Filming in the Balkans

Within our Balkan production zone, BARAMON covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, and Romania, an area that offers some of Europe’s most diverse filming landscapes, where Adriatic coastlines meet rugged mountain ranges and centuries of layered history. Productions can access UNESCO-listed heritage such as Dubrovnik’s fortified Old Town, Mostar’s Stari Most bridge, Meteora’s cliffside monasteries in Greece, and Romania’s painted churches of Bucovina, alongside distinctive sites like Slovenia’s Predjama cave castle and Bulgaria’s Thracian tombs. Turquoise rivers, glacial lakes, and Mediterranean islands complement bustling bazaars, Ottoman mosques, Orthodox cathedrals, and Austro-Hungarian squares, providing authentic backdrops for historical dramas, epics, road movies, contemporary stories, and travel documentaries. With several Balkan countries now offering competitive incentives of 20–40%, expanding film commissions, and both EU and non-EU access routes, the region has become one of Europe’s most versatile and cost-effective production zones.

Aerial view of a historic city with a river running through it, surrounded by green hills and houses, under a vibrant sunset sky with clouds.
A display of traditional metalware, including large intricately engraved trays, cups, and vases, arranged on shelves in a shop.
A cable car in the mountains, with a city in the distance and a clear blue sky.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, productions gain access to a remarkable blend of cultural and natural landmarks: Mostar’s iconic Ottoman bridge reconstructed after the war, Sarajevo’s bustling bazaars framed by Austro-Hungarian façades, the emerald cascades of Kravica waterfalls, Blagaj’s cliffside Sufi monastery at the source of the Buna River, and the winter slopes of Jahorina, once an Olympic venue. These locations provide cinematic depth for war dramas, cultural documentaries, political thrillers, and outdoor adventure films, with Sarajevo’s layered history in particular offering a powerful stage for narratives of conflict and reconciliation. BARAMON collaborates with the national film authorities to secure incentives of 25–30%, recruits bilingual crews versed in both local customs and international standards, and ensures historically sensitive contexts are approached with accuracy and respect. We also manage cross-border carnets and customs procedures, streamlining the movement of equipment and personnel between Bosnia and its neighboring Balkan states.

Aerial view of a historic coastal city with orange rooftops, stone walls, and a marina filled with boats, on the shore of a deep blue sea.
Historic stone tower with arches and columns, Croatian flag flying at the top, under a blue sky.
A historic church with a colorful tiled roof, a clock on its tower, and flags in front, under a cloudy sky.

Croatia presents some of Europe’s most cinematic landscapes, with Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-listed Old Town serving as a global icon for historical and fantasy epics, Split’s Diocletian’s Palace seamlessly merging Roman heritage with modern urban life, and the cascading turquoise terraces of Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Park providing natural drama. Offshore, the islands of Hvar and the Pakleni archipelago deliver Mediterranean light and coastal charm ideal for romances, road movies, and nautical adventures. These varied sites support genres ranging from fantasy series and historical dramas to contemporary travel features, bolstered by Croatia’s highly competitive incentives of up to 25–30% and its pool of skilled local crews experienced in servicing large international projects. BARAMON works closely with the Croatian Audiovisual Centre to secure permits, negotiates with island municipalities for location access, arranges marine and ferry transport across the Adriatic, and contracts local actors, technicians, and support staff, ensuring productions run efficiently and with full respect for heritage settings.

A scenic view of a coastal town with a stone pathway, a tower with a cross on top, a large body of water, boats, and mountains in the background.
Aerial view of a coastal town with terracotta rooftops, a church with a tall spire, and a fortress by the sea. An island and mountains are in the background.
Aerial view of a small island with red-roofed buildings, surrounded by blue ocean and rocky shoreline, connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Montenegro offers a striking concentration of cinematic locations, from the fjord-like Bay of Kotor, ringed with fortified towns and Venetian churches, to the rugged expanse of Durmitor National Park, where glacial lakes and Europe’s deepest canyon carve dramatic landscapes. Along the coast, Budva’s medieval Old Town provides historic character, while Lake Skadar’s vast wetlands teem with birdlife and rural villages, and the exclusive islet of Sveti Stefan delivers luxury settings ideal for high-profile shoots. These contrasts support maritime dramas, historical epics, road movies, and nature documentaries, combining intimacy with sweeping scale. BARAMON works directly with the Film Centre of Montenegro to secure rebates of up to 25%, arranges sea and mountain logistics including ferries and off-road vehicles, and recruits experienced skippers, climbers, and local guides, ensuring productions transition seamlessly between coast, mountains, and inland landscapes while respecting ecological and cultural sensitivities.

