Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř (for Motoristé) told the Czech News Agency on 27 October 2026 that the ministry would remove Petr Dvořák, the former director of Czech Television, from the head of the board of the Státní fond audiovize. According to the minister, the reason is a differing view on the fund's management and insufficient cooperation in finding savings.[1][2]
Dispute over the Fund's Budget
Dvořák was elected to the position in June 2025 on behalf of the ministry under the government of Petr Fiala (ODS). In the week before 27 October 2026, the government did not approve the draft budget of the fund for 2027. During negotiations with the fund's management, Klempíř demanded a reduction of the planned support for audiovisual production by approximately 400 million crowns. The board disagreed and insisted on 787.5 million crowns, the amount it had agreed on in September when approving the short-term concept for the following year.[1][2] According to Novinky.cz, the fund stated that the reduction would not bring any savings to the state budget, since the minimum subsidy for audiovisual support for 2027 is set at 228 million crowns.[3]
Provisional Budget Regime
Klempíř said that if the budget is not approved by the end of 2026, the fund will operate under a provisional budget regime. It could then draw at most one-twelfth of the funds under the 2026 budget each month.[1][2] According to the minister, the fund confirmed that even under the provisional regime it would be able to finance grant calls under the 2027 concept, and is counting on cost-saving measures, mainly in operations. According to the minister, already allocated film incentives are not at risk. The ministry records the fund's liabilities for 2026 to 2028 at approximately 3.5 billion crowns. According to Klempíř, the provisional regime may affect the payment schedule, but not the recognized entitlements.[1][2]
According to Novinky.cz, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) was to meet that same afternoon with representatives of the audiovisual sector, including representatives of the fund. The fund's spokeswoman, Pavlína Vítková, did not confirm Dvořák's participation.[3]
The Board's Position on the Minister's Request from 23 October 2026
On 23 October 2026, the board of the Státní fond audiovize opposed the request of Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř (Motoristé) to reduce the planned support for 2027 by approximately 400 million crowns. According to the Czech News Agency, all 15 members of the board supported maintaining the amount at 787.5 million crowns. The reduction would have meant a drop of roughly half, to 387.5 million crowns.[4] The minister discussed the reduction with the fund's director, Veronika Slámová, on 21 October.[4]
The board stated that the reduction would not bring any savings to the state budget, since the minimum state subsidy for audiovisual support for 2027 is set by law at 228 million crowns. The rest of the planned amount is covered by the fund's own revenues, mainly audiovisual fees.[4] The support plan was approved by resolution on 2 September 2026, and individual calls have been announced since October.[4][5] On 19 October 2026, the government interrupted discussion of the fund's draft budget for 2027 and its outlook for 2028 and 2029.[4] According to Novinky.cz, the board described a reduction below the statutory minimum as being in conflict with the law.[5]
Further Details on the Fund's Budget from 23 October 2026
According to the fund's board, the amount of 787.5 million crowns had already been allocated to calls in all four support categories and presented to the professional public. The support plan for 2027 consists of four short-term concepts, the preparation of which had been under way since March 2026.[4] The Audiovisual Act sets the minimum amount of state subsidies, film incentives, and funds for the fund's operation. The fund's own revenues include, among other things, fees from cinema screenings, retransmitted television broadcasting, audiovisual on-demand services, and television advertising.[4]
Novinky.cz reported that the requested savings exceed the minimum state subsidy by 172 million crowns and would also affect the fund's own revenues. According to the website, the board warned that the cuts would undermine the stability of the sector and derail project preparation, and pointed to the fund's responsibility for the development of the gaming industry and animation.[5]
Chronology
- — Culture Minister Oto Klempíř announced that the ministry will dismiss Petr Dvořák, the former director of Czech Television, as head of the board of the Státní fond audiovize, saying they differ in their view of how the fund is managed. ČTK / České noviny ČT24
- — The board of the State Audiovisual Fund unanimously opposed the request of Minister of Culture Ota Klempíř to cut the planned support for 2027 by about 400 million crowns, to half, and stated that the cut would save the state budget nothing. ČTK / České noviny Novinky.cz
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 27 October 2026
- ČT24 — 27 October 2026
- Novinky.cz — 27 October 2026
- ČTK / České noviny — 23 October 2026
- Novinky.cz — 23 October 2026