Slovenia Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Slovenia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Slovenia
For an introduction to shooting in Slovenia see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, fringes, premiums, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
Slovenia Film Locations
Slovenia is known for its pristine landscapes of pine forests, rolling hills, snow-capped mountains, green meadows, majestic waterfalls, babbling brooks, and crystal clear lakes.
Slovenia is a small country where all locations can be easily reached within a short 2 hour drive from the capital.
Agricultural film locations include plantations of corn, grapes, wheat, barley, and apples. Slovenia is known for its vineyards. High-tech factories produce automobiles, machinery, and chemicals. Energy locations include coal-fired power plants, nuclear power plants, and hydroelectric dams.
Slovenia has hosted shoots such as The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), Captain America (1990), Red Tails (2012), and an extensive list of TV commercials.
Film locations can be divide into the following regions:
Central Slovenia
Ljubljana is the capital and largest city. It’s known for its cobblestone streets, bridges, city squares, museums, galleries, castle, and cathedral. Film locations of note include Ljubljana Castle, Prešeren Square, Congress Square, National Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, National Museum of Slovenia, Slovenian Railway Museum, National and University Library, Dragon Bridge, Tivoli Park, and Metelkova art squat.
Upper Carniola
Upper Carnoila is located in the northwest of the country.
The Julian Alps are known for their mountainous landscapes, green valleys, rivers, and lakes.
Mount Triglav, in Triglav National Park, is the highest peak in Slovenia.
Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj are spectacular film locations.
Soča River is known for its emerald green waters.
Solkan Bridge is a spectacular railroad bridge over the Soča River.
Savica Waterfall drops 78 metres (240 feet) into a spectacular gorge.
Peričnik Falls is another beautiful waterfall.
Planica Nordic Center is home to one of the largest ski jumping hills in the world.
Brdo is known for Brdo Castle and surrounding vineyards.
Radovljica, Kamnik, and Škofja Loka are pretty medieval towns.
Velika Planina is a traditional village on a green mountain plateau.
Kranj is a city located in a mountain setting.
Gorizia
Gorizia is located in the northwest of the country.
The Julian Alps, the Soča River, and the Vipava Valley are the most prominent natural features of this region.
The Tolmin Gorges are an otherworldly location.
Boka Waterfall is a beautiful film location.
Idrija was home to the second largest mercury mine in the world.
Carinthia
Carinthia is a mountainous area located in the north of the country.
Savinja
This centrally located region is known for its landscapes of wooded mountains and green valleys.
Grand Hotel Rogaška is located in Rogaška Slatina.
Celje Castle is located in this area.
Central Sava
Central Sava is located in the centre of the country.
Drava
Drava is located in the northeast of the country.
Maribor is the second-largest city in Slovenia.
Ptuj Castle is located in this area.
Maribor Pohorje is the largest ski resort in Slovenia.
Mura
Mura is a predominantly agricultural region located in the northeast of the country.
Coastal-Karst
Coastal-Karst is located on the Adriatic Sea in the southwest of the country.
The Italian city of Trieste, which is known for its beaches, is a short 1 hour drive from Ljubljana.
Piran is a beautiful city on the Adriatic coast known for its Venetian architecture, long pier, and Tartini Central Square.
Salt pans in the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park are one of the few places in the world where sea salt is still collected by using this centuries-old method.
Lipica Stud Farm has been breeding Lipizzaner horses since the sixteenth century.
Izola is a beautiful fishing town.
Littoral–Inner Carniola
Littoral–Inner Carniola is located in the southwest of the country.
Koper is a coastal city known for the Port of Koper, Cathedral of the Assumption, Praetorian Palace, and Loggia Palace.
Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle built within a cave.
Karst caves of note include Skocjan Caves and Postojna Cave.
Sečovlje Saltworks are located in this region.
Southeast Slovenia
Southeast Slovenia is located in the southeast of the country.
Novo Mesto is a pretty city located on a bend in the Krka River.
Lower Sava
Lower Sava is located in the southeast of the country.
Krško Nuclear Power Plant is located in Lower Sava.
Slovenia Film Location Permits
Small shoots that do not require any control of public space, such as handheld b-roll filming do not require permits. Projects that require exclusive use of public space such as controlling traffic, laying track, large lighting setups, or pyrotechnics, require permits. Slovenia has fast turnaround on permitting with most permits able to be processed within 2 or 3 days. Slovenia permits drone filming. Filming in National Parks is restricted and requires special permits. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Slovenia has a Mediterranean climate on the coast and a continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east. The Alps in the north are warm in the summer and covered in snow in the winter. July to August is peak season for tourists on the coast so September to October is a better time to film if you want to lock down locations. November to February is peak season for tourists in the Alps. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Events of interest include the, Carnival in Ptuj (February), Pruning of the Old Vine (February), Open Kitchen Food Festival (March to October), and Feast of St. Martin (November).
Slovenia is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Slovenia.
Unique Local Stories
Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.
If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.
If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.
Costs & Tax Incentives
Costs. Slovenia is one of the more expensive East European service centres. It is however a cost competitive option in terms of Mediterranean and Alpine looks. Slovenia trades in the Euro. See here for the current VAT rate. Our Slovenian service producer / fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Slovenia offers qualifying productions a 25% cash rebate for foreign feature films, TV series, and documentaries filming in the country.
Film Crew & Talent
Crew. Slovenia has a small pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Local crews are experienced and speak fluent English. Crew are non-union. Ljubljana is the main production centre so key crew need to travel from there. Slovenia’s close proximity to other major European production centres allows easy access to those crews should you ever need to look further.
Contact us if you are looking for a Ljubljana based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in Slovenia. If you are looking for set medics we recommend Rescuers Vita Set Medics.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable.
Slovene is the official language.
Slovenes are the main ethnic group. Slovenia’s close proximity to major European production centres allows you to access those pools of talent should you ever need to look further.
Fringes and Premiums. No hidden extras. Our producer will package a deal that is fair to all. Typically local crew work a twelve hour day (11+1 hr lunch). Overtime after 12th hour is calculated individually. There are no weekend, night or holiday loadings. Turnaround is 10 hours.
Slovenia Film Equipment
Equipment. All the standard camera, grip and lighting equipment is available locally in Slovenia. Some more specialised gear such as a variety of cranes, drones, car mounts and remote heads is also available. Anything additional can be easily brought in from nearby European production centres such Prague, Munich and London. For productions looking to bring in film equipment Slovenia is an ATA carnet country. For aerial filming check out Heli Video.
Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.
Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.
For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.
Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production
Art department and set construction are up to international standards. To give you an example of the high standard available, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), was shot in Slovenia.
Studios. Slovenia has several good facilities. VIBA is the largest of the studios with sound stages, wardrobe, workshops, production office, and post facilities.
Post Production. Some facilities exist. Budapest and Vienna are the closest centres with extensive post facilities.
Visas & Work Permits
Slovenia is a member of the Schengen Area. No specific work permit required for filming. Crews travelling on US passports can stay visa-free for up to 90 days.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure is all up to known and expected world standards. Slovenia is serviced well from many airports across Europe by both international and budget airlines.
Accommodation. Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Ljubljana. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Final Notes
Safety. Slovenia did not sustain any major damage during the Balkans War. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Visit Lake Bled.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Slovenia, please see below:
Hire Slovenia Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Slovenia, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Slovenia, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
Image courtesy of Jost Gantar
