Norway 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 Norway? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Norway
For an introduction to shooting in Norway 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.
Norway Film Locations
Norway is a Scandinavian country famous for its otherworldly locations of deep coastal fjords, islands, picturesque fishing villages, mountains, glaciers, boreal forests, spectacular bridges, lighthouses, Viking history, contemporary and traditional Nordic architecture.
Offshore oil and gas extraction is Norway’s main industry. Industrial locations include mines for titanium, aluminium, nickel, zinc, copper, coal, and iron ore. Fishing trawlers are available for filming. Lumber yards are also available as film locations. Given the short growing season agricultural locations are limited. Norway has apple and cherry farms. Energy locations include hydroelectric dams, and offshore wind farms.
Norway has hosted films such as Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two (2025), Dune (2021), Black Widow (2021), Tenet (2020), Mission Impossible – Fallout (2018), The Snowman (2017), The Danish Girl (2015), Ex Machina (2014), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Die Another Day (2002), The Witches (1990), and Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
Film locations of interest to visiting productions can be divided by the following counties:
Oslo
Oslo county is located in southeastern Norway.
Oslo is the capital, the largest city, and main production service centre. The city offers several interesting film locations including the Oslo Opera House, City Hall, Royal Palace, Akershus Fortress, Vigeland Sculpture Park, Munch Museum, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art designed by Renzo Piano, Viking Ship Museum, Havnepromenaden, Gol Stave Church, and Frogner Manor. Oslo Opera House featured in Tenet (2020). Oslo Airport featured in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011).
Viken
Viken county surrounds Oslo in the southeast of the country.
Fredrikstad fortress has interesting aerial views.
The Kistefos Museum is a contemporary art museum and sculpture park located in Jevnaker.
Innlandet
Innlandet county is located in southeastern Norway.
Lillehammer was the host of the 1994 Winter Olympics. Venues of note include the bobsleigh and luge track, Lysgårdsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena, Hafjell and Kvitfjell alpine centres, and Birkebeineren Ski Stadium.
Trysil is Norway’s largest ski resort.
Reinli Stave Church is also in this part of Norway.
Mjøsa Tower in Brumunddal is the world’s tallest wooden structure.
The Plus is located in Magnor.
Bjorli featured in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009).
Rondane National Park is the oldest national park in Norway.
Lom Stave Church is located in Lom.
Vestfold og Telemark
Vestfold og Telemark county is located in southeastern part of the country.
Heddal Stave Church looks like a location out of a fairytale.
Eidsborg Stave Church is located in Tokke.
Bastøy Prison has gained worldwide recognition as the most humane and tolerant prison in the world.
Agder
Agder county is located in the south of the country.
Kilden Performing Arts Centre is located in Kristiansand.
Lighthouses of note include Lindesnes Lighthouse, and Lista Lighthouse.
The Setesdal Line is a heritage railway between Grovane and Røyknes.
Raet National Park is a beautiful coastal park.
Under Lindesnes is a restaurant located below the sea.
Rogaland
Rogaland county is located in the southwest of the country.
Stavanger offers some of Europe’s best preserved wooden houses. The city is one of Europe’s oil and energy capitals. Outside of Stavanger you can find the Sverd i fjell monument.
Preikestolen, also known as Pulpit Rock, is a flat clifftop used by BASE jumpers. The location features in Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018).
Kjeragbolten is a boulder is wedged between two mountains with a long drop below.
Skudeneshavn, located on Karmøy Island’s southernmost tip, comprises almost 130 original 19th-century timber houses all painted in striking white with orange roofs.
Vestland
Vestland county is located in the west of the country. The county has many spectacular film locations.
Bergen is Norway’s second largest city. It’s best known location is Bryggen, a medieval wharf in the historic harbour district known for its colourful, wooden-clad boat houses. The Old Bergen Museum featured in The Witches (1990). Outside of Bergen you can find the Fantoft Stave Church, and Tubakub design cabin. Bergen is the gateway to Norway’s fjords.
