Czech Republic

Czech Republic’s lasting appeal as a filming destination for national and international productions was given a major boost at the beginning of 2025 when the Czech Film Fund was transformed into the Czech Audiovisual Fund (CAF), following the adoption of a new audiovisual act.

Among the changes, CAF’s production incentives were raised from 20% to 25%, while the rebate on eligible expenses for animated and digitally produced projects was set at 35%, and a 25% rebate was introduced for documentary series at the beginning of 2026.

The more generous levels of rebate subsequently resulted in production companies applying for incentives totalling $447m (czk9.3bn) in 2025, a massive 140% increase on the previous year.

One of the many international productions coming to the Czech Republic in 2025 was Skydance Television’s action series Ride Or Die, starring Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham. “A lot of the storyline takes place in London and, as much as I love Prague and how it can double for many other cities, London was a little difficult for downtown exteriors,” says unit production manager and co-producer Austin Lapierre. “But location manager Filip Doruska and his team did an incredible job finding what we needed. And we also used Prague to backdrop as a handful of cities and towns throughout Europe.

“The rebate system in the Czech Republic is on a par with all the European Union rebates,” he adds, “and they have one of the best local crew depots in the world. These were the two biggest contributing factors that brought the project to Prague. We only ended up hiring a few foreign crew HoDs, with the rest of them and all 2nds being local.”

Barrandov Studios had a particularly busy year. Its soundstages and backlot were occupied by Amazon MGM Studios’ Blade Runner 2099 series, gothic horror film The Face Of Horror and the French production Once Upon A Time.

The International Emmy Award-winning series The Empress returned for its third and final season last autumn, and another Netflix production, The Age Of Innocence (based on Edith Wharton’s novel), was shooting in studios and on location in Prague and Liberec from October 2025 until February 2026.

Apple TV will be returning to Prague Studios as the primary production hub for the fourth season of its sci-fi saga Foundation, after being based in the territory for portions of earlier seasons. The streamer also shot scenes from Martin Scorsese’s feature What Happens At Night, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Mads Mikkelsen, in Prague over February and March 2026.

Czech Republic offers a high concentration of diverse and easily accessible locations for a relatively small country, including royal cities, modern industrial complexes and picturesque countryside. The territory also features a wide range of architectural styles including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and contemporary. This allows Czech Republic to serve as a versatile doubling location, covering various eras and locations, from medieval Europe to modern America. 

The country also boasts several impressive below-the-radar filming locations, including the recently renovated 1930s-style New Town Hall in Jablonec nad Nisou, about 15 minutes from Prague, which features a grandiose staircase with stone tiles, an observation tower and a cinema. Prague’s Charles University boasts a variety of historical interiors and exteriors, from gothic to minimalist, which are available to filmmakers.

Barrandov Studios celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2026 and should see two new soundstages being launched at the end of June, with the first productions expected to move in as early as July. The studio complex will then be able to offer a total of 18 soundstages, including facilities in the nearby district of Hostivar.

Expansion has also been underway at the Czech capital’s other production complex, Prague Studios. It has invested in the construction of a further four soundstages as part of the fully integrated HIVE production hub, bringing soundstages, VFX studios, animators and creative agencies together under one roof. They will complement the existing seven soundstages totalling 123,000 square feet.

Czech Republic is in the heart of Europe and has direct flights to all major cities as well as Toronto, Montreal, New York, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Dubai and Doha.

Czech Republic is a member of the European Union and a participant in the Schengen Agreement. Its currency is the Czech crown.

Studios are located close to Prague city centre.

First person to contact

Pavlina Zipkova, film commissioner, Czech Film Commission: pavlina@filmcommission.cz