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Serbia 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 Serbia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Serbia
For an introduction to shooting in Serbia 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.
Serbia Film Locations
Serbia is a landlocked country located in Southeastern Europe. It is known for its unique and diverse locations that have been used to double for other places. Film locations of note include Orthodox monasteries, medieval fortresses, Soviet-era architecture, picturesque towns, forests, rivers, and mountains.
Agricultural film locations include fields of maize, wheat, raspberries, plums, apples, and sunflowers. Serbia also has vineyards. Industrial locations include factories for automobiles, machinery, and chemicals. Serbia has Europe’s largest deposits of lithium. Energy locations include coal-fired power plants and hydroelectric dams.
Serbia has hosted productions such as Hellraiser (2022), McMafia (2018-), Extinction (2018), Papillon (2017), The Forest (2016), and Lockout (2012).
Film locations can be divided into the following provinces:
Belgrade
Located at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers, Belgrade is the capital, the largest city, and the main production service centre. It has doubled for locations such as Berlin, Paris, Vienna and Rome. Locations of interest to filmmakers and photographers include the Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade Fortress, Church of Saint Sava, Avala Tower, and Airport City. Western City Gate is a skyscraper designed in the brutalist style. Less than an hour drive outside of Belgrade you can find the Kosmaj Monument in Koracica.
Vojvodina
This province includes the districts of North Bačka, West Bačka, South Bačka, Syrmia, North Banat, Central Banat, and South Banat.
Located in the northern part of Serbia, Vojvodina is the country’s agricultural breadbasket. It is known for its production of raspberries, plums, wheat, corn, and wine.
Sitting on the banks of the Danube River, Novi Sad is the largest city in the region. Locations of note in Novi Sad include The Name of Mary Church, Petrovaradin Clock Tower, The Our Lady of Snow Church, Town Hall, Petrovaradin Fortress, Liberty Square, Bishop Palace, and Novi Sad Synagogue.
Fruška Gora National Park is known for its deep forests, vineyards, and medieval monasteries.
Other locations of note in Vojvodina include Bač Fortress, Subotica City Hall, Subotica Synagogue, and the picturesque town squares of Sremski Karlovci and Zrenjanin.
Šumadija and Western Serbia
This province includes the districts of Mačva, Kolubara, Moravica, Zlatibor, Šumadija, Pomoravlje, Raška, and Rasina.
Tara National Park forests doubled for Japan’s Aokigahara forest in The Forest (2016).
Uvac Canyon is a beautiful winding river location.
Monasteries in this region include Manasija Monastery fortress, Studenica Monastery, and Žiča Monastery.
Šargan Eight Railway is a location right out of a fairytale. Nearby Drvengrad is a traditional village that the Serbian film director Emir Kusturica built for his film Life Is a Miracle (2004).
The House on the Drina is a unique film location.
Kopaonik ski resort is Serbia’s largest.
Šumarice Memorial Park and Museum is located in Kragujevac.
Southern and Eastern Serbia
This province includes the districts of Podunavlje, Braničevo, Bor, Zaječar, Nišava, Pirot, Toplica, Jablanica, and. Pčinja.
Golubac Fortress located in Đerdap National Park is the main attraction for filmmakers heading to this region.
The Smederevo Fortress is a medieval fortified city.
Locations of interest in the city of Niš include the Skull Tower, Niš Fortress, and Bubanj Memorial Park.
Đavolja Varoš rock formations are a natural wonder.
Kosovo and Metohija
See here for information on filming in this autonomous province.
Serbia Film Location Permits
Depending on the size and scope of your shoot location permits may be required from one or multiple government departments. For instance, specific permits are required for drone filming, controlling public space, using pyrotechnics, or filming in national parks. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Serbia has hot, humid summers (June to September) in the north and hot, dry summers in the south. Summer is the best time to film for weather. Winters (December to March) are very cold with snow in the mountains. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Serbian festivals and events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• EXIT Festival in July
• Guca Trumpet Festival in August
• Leskovac Grill Festival in September
Serbia is a predominately Serbian Orthodox Christian country, so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Serbia.
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.
Serbia Costs & Tax Incentives For Filming
Costs. In general Serbia is a cost competitive place to shoot. Serbia trades in the Dinar which offers a favorable exchange rate for visiting western productions. Belgrade is the main production centre and all must travel from there adding to those costs. Our Serbian service producer / fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Serbia is one of the few countries in the world that offer incentives for TV commercials. Serbia offers eligible productions a 25% cash rebate for feature films, TV series, animation films and visual effects, TV commercials and documentaries.
The program requires minimum local spend of:
• EUR 300.000 for feature films (at least 70 minutes) and TV series (at least 3 episodes, 40 min per episode)
• EUR 150.000 for animation (at least 70 minutes) and post production
• EUR 100.000 for TV commercials
• EUR 50.000 for documentaries (at least 70 minutes)
Film production firms are also eligible for VAT rebates for locally purchased commodities and services. VAT in Serbia is 20% with accommodation and catering incurring a 10% VAT.
Serbia Film Crew & Talent
Crew. Serbia has a good pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Local crews are hard working, speak English and have extensive experience in servicing international productions. Crews are non-union and day rates are among the most competitive in Eastern Europe. Serbia’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 Belgrade 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 Serbia.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable.
Serbian is the official language.
Serbs are the main ethnic group. Serbia’s close proximity to other major European production centres allows easy access those pools of talent should you ever need to look further.
Serbia Film Equipment
Equipment. All the camera, grip and lighting standard equipment is available locally in Serbia. Additional and specialised gear can be easily brought in from nearby European production centres. For aerial filming check out Heli Production. For productions looking to bring in film equipment Serbia 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.
Serbia Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production
Art department and set construction are up to international standards. Work can be seen in Serbia’s hosting of Eurovision 2008 as well as numerous international commercials and feature films such as Brothers Bloom (2008).
Studios. Serbia has some very good studio facilities. PFI Studios has a large, modern facility featuring 10 sound studios, fully serviced production offices, and an extensive backlot. Avala Studios is another studio complex of note.
Post Production. Serbia offers a range of state of the art post facilities including VFX studios, sound design, animation, and complete post production solutions. Crater Studios have provided post production for The Shallows (2016), and Point Break (2015).
Serbia Visas & Work Permits For Filming
Serbia is not a Schengen Area member country. Crews travelling on western passports can enter Serbia visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. Work permits are not required to film in Serbia.
Serbia Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. Roads in cities and main roads are well maintained. Rural roads are slower going. Belgrade is located less than a 2 hour flight from major European and Middle Eastern hubs. Many international airlines service flights to Belgrade.
Accommodation. Contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Belgrade. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments. Hotels of note include:
Final Notes
Safety. It is a very safe place to film. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Eat!
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 Serbia, please see below:
Hire Serbia Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Serbia, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Serbia, 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.
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