PRAGUE: Preproduction on the TV series and feature film historical epic drama 1864 is underway in Prague for an April 2013 start of filming. The project, including an eight episodes TV series and a 150 minute feature film, is produced by Denmark’s Miso Film. Sirena Film is the Czech coproducer. With a budget of 173 m DDK (23 m EUR), 1864 is the most expensive TV and film project in Danish history. The project is coproduced by Danish public broadcaster DR with support from major broadcasters in Scandinavia and Europe, including TV 2 Norway, TV 4 Sweden, ZDF Arte and Czech Television. The project also received grants from Nordisk Film & TV Fond, SF Film, the Danish regional film fund FilmFyn, Bitten & Mads Clausens Fond and the Czech Ministry of Culture. Danish director/writer Ole Bornedal (Nightwatch, I am Dina, Just Another Love Story) adapted Tom Buk-Swienty's best-selling novel Slagtebænk Dybbøl about one of the most important events of Danish history, the 1864 battle of Dybbøl when Germans seized a third of Denmark's territory. The battle became a symbol of the Danish courage and determination to fight its oppressor. The shooting in the Czech Republic, doubling for Denmark, is planned for 69 days at locations both in and outside of Prague. The Czech spend will be 218 m CZK (8.6 m EUR). 1864 is supported by Czech Film Industry Support Program. Shooting in the Czech Republic starts in the beginning of April and will end in mid-July. The TV series will premiere on Danish television in the autumn of 2014. “I see this project as an important continuation of our successful cooperation with Denmark, which has recently borne fruit with the Oscar nomination for A Royal Affair (also coproduced by Sirena Film),” said Sirena Film producer Kristina Hejduková.