Croatia 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 Croatia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Croatia

For an introduction to shooting in Croatia 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.

Croatia Film Locations

Croatia has long been a popular destination for productions looking to film beautiful Mediterranean locations such as picturesque coastal and mountain towns, Venetian architecture, white sand beaches with azure seas, impressive lighthouses, and rugged mountains.

Agricultural film locations include farms that produce sugar beets, corn, wheat, potatoes, barley, soybeans, rapeseed, sunflowers, tobacco, grapes, plums, apples, pears, cherries, peaches, apricots, and honey. Fishing vessels are available for filming. Croatian factories manufacture machinery, textiles, chemicals, and food products. Gypsum and quartz are mined. Energy locations include hydroelectric, and thermal power plants.

Croatia has played host to productions including Succession (2018-), Game of Thrones (2011-2019), The Amazing Race 31 (2019), Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), McMafia (2018), Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017), The Amazing Race 12 (2007), Sophie’s Choice (1982), and Fiddler on the Roof (1971) as well as a long list of TV commercial shoots.

Film locations can be divided into the following regions:

Croatia Proper

This centrally located region includes the counties of Bjelovar-Bilogora, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Križevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj, Međimurje, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Sisak-Moslavina, Varaždin, and Zagreb County.

Zagreb is the capital, the largest city, and main production centre where most key crew, equipment and talent are based. The city is known for its Old Town, museums, churches, and parks. McMafia (2018), and Sophie’s Choice (1982) filmed in Zagreb.

Town squares include Ban Jelačić Square, St Mark’s Square, King Tomislav Square, and Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square.

Government buildings include the Croatian Parliament Building, Croatian State Archives, Old City Hall, and National and University Library.

Museums of note include the Mimara Museum, Art Pavilion, Meštrović Pavilion, Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Broken Relationships, Croatian Museum of Naïve Art, Museum of Illusions, Archaeological Museum, Zagreb City Museum, Museum of Arts and Crafts, Zagreb 80’s museum, Mushroom Museum, and Nikola Tesla Technical Museum.

Religious locations include Zagreb Cathedral, St Mark’s Church, Mirogoj Cemetery, Zagreb Mosque, and Serbian Orthodox Church Cathedral.

Croatian National Theatre is a beautiful film location.

Transport locations include Zagreb Glavni kolodvor railway station, and Zagreb Airport.

Parks of note include Maksimir Park, Bundek City Park, and Ribnja Park.

Clinical Hospital Dubrava is an interesting film location.

Sporting venues include Maksimir Stadium, Arena Zagreb, and Dom Sportova.

Heading out of Zagreb you can find the following film locations in the Croatia Proper region:

Varaždin is a city known for Varaždin Castle, Varaždin Town Hall, Croatian National Theatre, Varaždin County Palace, Sermage Palace, Church of Saint Nicholas, Varaždin Cemetery, Varaždin Arena, and Stadion Varteks.

Karlovac is a city known for Dubovac Castle, Museum of Army Collections from the Croatian Homeland War, and the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Franciscan Monastery.

Rijeka is a port city known for the Governor’s Palace, Trsat Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Capuchin Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, and Mlaka Lighthouse.

Cres Island is known for its beautiful beaches, Lake Vrana, Sis Mountain, and the towns of Cres, Valun, and Lubenice.

Krk Island is known for the coastal towns of Krk, and Vrbnik.

Pag Island is known for its barren, moonlike landscapes.

Trakošćan Castle looks like a castle out of a fairytale. Other castles of note in this region include Lužnica Castle, Ozalj Castle, and Veliki Tabor Castle.

Brestovac Sanatorium is a haunting ruin.

Haludovo Palace Hotel is an abandoned location on the island of Krk.

Soviet-era structures of note include Petrova Gora, Stone Flower, and Podgaric Monument.

Lekenik was filmed for Fiddler on the Roof (1971).

Plitvice Lakes National Park is famous for its turquoise tufa lakes, forests, rivers, waterfalls, caves, and forests. Wildlife includes the European brown bear, grey wolf, eagle, owl, Eurasian lynx, and European wildcat.

Risnjak National Park is known for its mountains, and forests.

Northern Velebit National Park is known for its valleys, mountains, caves, and rock formations.

Slavonia

Slavonia is located in the less-explored northeast of the country. The region includes the counties of Brod-Posavina, Osijek-Baranja, Požega-Slavonia, Virovitica-Podravina, and Vukovar-Syrmia.

Slavonia is known for its rural landscapes of sunflower fields, corn fields, and vineyards.

Osijek is Slavonia’s largest city. Film locations include the Old Town, Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, Ante Starčević Square, Gradski Hall, and Gradski Stadium.

Vukovar Memorial Cemetery is located in this region.

Kopački Rit Nature Park is a beautiful wetland area.

Ružica Castle ruins are also located in this region.

Istria

Istria is a peninsula on the Adriatic Sea located in the northwest of the country.

