Hollywood briefly turns its attention to the Czech Republic as Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio start filming their eighth project together near Kolín.

Filming began at Ratboř Castle, where the crew reportedly occupied the football field opposite the historic building. The access road and the surrounding area were covered with artificial snow to create the winter atmosphere required for the story.

Public attention intensified after photos appeared on the Instagram account of Francesca Scorsese, who accompanied her father during a visit to Strahov Monastery.

The cast for the movie What Happens at Night will also include Jennifer Lawrence, along with Patricia Clarkson, Jared Harris and Mads Mikkelsen.

The story of What Happens at Night is expected to follow an American couple attempting to adopt a child while repairing their strained relationship. If the film follows the source material, the setting will be an isolated, snow-covered European city.

Prague is unlikely to appear as itself. Instead, its historical architecture will serve as a neutral, dreamlike backdrop for the narrative.

Most of the interior scenes are expected to be constructed inside Barrandov Studios, where the production team plans to build a hotel environment that forms the main stage of the story. Exterior shooting should later move to Prague’s historic center.

The decision to film in Czechia reflects broader economic and policy changes in the local industry.

Czech film production spending reached 15.4 billion Czech crowns in 2022, but total turnover in the sector declined by almost 30 percent over the following two years, falling below ten billion crowns.

The downturn was influenced partly by the global post-pandemic slowdown and the Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes. However, industry representatives also point to structural disadvantages.

Neighbouring countries adjusted their incentive systems faster. Hungary and Poland expanded tax rebates and simplified administrative procedures, making them more attractive for international productions. In the Czech Republic, budget limits and uncertainty over incentive payments reduced competitiveness.

To address the situation, the government approved an amendment transforming the State Cinematography Fund into the State Audiovisual Fund starting in January 2025. The reform aims to provide a more predictable framework for foreign producers and stabilize the inflow of international projects.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more