Kosovo 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 Kosovo? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Kosovo
For an introduction to shooting in Kosovo see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
Kosovo Film Locations
The Republic of Kosovo, is a partially recognised Balkan state located in Southeast Europe. A landlocked country, it is known for its Byzantine monasteries, Ottoman-era mosques and bazaars, cobblestone streets, national parks, mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and waterfalls.
Agricultural film locations include vineyards, and fields of wheat, corn, potatoes, berries, and peppers. Kosovo mines coal, lead, zinc, silver, nickel, cobalt, copper, iron and bauxite. Energy locations include coal fired power plants.
Kosovo has hosted visiting productions such as Jericho Ridge (2022).
Kosovo film locations can be divided into the following districts: Pristina, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Gjilan, Mitrovica, Peja, and Prizren.
Pristina is the capital, the largest city, and main entry point by air. Film locations of note include the National Library of Kosovo, Gračanica Monastery, National Theater, Ethnological Museum, Bill Clinton statue, and Newborn Monument.
Prizren is a historic city known for Prizren Fortress, Sinan Pasha Mosque, Gazi Mehmet Pasha’s Mosque, Our Lady of Ljeviš Serbian Orthodox church, and Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
Mitrovica is known for the Mitrovica Miners Monument, Isa Beg’s Mosque, St Demetrius Serbian Orthodox Church, and Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium.
Peja is known for the Ottoman Bazaar of Peja, and Patriarchate of Peć Monastery.
Gjakova is known for the Old Bazaar, Hadum Mosque, Saint Paul and Saint Peter Church, and Ethnographic Museum of Gjakova.
Ferizaj is known for St Uroš Cathedral, and Mosque of Mulla Veseli.
Visoki Dečani Monastery is a medieval Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery located near Deçan.
The Banjska Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery near Zvečan.
Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park, located in the west of the country, has a mountainous terrain, with numerous lakes, as well as dense deciduous and coniferous forests. The park is home to wildcats, chamoises, grey wolves, lynxes, and brown bears.
Sharr Mountains National Park, located in the south of the country, has a mountainous terrain with glacial lakes and alpine forests.
Rugova Canyon is located in the Accursed Mountains.
Mirusha waterfalls are a beautiful location.
Brezovica ski resort is located in the Šar Mountains.
Kosovo Film Location Permits
No extraordinary restrictions or rules apply. Permitting in Kosovo is a very straightforward process. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Kosovo has a continental climate with mediterranean and alpine influences. The summers (June to September) are warm to hot and the winters (November to March) can be cold and snowy. May through to September are the best months to shoot for weather. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Traditional Kosovo festivals and events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• Pristina Film Festival in September
• Pristina Jazz Festival in October/November
Kosovo is a predominately Muslim country, so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Kosovo.
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. Kosovo trades in the Euro. Locations, local talent and support crew are inexpensive but since little to no filming infrastructure exists all key crew and equipment must be brought in from abroad. Our Kosovan fixer / service producer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Kosovo offers a 30% cash rebate for qualifying productions.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Kosovo has a small local pool of directors, videographers and stills photographers. Key crew should be brought in from abroad. Kosovo’s close proximity to major European production centres allows easy access to those crews.
Contact us if you are looking for a 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 Kosovo.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable. Day rates are very reasonable and negotiated on a personal basis. Casting facilities are rather undeveloped in Kosovo so street casting is often required.
Albanian and Serbian are the official languages.
Most Kosovans are Albanian. The country also has small Serb, Bosniak, Gorani, and Romani minorities. Kosovo has the youngest population in Europe. It’s close proximity to major European production centres allows you easy access to those pools of talent should you ever need to look further.
Kosovo Film Equipment
Equipment. Only the most basic camera, grip and lighting equipment is available locally. Best to bring in all equipment from abroad.
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 basic.
Studios. Several basic facilities exist. warehouses can be converted into studios.
Backlots. None exist at present.
Post Production. Post abroad.
Visas & Work Permits
Kosovo is not a Schengen Area member. Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Contact your local Kosovan embassy / representative for more information.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure is all up to known and expected world standards. Several international airlines service flights to Kosovo.
Accommodation. Several good options exist in Pristina and around the country. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Final Notes
Safety. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Kosovo is known for its coffee culture by day, and rakia culture by night.
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 Kosovo, please see below:
Hire Kosovo Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Kosovo, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Kosovo, 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.