Pula is a coastal city best known for its Roman buildings. Film locations include Pula Arena, Temple of Augustus, Arch of the Sergii, Forum Square, Pula Cathedral, Pula Communal Palace, Pula Castle, Fort Punta Christo, Church of Our Lady of the Sea, Historical and Maritime Museum of Istria, Hawaii Beach, Ambrela Beach, and Valkane Beach.

Other picturesque Istrian coastal towns include Rovinj, Poreč, Novigrad, Rabac, Fasana, and Umag.

Picturesque hilltop villages include Grožnjan, Motovun, Hum, Oprtalj, Livade, Gračišće, Labin, and Pazin. Vodnjan has a pretty town square.

Brijuni Islands National Park is a group of fourteen small islands.

Some of Istria’s most beautiful unspoilt beaches include Bršeč Beach, Oprna Beach, and the beaches of Kamenjak National Park.

Lighthouses of note include Porer Lighthouse, Savudrija Lighthouse, Peneda Lighthouse, and Sveti Ivan Lighthouse.

Season of the Witch (2011) filmed in Istria.

Dalmatia

Dalmatia is a southern coastal region that includes the counties of Zadar, Šibenik-Knin, Split-Dalmatia, and Dubrovnik-Neretva.

Dubrovnik film locations include the Old Town, City Walls, Assumption Cathedral, Franciscan Monastery, St Blaise’s Church, Lovrijenac Fort, St John Fortress, Rector’s Palace, Sponza Palace, Tvrđava Minčeta, Pile Gate, Clock Tower, Stradun Main Street, Dubrovnik Cable Car, Bellevue Beach, and Uvala Lapad Beach. Dubrovnik featured as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones (2011-2019), and was also filmed for Succession (2018-), and Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017). Hotel Belvedere is an abandoned film location just outside of Dubrovnik.

Split is a port city known for Diocletian’s Palace, St Domnius Cathedral, Monastery of the Mother of God of Health, Croatian National Theatre, Republic Square, Fruit Square, People’s Square, Peristyle Square, Golden Gate, Temple of Jupiter, Diocletian Aqueduct, Kaštilac Fortress, Ivan Mestrovic Gallery, Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments, Split Archaeological Museum, Split City Museum, Split Shipyard, Port of Split, Stadion Poljud, Spaladium Arena, Split Airport, Park Šuma Marjan, Bacvice Beach, and Kasjuni Beach. Klis Fortress overlooks the city. Game of Thrones (2011-2019) filmed in Split.

Hvar is a port city known for its Old Town, Spanish Fortress, St Stephen’s Cathedral, Franciscan Monastery, Venetian Loggia and Clock Tower, and Dubovica Beach.

Šibenik is known for St James Cathedral, St Nicholas Fortress, St Michael’s Fortress, Barone Fortress, St John’s Fort, Old Town Hall, Šibenik Harbour, and Jadrija Beach. Game of Thrones (2011-2019) filmed in Šibenik.

Korčula is a beautiful coastal town known for its Old Town, Korčula Cathedral, Franciscan Monastery, and Marco Polo’s House and Museum.

Trogir is a beautiful coastal town known for its Old Town, Kamerlengo Castle, St Lawrence Cathedral, Cipiko Palace, and the Clock Tower and City Loggia. Game of Thrones (2011-2019) filmed in Trogir.

Primošten is a beautiful coastal town known for its Old Town, Harbour, Church of St George, and Mala Raduca beach.

Ston is known for its impressive medieval city walls, Fort Kaštio, and Prapratno beach. The walls featured in Game of Thrones (2011-2019).

Zadar is the largest city in Dalmatia. Film locations include its Old Town, City Walls, Sea Organ, Monument to the Sun, Roman Forum, St Donatus’ Church, St Mary’s Church, St Anastasia’s Cathedral, St Chrysogonus’ Church, People’s Square, Land Gate, Archaeological Museum, and Krešimir Ćosić Hall.

Vis Island is known for the picturesque Vis Town, Blue Cave, Green Cave, Stiniva Beach, Porat Beach, Srebna Beach, Zaglav Beach, Hum Mountain, and an abandoned Yugoslav-era concrete submarine dock. Vis Island was filmed for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018). Nearby islands of note include Biševo Island, and Budikovac Island.

Brač Island is known for Golden Horn Beach, Blaca Hermitage, and the coastal villages of Bol, Supetar, Milna, Povlja, Sultivan, Postira, Pučišća, Splitska, and Sumartin.

Elaphiti Islands archipelago includes Šipan, Lopud, Koločep, and several uninhabited islets.

Jabuka, and Brusnik are uninhabited volcanic islands.

Galešnjak Island is a heart-shaped island.

The Makarska Riviera has blissful pebble beaches with the rugged Biokovo Mountain in the background.

Some of Dalmatia’s most beautiful unspoilt beaches include Stiniva Beach, Punta Rata, Nugal Beach, Sunj Beach, Sveti Jakov Beach.

The Peljesac peninsula is famous for its vineyards.

Paklenica National Park is known for its impressive canyons, and mountains such as Anica Kuk that are popular with rock climbers.