A historic stone church with red-tiled roof near a large blue lake, surrounded by trees with mountains in the background.
Empty outdoor restaurant patio with wooden tables and chairs, shops with illuminated signs and a mosque with a tall minaret in the background at sunset.
View from inside the ruins of an old stone church looking up through a collapsed roof to a steeple with a cross against a partly cloudy sky.

North Macedonia provides a diverse range of filming locations, from the UNESCO-listed Lake Ohrid, one of Europe’s deepest lakes, lined with Byzantine churches and frescoes, to the marble cliffs and caves of Matka Canyon and the Ottoman-era Old Bazaar in Skopje, one of the largest in the Balkans. Unique sites such as the megalithic observatory of Kokino, recognized by UNESCO for its archaeological value, and the pastoral meadows of Mavrovo National Park expand the country’s potential for historical dramas, cultural documentaries, adventure films, and spiritual narratives. Productions benefit from competitive costs, accessible infrastructure, and a growing pool of experienced local crews. BARAMON works closely with the North Macedonia Film Agency to secure permits and rebates, engages cultural consultants to ensure authentic handling of Orthodox and Ottoman heritage sites, and coordinates logistics for mountainous terrain, including specialized road permits and local drivers, streamlining production across urban, rural, and highland environments.

A tall blue statue of a man holding a sword, standing on a pedestal overlooking a river and surrounded by green trees on a sunny day with a clear blue sky.
A tall, unique apartment building with protruding balconies and numerous air conditioning units, set against a clear blue sky.
A scenic view of a mountain village with wooden houses, green trees, and rolling mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Serbia stands out as a versatile production hub, anchored by Belgrade’s Kalemegdan Fortress, which dominates the confluence of the Danube and Sava and provides sweeping city and river vistas. Natural landmarks such as the Đerdap Gorge (Iron Gates), one of Europe’s grandest river canyons, and Devil’s Town, with its eerie hoodoo formations, offer striking backdrops for adventure, fantasy, and environmental narratives. The heritage railway at Mokra Gora, famed for the Šargan Eight narrow-gauge line, evokes nostalgia for period dramas, while Novi Sad’s Petrovaradin Fortress, host of the EXIT music festival, blends history with contemporary culture. Productions benefit from Serbia’s competitive 25–30% cash rebate, cost-effective infrastructure, and a strong pool of English-speaking crews experienced in servicing international shoots. BARAMON manages rebate applications and financial paperwork, sources authentic period props through institutions such as the National Theatre, arranges closed-set permits for sensitive urban sequences, and coordinates cross-border logistics, positioning Serbia as both a stand-alone destination and a gateway to the wider Balkans.

A scenic view of a canal with a small green boat and a glass-covered boat docked along the bank. Buildings with various architectural styles line the canal, and a stone bridge crosses over the water. Trees and greenery are present along the sides, and the sky is partly cloudy.
Scenic view of Lake Bled in Slovenia with an island featuring a church, surrounded by autumn trees, with mountains in the background.
A coastal town with red-roofed buildings and churches, situated on a cliff overlooking the ocean, with a boat leaving a wake in the water.

Slovenia – Slovenia juxtaposes Lake Bled’s fairy‑tale church and castle, Ljubljana’s Baroque old town, the turquoise Soča Valley for water sports, Predjama Castle built into a cliff and the Venetian‑style square of Piran. Slovenia can stand in for Alpine, Mediterranean and Central European settings. BARAMON liaises with the Slovenian Film Centre for incentives, hires local mountain guides and works with coastal authorities to secure harbour shoots.

Mountain landscape with a lake, rocky peaks, green grassy slopes, and a partly cloudy sky.
A large, modern, round building with a tall, narrow tower on top, situated on a grassy hill under a partly cloudy sky.
View of a large cathedral with a golden dome and smaller green domes, partly obscured by market tents in the foreground.

Bulgaria combines monumental heritage, dramatic landscapes, and modern studio infrastructure, making it one of Eastern Europe’s most versatile filming destinations. Landmark sites include Sofia’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its golden domes, the 10th-century Rila Monastery set high in the mountains, Veliko Tarnovo’s medieval fortress perched along a rocky ridge, the surreal sandstone formations of the Belogradchik Rocks, and the expansive Black Sea coast at Sunny Beach, known for long daylight hours. Beyond natural and cultural locations, Bulgaria is home to Nu Boyana Film Studios in Sofia, a major backlot facility regularly used by international blockbusters for its standing sets and VFX capacity. These assets position the country as a hub for fantasy sagas, action films, period dramas, and historical epics. BARAMON liaises with the Bulgarian National Film Centre to secure rebates of up to 25%, arranges mountain and sea transport logistics, and collaborates with skilled local art departments and set builders, ensuring international productions benefit from Bulgaria’s cost-effective yet world-class resources.

