Applications were said to be sparce, just days before the end of the call, likely due to the demands of the process, which involved creating a proposal for launching and running the fund.

The Director will be responsible for establishing the office and management of the fund. The new fund is expected to distribute 8 million Euros in 2010. 2009 will be the final year that films are funded through the Ministry of Culture.

The nine-member board of the Slovak Audiovisual Fund (www.aic.sk) was announced on March 30, with Patrik Pašš named as chairman. Members serve a six-year term.

Slovakia currently has over 20 films in various stages of production. Slovakia will present two co-productions at the Cannes film market: Bathory from director Juraj Jakubisko, and English Strawberries by Vladimir Drha.