Kiev, Ukraine – (February 21, 2025) – Eastern Europe has become an increasingly popular destination for international film and reality TV productions, offering a unique combination of diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and favourable production costs.
Advantages of Filming in Eastern Europe
- Lower Production Costs: Eastern Europe offers competitive pricing for film production services, location fees, and labor costs compared to Western Europe or North America.
- Diverse and Unique Locations: Eastern Europe boasts a rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and well-preserved historical architecture, providing a wide range of unique and authentic filming locations.
- Favorable Climate: The region’s climate is generally mild, with four distinct seasons, allowing for flexible shooting schedules and reduced weather-related delays.
- Skilled and Experienced Crew: Eastern Europe has a thriving film industry, with a large pool of skilled and experienced crew members, including directors, cinematographers, and production designers.
- Government Incentives and Tax Credits: Many Eastern European countries offer attractive government incentives, tax credits, and rebuses to encourage foreign film productions, helping to reduce production costs.
- Accessibility and Infrastructure: Eastern Europe has a well-developed transportation network, making it easy to move equipment, cast, and crew around. Many countries also have modern film studios and equipment rental facilities.
- Language and Cultural Diversity: The region is home to many languages and cultures, providing opportunities for authentic and diverse storytelling.
- Streamlined Permitting Process: Many Eastern European countries have simplified their permitting processes, making it easier to obtain necessary permits and approvals for filming.
Notable Film Productions in Eastern Europe
In recent years, countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Ukraine have hosted numerous high-profile film and television productions, including:
Poland
- Schindler’s List (1993) – Steven Spielberg’s historical drama was partially filmed in Krakow.
- The Pianist (2002) – Roman Polanski’s biographical drama was filmed in various locations, including Warsaw and Krakow.
- Inland Empire (2006) – David Lynch’s surrealist neo-noir was partially filmed in Łódź.
Czech Republic
- Mission: Impossible (1996) – The first film in the franchise was partially filmed in Prague.
- The Bourne Identity (2002) – The action-thriller starring Matt Damon was partially filmed in Prague.
- Casino Royale (2006) – The James Bond film was partially filmed in Prague and Karlovy Vary.
Hungary
- Red Heat (1988) – The buddy cop film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was partially filmed in Budapest.
- Evita (1996) – The musical drama starring Madonna was partially filmed in Budapest.
- Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) – The superhero film was partially filmed in Budapest.
Romania
- Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) – The mockumentary comedy was partially filmed in Romania.
- Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012) – The superhero film was partially filmed in Bucharest and Transylvania.
- What Happened to Monday (2017) – The science fiction film was partially filmed in Bucharest.
Bulgaria
- The Expendables (2010) – The action film was partially filmed in Sofia.
- Conan the Barbarian (2011) – The sword and sorcery film was partially filmed in Sofia and Plovdiv.
- 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) – The historical action film was partially filmed in Sofia.
Croatia
- Game of Thrones (2011-2019) – The popular HBO fantasy series was partially filmed in Dubrovnik and other locations.
- Robin Hood: Origins (2018) – The action-adventure film was partially filmed in Dubrovnik and other locations.
- Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) – The musical romantic comedy was partially filmed on the island of Vis.
Slovenia
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) – The fantasy adventure film was partially filmed in Lake Bled and other locations.
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) – The biographical comedy-drama was partially filmed in Portorož and other locations.
- A Christmas Prince (2017) – The romantic comedy was partially filmed in Lake Bled and other locations.
Serbia
- The November Man (2014) – The action-thriller starring Pierce Brosnan was partially filmed in Belgrade.
- A Serbian Film (2010) – The psychological horror film was partially filmed in Belgrade.
Reality Series
- The Bachelor: Eastern Europe (2022) – The reality dating show was partially filmed in various locations across Eastern Europe.
- Top Gear: Eastern European Adventure (2019) – The reality TV show was partially filmed in various locations across Eastern Europe.
- The Amazing Race: Eastern Europe (2020) – The reality TV show was partially filmed in various locations across Eastern Europe.
Contact us today at easterneurope@hoodlum.tv and we will share an in-country factsheet with you. This contains all of the information you need to know before filming in eastern Europe.
