Fest team's 'Luck' pays

B.O. success leading to sequel

By CATHY MEILS

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic -- Karlovy Vary film fest's press officers Pavel Melounek and Marek Brodsky got lucky at this year's edition. Melounek told Variety that "Helluva Good Luck," a film they co-produced under their Whisconti banner with Fronda Film, has over 350,000 admissions, tying it for second place in Czech Republic box office returns for the year.

The producers announced a sequel, "Helluva Good Luck 2," to go into production next year. Zdenek Troska will return to helm the sequel.

The Czech costumer for kiddies has attracted attention outside the country, too. Melounek said CLT/Ufa has offered to buy worldwide rights to the $2.5 million film on a commission basis, and claims he's had nibbles from UIP as well.

Whisconti produced "Dead Beetle," last year's top prize winner at the Sochi pic fest, and has another co-production feature with Fronda in the works for next year, "The Misfits," based on the real-life story of a young Czech imprisoned in Thailand for possession of drugs.