Mljet National Park is located on the island of Mljet. Film locations include beaches, sea caves, lakes, and forests. The Church of Saint Mary is located on a small island.

Krka National Park is known for its waterfalls, pools, rivers, and forests. Visovac Monastery is located on a small island inside the park. Krka National Park is home to a diversity of birdlife. Game of Thrones (2011-2019) filmed in Krka National Park.

Kornati Islands National Park is an archipelago of 89 remote islands with rugged landscapes, and turquoise waters.

Kupari is an abandoned luxury resort available for filming.

Trsteno Arboretum featured in Game of Thrones (2011-2019).

Lighthouses of note include Pomorac Lighthouse, Veli Rat Lighthouse, Stončica Lighthouse, Sestrice Lighthouse, Palagruža Lighthouse, Struga Lighthouse, Blitvenica Lighthouse, Glavat Lighthouse, Mulo Lighthouse, Sušac Lighthouse, Sveti Andrija Lighthouse, Sućuraj Lighthouse, Pokonji Dol Lighthouse, Grebeni Lighthouse, Stražica Lighthouse, and Host Lighthouse.

Croatia Film Location Permits

No extraordinary restrictions or rules apply. Permitting in Croatia is a very straightforward process. Some locations are possible to permit in as little as 24 hours. Most locations can be controlled for filming. It is more difficult to control the popular tourist locations especially in peak tourist season but it’s still possible with enough lead up time. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Coastal Croatia has hot, dry summers and mild winters. Coastal areas see plenty of sunshine from May to October. The peak tourist season is from July to August and is best avoided if you require exclusive use of locations. Croatia’s interior also has hot, dry summers but the winters are colder with mountainous areas seeing snowfall. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Festivals and events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:

• Rijeka Carnival in January / February.
• Feast of St Blaise takes place in Dubrovnik in February.
• Dubrovnik Carnival in February.
• Pula Film Festival in June.
• Motovun Film Festival in July.
• Dubrovnik Summer Festival in July.
• International Folklore Festival takes place in Zagreb in July.
• Vukovar Film Festival in July.
• Zadar’s Night of the Full Moon celebrations in August.
• Zagreb Film Festival in October.
• New Year’s Regatta takes place in Hvar in December.

Croatia 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 Croatia.

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. Although Croatia is an EU country it still trades in the Croatian Kuna. For old world looks, Croatia is generally more expensive than countries farther east such as Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, but less less expensive than Czech or Hungary. Most crew and equipment are based in Zagreb so filming on the coast can add significant travel costs. Even so, Croatia remains one of Europe’s most cost efficient options for Mediterranean looks. Our Croatian fixer / service producer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget. See here for the current VAT rate.

Tax Incentives. Croatia offers a cash rebate of up to 25% of production costs is available for feature films, television dramas, short films, documentaries and animations. An additional 5% rebate applies for productions filming in underdeveloped regions. 

Film Crew & Talent

Crew. Croatia has a limited pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. There is a good depth of local crews with plenty of experience servicing productions from all over the world. Key crew speaks fluent English. Crews are non-union and flexible with day rates and hours worked. Croatia’s close proximity to other major European production centres allows easy access to those pools of specialist crews should you ever need to look further.

Contact us if you are looking for a Zagreb or Dubrovnik 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 in Croatia.

Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable. Croatia offers mostly Croatian talent looks but its close proximity to other major European production centres allows you to access those pools of talent should you ever need to look further.

Fringes. No hidden extras.

Premiums. 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 cost calculated individually. There is no surcharge for weekend or night shoots. Turnaround is eleven hours. 

Croatia Film Equipment

Equipment. All the standard camera, grip and lighting equipment is available locally in Croatia and anything additional can be easily brought in from nearby European production centres such as technocrane from Prague and Wescam from London. For productions looking to bring in film equipment Croatia is an ATA carnet country.

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 comparable to the high standards found in Czech and Hungary.

Studios. Jadran Film has Croatia’s largest and best equipped film studios.

Backlots. None at present.

Post Production. Only basic facilities. Best to process / post abroad. Budapest and Vienna are the closest production centres with established post facilities.

Visas & Work Permits

No work permit required. Although Croatia is not a Schengen Area country, its visa policy is based on Schengen requirements. Visiting crews travelling on western passports can enter Croatia visa-free for stays of up to 90 days.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure. Croatia has an extensive, well maintained road network. During the summer peak season the main coastal highway can get extremely congested. Croatia is serviced well by many international airlines and low budget regional carriers.

Accommodation. Contact us for special rates at film friendly hotels in Zagreb, Dubrovnik and other parts of Croatia. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments. Hotels of note include:

Hotel Kazbek Dubrovnik
Esplanade Zagreb Hotel
Doubletree by Hilton Zagreb

Final Notes

Safety. Croatia is a very safe and reliable place to film. See here for up to date travel advice.

Down Time. Try local cuisine such as crni rižot, ispod peke, gregada, kvarner scampi, kulen sausage, pag cheese, pašticada, pljeskavica, and cevapčići.

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 Croatia, please see below:

Hire Croatia Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Croatia, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Croatia, 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.