Oseberg is one of the world’s largest oil fields, located 140 km northwest of Bergen.
The area is known for its fjords. Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord. Hardangerfjord is one of the longest fjords in the world. Nærøyfjord is the world’s most narrow fjord. Trolltunga is a spectacular cliff edge that sticks out over a fjord The Stegastein Viewpoint is a contemporary structure that looks out on some of Norway’s most expansive fjords.
Vestland has several stunning glaciers. Jostedalsbreen, Europe’s largest glacier, featured in Die Another Day (2002). Nearby Nigardsbreen Ice Cave is a spectacular location. Hardangerjøkulen Glacier featured in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
There are also many impressive waterfalls. Steinsdalsfossen is an overhanging waterfall that you can walk under. Vøringsfossen is a beautiful waterfall. Kjosfossen is another impressive waterfall.
Stave churches of note in this county include Røldal Stave Church, Hopperstad Stave Church, Borgund Stave Church, Urnes Stave Church and Kaupanger Stave Church.
The small village of Flåm is the starting point of the Flåmsbana (Flåm Railway), one of the world’s great scenic train journeys.
Laerdal Tunnel is the world’s longest road tunnel.
Stadlandet was filmed for Dune (2021).
Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal county is located in the west of the country.
The county is known for its beautiful car roads through spectacular landscapes such as Trollstigen Mountain Road, Atlantic Ocean Road and Storseisundet Bridge.
Ålesund is a picturesque Art Nouveau city located at the entrance to the Geirangerfjord, a fjord surrounded by majestic, snow-covered mountain peaks, wild waterfalls and lush, green vegetation. Ålesund is located in a beautiful setting of islands stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Ona Island is a picture perfect tiny island with traditional houses and a lighthouse.
Juvet Landscape Hotel in Alstad featured as the mountain retreat in Ex Machina (2014).
Haramsøya is an island that featured in The Danish Girl (2015).
Sæbø and Åndalsnes featured in Black Widow (2021).
The Troll Wall is a spectacular mountain location.
Storfossen waterfall is a beautiful film location.
Trøndelag
Trøndelag is a centrally located county known for its national parks which are home to wildlife including salmon runs and musk ox.
The colourful mining village of Røros is a UNESCO heritage site.
The city of Trondheim is known for the lively old town of Bakklandet and Nidaros Cathedral.
Kjeungskjær Lighthouse is a unique location located on a tiny island.
Hanshelleren Cave in Flatanger is home to some of the hardest sport climbs in the world including Silence 5.15d (9c), and Change 5.15c (9b+).
Nordland
Heading further north you can find the county of Nordland.
Nordland is known for the Vesterålen archipelago and the Lofoten Islands.
Off the coast of Lofoten you can find the unique Henningsvær Idrettslag Stadion, a remote soccer field near the picturesque fishing village of Henningsvær.
Reine and Hamnøy are two other beautiful fishing village located on the island of Moskenesøya.
Torghatten is a granite mountain with a hole through the middle, located on Torget island.
The Svartisen glacier and Helgeland coast are also located in Nordland.
Troms og Finnmark
Troms og Finnmark is the northernmost county in Norway.
Troms is known for its wild coastal alpine mountains and the vast valleys of the interior. The city of Tromsø is a cultural hub, and the main population centre in Northern Norway. Sitting above the Arctic Cirlce, it is a great place to base when photographing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). One location of note in Tromsø is Polaria, an aquarium that looks like knocked-over dominoes. The Arctic Cathedral is another.
Finnmark lies entirely above the Arctic Circle. Coastal areas have no trees and some areas look like they could be on the moon. The indigenous Sami people live in the Norwegian Lapland. Finnmark’s ice hotels of note include Kirkenes Snowhotel and Sorrisniva. The Northern Lights Cathedral is located in Alta. Slettnes Lighthouse is the northernmost mainland lighthouse in the world. Steilneset Memorial is a monument in Vardø was designed by Louise Bourgeois.
