Prague ideal overseas film-making destination for Chinese directors

The Chinese romantic drama Somewhere Only We Know was filmed in the Czech capital, Prague, in 2015. [Photo/Mtimes.com]

The Czech Republic is fast becoming the go-to destination for Chinese directors seeking overseas locations, largely thanks to a film reward mechanism set up by the Czech government.

The Chinese romantic drama Somewhere Only We Know was filmed in the Czech capital, Prague, last year, and has led the way in introducing Chinese moviegoers to the picturesque European city.

The film's production teams originally tried to shoot in Paris, but changed their minds after securing tax savings of 60 percent by choosing Prague.

"We pay back 20 percent of money spending in the Czech Republic to the Czech residents. That's how we support it financially. But in the Czech Republic, we have very nice locations, We have a very dense net of castles and chateaux. (That's) why the international productions go to Czech Republic very often, and I hope that we will have more Chinese productions here,"  said Katerina Kalistova, Czech Deputy Minister of Culture.

Last year, China and the Czech Republic signed a memorandum on film exchanges and cooperation which has also stimulated tourism development in the central European nation.

The Czech Tourism Administration said the number of Chinese tourists visiting the Czech Republic has increased from 17,000 in 2005, to over a quarter of a million last year.

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