North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in North Macedonia
For an introduction to shooting in North Macedonia 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.
North Macedonia Film Locations
North Macedonia is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. Film locations include Byzantine churches, mosques, fortresses, Greek and Roman archaeological ruins, Ottoman-era cobblestone streets, stately neoclassical homes, national parks, mountains, canyons, pine forests, caves, and hot springs. North Macedonia is a small country where all locations can be reached within a 2 hour drive.
Agricultural film locations include vineyards as well as plantations of wheat, corn, barley, potatoes, tomatoes, apples, watermelon, tobacco, and opium poppies. Sheep, cows, and goats are herded. Factories produce textiles, chemicals, iron, and steel. Energy locations include hydroelectric dams, coal-fired power plants, and wind powered plants.
Into The Night (2020), and The Peacemaker (1991) were partly filmed in North Macedonia.
Film locations can be divided into the following regions: Skopje, Polog, Southwestern, Pelagonia, Vardar, Northeastern, Eastern, and Southeastern.
Skopje is the capital, largest city, and main production service centre. The city offers everything from Ottoman-era mosques to imposing Communist-era structures. Film locations of note include Kale Fortress, Assembly Palace, Alexander The Great statue, Old Bazaar, Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Museum of the City of Skopje, Museum of Macedonia, Mother Teresa Memorial House, and the Stone Bridge over the Vardar River. Brutalist Communist-era buildings include the Church of St. Clement of Ohrid, Macedonian Opera and Ballet House, Contemporary Art Museum, Skopje Central Post Office, Student Dormitory Goce Delčev, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Skopje Hydrometeorological Service Building, and the Transportation Center Skopje designed by Kenzō Tange. Into The Night (2020) filmed in Skopje International Airport.
The city of Bitola is the second largest in the country. Locations of note include Magnolia Square, Clock Tower, Gazi Hajdar Kadi Mosque, and Ishak Chelebi Mosque. Heraclea Lyncestis is a Greek and Roman archeological ruin just outside of Bitola.
Lake Ohrid is known for several interesting film locations. Saint John at Kaneo is an Orthodox church situated on a cliff overlooking Lake Ohrid. The Monastery of St Naum is another Orthodox monastery on the lake. The Bay of Bones museum is a reconstructed village of stilt houses. Radožda is a sleepy fishing village. The city of Ohrid is known for its ancient Roman theatre, Samoil’s Fortress, Church of Saint Sophia, Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon, and Tsar Samuel’s Fortress.
Kratovo is a mountain town known for its bridges and towers that date back to the Middle Ages.
The Monastery of Treskavec is located on the rocky Mount Zlatovrv.
St Jovan Bigorski is a hillside Orthodox monastery, located in Mavrovo.
Osogovo Monastery is an Orthodox monastery located near Kriva Palanka.
The Painted Mosque is located in Tetovo.
Kokino is an archaeological site that was once an ancient observatory.
Mavrovo National Park is known for its gorges, pine forests, karst fields and waterfalls. It is home to the European lynx, bears, wolves, deer, and a diversity of birdlife.
Pelister National Park is located in the Baba Mountain massif.
Galichica National Park is also located in North Macedonia.
Matka Canyon is a spectacular location.
Kuklica rock formations are an interesting film location.
Peshna cave is located near Slatina.
Mount Korab is the highest mountain in North Macedonia.
Mount Ljuboten is a peak of the Šar Mountains which has snow in the winter and wildflowers in the summer.
Waterfalls of note include Koleshino Falls, Smolare Falls, and Duf Falls.
Makedonium monument, located in in Kruševo, is an interesting Communist Yugoslav-era structure.
Shutka is the largest Roma community in Europe.
North Macedonia Film Location Permits
No extraordinary restrictions or rules apply. Permitting in North Macedonia is a very straightforward process. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
North Macedonia has a transitional climate from Mediterranean to continental. The summers (June to September) are hot and dry and the winters (November to March) are moderately cold. May through to September are the best months to shoot for weather. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Traditional Macedonian festivals and events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• Vevcani Carnival in January.
• Strumica Carnival in March / April.
• Galicnik Wedding Festival in July.
Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the main religion. There is also a sizeable Muslim community.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in North Macedonia.
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. 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 Macedonian fixer / service producer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. 20% cash rebate exists on qualifying North Macedonian spend. For more information see Macedonian Film Agency.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. North Macedonia has a very small local pool of directors, videographers and stills photographers. Key crew should be brought in from abroad. North Macedonia’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 North Macedonia.
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 North Macedonia so street casting is often required.
Macedonian and Albanian are the official languages.
Macedonians are the largest ethnic group. There is also a sizeable community of Albanians particularly in the north of the country. Smaller minority groups include Turks, Roma, Serbs and Bosniaks. Macedonia’s close proximity to major European production centres allows you easy access to those pools of talent should you ever need to look further.
North Macedonia Film Equipment
Equipment. Only the most basic camera, grip and lighting equipment is available locally. Best to bring in all equipment from abroad. For productions looking to bring in film equipment North Macedonia 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 basic.
Studios. Basic facilities exist but studios are not North Macedonia’s strong point.
Backlots. None exist at present.
Post Production. Post abroad.
Visas & Work Permits
North Macedonia is not a Schengen Area member. Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Contact your local North Macedonian embassy / representative for more information.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure is all up to known and expected world standards. Several international airlines service flights to North Macedonia.
Accommodation. Recommended film friendly hotels in Skopje include:
Aleksandar Palace
Hotel Stone Bridge
Duvet Boutique Hotel
For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Please contact us for corporate rates.
Final Notes
Safety. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Try local cuisine such as burek, ajvar, shopska, tavče gravče, sarmi, and rakija.
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 North Macedonia, please see below:
Hire North Macedonia Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in North Macedonia, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in North Macedonia, 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.