Svalbard Islands
The Svalbard Islands are not a county but an unincorporated area of Norway. Svalbard is an archipelago located roughly halfway between the Norway coast and the North Pole. The islands are a popular place to film and photograph Polar Bears and the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). Longyearbyen is the largest settlement on the Svalbard Islands. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located near Longyearbyen. Pyramiden is an abandoned Soviet coal-mining town. Svalbard featured in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two (2025), and Die Another Day (2002).
Norway Film Location Permits
Norway has a film friendly and streamlined permitting process. Several different permits may be required depending on the location. Special permits are required for national parks, parking, shutting streets, etc. Please contact us for more location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Norway’s coastal location makes the weather highly changeable. Owing to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, coastal Norway is much warmer than what would otherwise be expected of a country so far north. Inland temperatures are more extreme with hotter summers and colder winters. The short spring (May to June) and summer (July to August) are the best times to film for long daylight hours and warm weather. Norway north of the Arctic Circle experiences continuous daylight during midsummer when the sun doesn’t dip below the horizon. Fall (September to October) sees colourful leaves. Winters (November to April) are long and very cold. These are the best months to film snowy landscapes. Daylight hours are very short with areas north of the Arctic Circle experiencing twilight all day long during midwinter. The best time for filming the Aurora Borealis is between September and March. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Norway hosts a variety of interesting festivals and events including:
• Geilo Ice Music Festival takes place in January / February.
• Midnight Sun Marathon in June.
• Ekstremsportveko extreme sports events in June.
• Viking Festival in June.
• Risor Wooden Boat Festival in August.
• Christmas markets in December.
Many Norwegians are non-religious. Christianity is the largest religion, so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Norway.
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. For large, complex projects, Norway is a relatively expensive place to shoot. Our Norwegian service producer / fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Norway offers a 25% rebate on qualifying spend.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Norway has a good but small pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Local crews are of the highest international standard. Norway has a good depth of key and support crew that speak fluent English. Should you need to look further, Norway is a short flight from other major European production centres.
Contact us if you are looking for an Oslo or Bergen 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 Norway.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable.
Norwegian is the official language. Sámi languages are spoken in the north among indigenous communities. English is widely spoken across the country.
Norwegians are the main ethnic group. The Sami people are an indigenous minority living in Lapland. There is also a sizeable expat community especially from other European countries, the Middle East, and South Asia. As a country with a relatively small population and talent pool, actors or models may need to be cast abroad which is easy given the close proximity to major European production centres.
Norway Film Equipment
Equipment. Good depth and standard of locally available camera, grip and lighting equipment. Some specialized equipment needs to be brought in from abroad. For productions looking to bring in film equipment Norway is an ATA carnet country.
Communications. In terms of communications, Norway has one of the fastest internet speeds in the world.
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 is of a high standard. Set construction is very expensive.
Studios. Norway has some good studio facilities.
Post Production. Impressive local facilities including editing, online, grading and sound design suites. Stockholm or Copenhagen are the closest places to process film.
Visas & Work Permits
Norway is a Schengen Area member state. Crews travelling on US passports do not require visas or work permits to enter and film in Norway for stays of up to 90 days.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. Norway has a comprehensive network of well maintained roads including 3 of the world’s top 10 longest tunnels. Smaller mountain passes are often blocked during winter snowfalls. The Hurtigruten ferry is a picturesque way to travel up the Norwegian coast. Norway’s size and mountainous roads make domestic flights a good, fast and cheap alternative to getting around. Several international and budget airlines service flights to Norway. Even remote northern parts of Norway can be accessed by the country’s extensive network of roads and airports.
Accommodation. Contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Oslo. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments. Hotels of note include:
Final Notes
Safety. Norway is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to visit. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Go see the Northern Lights.
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 Norway, please see below:
Hire Norway Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Norway, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Norway, 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.
