Latvia 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 Latvia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Latvia
For an introduction to shooting in Latvia 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.
Latvia Film Locations
The Baltic nation of Latvia offers visiting productions a picturesque landscape of pine forests, lakes, rolling fields, beaches, castles, Soviet-era and Art Nouveau architecture.
Agricultural film locations include wheat and barley fields. Industrial locations include a range of factories and hydroelectric plants.
Latvia is a small country where all film locations are within a 4 hour drive from Riga.
Latvia has hosted productions including Catherine the Great (2019), Justice League (2017), and War and Peace (2016).
Administratively, film locations can be divided into Latvia’s 110 municipalities, and 9 republic cities.
Riga is the capital, the largest city, and the main production centre where local crew and equipment are based. Famous for its Art Nouveau architecture, film locations of note include Riga Town Hall Square, Dome Square, House of the Black Heads, Latvian National Opera, St Peter’s Church, Riga Cathedral, Riga Nativity of Christ Cathedral, Riga Castle, Central Market, Swedish Gate, Riga canal, Latvian National Library, Latvian Academy of Sciences, Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, Bastejkalns Park, Kronvalda Park, Jūrmala Beach, and 1960’s Soviet-era concrete housing blocks.
Daugavpils is the second largest city. Film locations include Mark Rothko Art Center, Daugavpils Theatre, Saints Boris and Gleb Cathedral, University of Daugavpils, and Daugavpils Fortress. Located in the east of the country, Daugavpils has an overwhelmingly Russian-speaking population.
Liepaja is a port city known for University of Liepaja, Great Amber Concert Hall, Karosta Former Russian Naval Base, Liepaja Orthodox Cathedral, and Liepaja Beach.
Castles and palaces of note include Rundāle Palace, Mežotne Palace, Jelgava Palace, Turaida Castle, Cēsis Castle, Jaunpils Castle, Old Sigulda Castle, Bauska Castle, Bīriņi Palace, and Daugavpils fortress. Rundāle Palace was filmed for Catherine the Great (2019), and War and Peace (2016).
Soviet-era film locations include the University of Liepaja, Līgatne Secret Soviet Nuclear Bunker, Ķegums Hydroelectric Power Station, Port of Ventspils, Ship Repair Yards, abandoned factories, Soviet-era apartment blocks, Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre radio satellite dish, and the abandoned Soviet army town of Skrunda which hosted Justice League (2017).
St Virgin Mary’s Roman Catholic Church is located in Nicgale.
Basilica of the Assumption is located in Aglona.
Embassy of Latgale GORS is located in Rezekne.
The Venta waterfall is Europe’s widest waterfall.
Latvia also has winter sport facilities including luge / bobsled / skeleton track, Olympic-size ice skating & hockey rinks, snow parks & quarter pipes for snowboarding, forests & fields for cross-country skiing and biathlon, and alpine skiing locations.
Gauja National Park is known for its forests, rocky outcrops, hill forts, stone castles, churches, manors, watermills, and windmills.
Ķemeri National Park is known for its forests, lakes, mires, and diversity of birdlife.
Rāzna National Park is known for Lake Rāzna.
Slītere National Park includes Cape Kolka, and Slītere lighthouse.
Latvia Film Location Permits
Latvia is a very film friendly country. Permits usually take no more than a week. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Latvia has a four-season climate. Winters (December to March) are cold and snowy. Spring (April to May) has wildflowers in full bloom. Summers (June to September) are warm. Fall (October to November) brings colourful leaves. Spring through to fall are the best times to film for weather. Mist is common in summer and fall. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
The Latvian Song and Dance Festival is held every 5 years with the next one in July, 2018. Ice fishing is a popular activity in the winter months.
Latvia is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed. The west is predominately Lutheran and the east is mostly Eastern Orthodox. The country is also seeing a resurgence of interest in ancient Paganism.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Latvia.
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. Latvia trades in the Euro. It remains one of the most cost competitive production centres in Europe. Our Latvian fixer / service producer will negotiate deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Latvia offers a cash rebate of 20% for local spend and 30% for wages.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Latvia has a small pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Latvian crews are experienced in servicing international productions. They work efficiently and are flexible on rates and work hours. Department heads all speak fluent English. It is recommended to bring in a 1st AD and an art director on more complicated jobs. Latvia’s close proximity to 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 Riga 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 Latvia.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable.
Latvian is the official language.
Latvians are the largest ethnic group. There is also a large Russian community. Latvia’s close proximity to major European production centres allows easy access to those pools of talent should you ever need to look further.
Latvia Film Equipment
Equipment. Latvia is Arri based and has all the latest cameras, Panther & Magnum dollies, a variety of cranes including a Technocrane as well as a contemporary lighting kit. Other specific technical equipment such as helicopter mounts need to be brought in from Germany or Finland. For productions looking to bring in film equipment Latvia 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 in the Baltic region is of an international standard and is very cost efficient. There are at least 4 very good art department teams. Of the Baltic states Latvia is traditionally the busiest with commercials whilst Lithuania does films and Estonia shoots the least of both.
Studios. Latvia has three purpose-built studios with a water tank and all amenities on site. 40 minutes outside of Riga there is a 15 hectare backlot of early 1900’s European architecture.
Post Production. Standard facilities available locally. If you are shooting on film the closest places to process are Helsinki or Berlin.
Visas & Work Permits
Latvia is a Schengen Area member. Only certain countries need visas and there is no need for work permits. Visiting US film crews can enter visa-free for a period of up to 90 days. Contact your local Latvian embassy / representative for more information.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. Latvia is a small country with a good network of well maintained roads, so most locations are quick and easy to reach. Latvia is well serviced by several international and regional budget airlines.
Accommodation. Contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Riga. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Final Notes
Safety. Latvia is a very safe and reliable filming centre. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Explore Riga’s UNESCO World Heritage old town.
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 Latvia, please see below:
Hire Latvia Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Latvia, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Latvia, 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.
