to 2017 and All or Nothing with 340,503 viewers is now in third place. Two national titles had more than 300,000 viewers (All or Nothing and The Line (d. Peter Bebjak)).

The number of produced Slovak films in 2017 is also record-setting. Alltogether, there were 27 Slovak films and co-productions (of which 14 minority co-productions). In 2017, national production brought not only quantity but also a greater diversity of genres which was one of the reasons that domestic films brought in the greatest audience numbers since 1993.

Another record was set by the amount of premieres. In 2017, 31 Slovak and co-production films were released in cinemas – 21 feature films (including 10 minority co-productions), 9 documentary films (including 3 minority co-productions) and 1 animated title produced as minority co-production. Two medium-length documentaries were also distributed - Hotel Sunrise (d. Mária Rumanová) and Varga (d. Soňa Maletzová). Two short animated films were released as pre-films.

The most attended Slovak documentary in 2017 was The Lust for Power (d. Tereza Nvotová) with 15,621 viewers. Her feature film, Filthy was the most successful minority co-production with 50,564 viewers. However, the record-holder in the number of films released during 2017 was Jan Hřebejk, who presented to Slovak audience - The Family Friend, Deserter and Suitor from the trilogy named Garden Store.

In 2016, average attendance for the all Slovak films or majority co-productions increased to 31.83 viewers per screening. Last year, however, it almost doubled, to 61.63 viewers. All Slovak films (not only premieres), including minority co-productions, were viewed by 377,094 cinema goers in 2016, representing a 6.6% share in the total attendance. The number of viewers of all Slovak films and majority co-productions in 2017 was nearly four times higher – 1,430,504. Their market share grew up to 18.9% (21.37% including minority co-production).

published: 07.02.2018
updated: 24.01.2019