Aerial view of a tropical beach with turquoise water, sandy shoreline, and a small rocky island. There are numerous umbrellas and sun loungers along the beach, and people swimming and relaxing in the water. A boat and jet skis are visible near the shore.
White marble rectangular structures of varying heights against a clear blue sky.
A church with a red-tiled roof and a cross on top, surrounded by mountain scenery and a curved walkway.

Cyprus offers an exceptional mix of archaeological heritage and island landscapes, from the UNESCO-listed Tombs of the Kings and the intricate mosaics of Paphos to the painted Byzantine monasteries of the Troodos Mountains. Nicosia’s walled old city, the last divided capital in Europe, provides unique political and historical resonance, while the Akamas Peninsula’s remote turtle-nesting beaches and Kourion’s clifftop Greco-Roman amphitheatre overlooking the Mediterranean create cinematic backdrops of both intimacy and grandeur. These settings suit Biblical dramas, Mediterranean romances, war stories, and environmental documentaries, with the island’s year-round sunshine extending filming seasons. BARAMON collaborates with the Cyprus Film Commission to secure incentives of up to 35%, coordinates access to protected heritage sites and marine reserves, and recruits bilingual crews familiar with both Greek and Turkish communities, ensuring productions are handled with cultural sensitivity and operational efficiency.

Ancient Greek temple ruins with tall columns and a clear blue sky.
White buildings with rounded roofs and stairs in a seaside village, with a traditional windmill and a blue sky in the background.
An outdoor seating area with wooden chairs and a small round table in front of a white, textured stone wall. There is a tree with green leaves shading part of the scene and a wooden sign with Greek writing on the right side.

Greece offers some of the most iconic filming locations in the world, from the Parthenon rising above the Acropolis in Athens to Santorini’s whitewashed villages perched around a volcanic caldera. The cliffside monasteries of Meteora create otherworldly vertical settings, while Epidaurus’ ancient theatre, renowned for its perfect acoustics, remains a living monument to classical performance. On Crete, the Samaria Gorge provides epic natural scale, complemented by the Minoan ruins at Knossos, birthplace of Europe’s earliest myths. These sites serve historical epics, mythological adaptations, political thrillers, and resort-themed productions, all enhanced by Greece’s luminous Mediterranean light and long filming season. BARAMON works with the Hellenic Film Commission to arrange permits, negotiates with the Ministry of Culture and archaeological authorities for heritage access, organizes island ferry logistics, and engages historians and choreographers to ensure both narrative and visual accuracy in portraying Greece’s layered cultural heritage.

View of a historical European castle courtyard with red-tiled roofs, white and timber-framed walls, a small group of people, and green trees in the background.
Aerial view of a green mountainous valley with winding roads, dense forests, and small buildings under a cloudy sky.
A small black house with a red roof nestled among green trees on a hillside, with misty forest and mountains in the background.

Romania combines myth, history, and natural spectacle, offering locations that range from Bran Castle in Transylvania, immortalized through Dracula lore, to the immense Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, the world’s heaviest building and a monumental backdrop for political thrillers. The capital’s Lipscani district adds cobbled streets and Belle Époque charm, while the Transfăgărășan highway, often cited as one of the world’s most dramatic mountain roads, cuts through alpine scenery ideal for road movies and action sequences. Beyond the mountains, the Danube Delta’s labyrinth of reed islands and abundant birdlife offers a unique ecological stage, complemented by the Gothic ramparts of Corvin Castle in Hunedoara, which anchor medieval and fantasy narratives. Romania’s highly competitive 35% rebate, combined with its reputation for skilled crews and cost-effective infrastructure, makes it a leading production hub in Eastern Europe. BARAMON coordinates with the Romanian National Center of Cinematography to secure permits and manage rebate paperwork, while contracting local line producers and technical teams to ensure efficient, high-quality delivery for both studio-scale epics and independent features.

BARAMON delivers dedicated production support in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, and Cyprus, where our team maintains trusted local networks and long-standing operational expertise. Co-founder Hisanori Tamura resides part of each year in Belgrade, reinforcing linguistic skills and cultural ties across the region. Guided by our principle of working only where we hold genuine local understanding, and to safeguard both production security and our values, we do not cover projects in the following Eastern European countries: Albania, Belarus, Kosovo, Moldova, Northern Cyprus, Russia, Transnistria, or Ukraine. For these territories, we instead assist clients by identifying reliable local partners. This selective approach guarantees that every production entrusted to us benefits from professional reliability, authentic cultural insight, and secure, well-grounded operations.