The Czech Film Audience in the Time of COVID-19

Jan Hanzlík, Petr Szczepanik, Karel Čada, Zuzana Chytková, Ondřej Špaček, Raman Samusevich, Alžběta Wolfová

The report examines the impact of government anti-epidemic measures—adopted in response to the coronavirus epidemic between 10 March 2020 and June 2021—on the functioning of selected cultural sectors in the Czech Republic. The most affected cultural industries include the music and theatre sectors, whose business models rely primarily on public performances of musical and theatrical works, whether on their own stages, as guest performances, or at various festivals. The film industry was also affected, facing not only more difficult conditions for film production but also the inability to distribute, promote, and monetize film content through the primary distribution channels for much audiovisual production, namely film festivals and public cinema screenings. The report therefore focuses on three selected cultural sectors (music, film, and theatre), with particular attention to the digital distribution of cultural content. It examines the experiences of cultural actors regarding the impact of anti-epidemic measures on their existing distribution strategies and business models, as well as their experiences with alternative distribution strategies, including webcasting, streaming services (video or music on-demand services), new technologies, and unconventional ways of engaging with audiences. The report also addresses the broader question of what the epidemic crisis revealed about the functioning of the examined cultural sectors and the position of their actors in the Czech Republic. The research not only describes the experiences of affected cultural industry actors but also identifies obstacles and opportunities presented by existing or new forms of digital distribution during the period of anti-epidemic measures. Distribution here includes not only conveying content to the public but also its presentation, promotion, and monetization. In line with the exploratory nature of qualitative research, the report focuses on identifying diverse obstacles and opportunities, which may be commercial, infrastructural, cultural, skill-based, technological, or legal in nature. Special attention is given to the legal aspects of digital distribution, since cultural goods are protected works and their various forms of dissemination (use) require the consent of rights holders. The report is complemented by examples of good, poor, or innovative distribution practices, illustrating the broader research findings.

The report was produced with the support of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic within the project The Czech Film Audience in the COVID-19 Era: Mitigating the Impact of the Crisis and New Opportunities for Film Distribution (TL04000421).

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