Location Spotlight: The Bountiful Possibilities of The Balkans

Film Fixers Balkans is a production service company operating in the Balkans, filled with a team of dedicated filmmakers with one goal in mind: uniting the Balkans.

What started as a local service company in Sofia has steadily grown into Film Fixers Balkans, working in 19 countries and providing bespoke services for clients from the U.S. to Japan.

What drives them is creative ideas, solving problems, challenging tasks, having fun, being aware of our environmental blueprint, and making friends.

Yavor Gadzhev sat down with LBB to discuss the “oasis of possibilities” that come with filming in the Balkans and why it is considered a year-round filming playground…

LBB> Why Shoot Here?

Yavor> The Balkans, as one of the oldest inhabited places, nowadays stands out as a newly discovered oasis of possibilities.

Green landscapes and fresh energy in spring, hot sunny beaches with cool mountain escapes in summer, golden vineyards and harvest festivals in autumn, and snowy peaks with cosy winter huts in winter. It’s like four movie sets in one compact region, smaller than France.

LBB> What are the main qualities of your region?

Yavor> The region offers stunning landscapes, professional studios, and skilled local crews. Countries are close to each other, making travel efficient, and many are also budget-friendly.

The Balkans are also home to compact, talented professionals, as well as talented actors. Every capital city offers at least four highly trained professional crews ready for action. We have had cases in which we have run three simultaneous shoots in three different countries without a hitch.

Additionally, our shared network keeps equipment and rental prices highly competitive, delivering both quality and value in one package with us.

LBB> What would you say are the top locations in the country?

Yavor> The most memorable and associated is the striking Soviet-era brutalist architecture, and beautiful nature. However, the most wanted locations in the Balkans continue to be – New York, London, medieval and western world cowboy towns, futuristic skyscrapers, or seaside resorts.

Add in underwater studios and even full-scale backlot streets, and the region becomes one giant, flexible film set.

That’s why so many productions choose it: you can shoot the whole world here without ever leaving.

LBB> Explain the climate and the best/worst times to shoot in this country?

Yavor> The Balkans are truly a year-round filming playground – from evergreen islands like Cyprus to snowy peaks in Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

The only time that can be tricky is the height of summer along the Adriatic and Black Sea coasts, when tourists pack the beaches. Otherwise, every season offers a ready-made set: lush spring, golden autumn, and atmospheric winter. If it is cold in winter, come to the warmest places in Cyprus and Turkey.

LBB> What specific work permits/Visas are required to shoot in this country?

Yavor> Most of the countries we work in are within the EU and the Schengen Area, so border crossings are simple. For non-Schengen countries such as Albania or Serbia, it is also easy. Note: for the Schengen Area, about 60 non-EU countries can enter without a visa.

LBB> How is the infrastructure in this country for supporting large productions?

Yavor> We have access to top-tier cinema equipment, from ARRI Alexa Mini LF and Sony Venice 2 cameras to Cooke S7i and Zeiss Supreme Prime lenses, plus advanced gimbals like the DJI Ronin 4D and Trinity stabilisers. We have complete lighting setups (ARRI SkyPanel, Aputure LEDs, Helium balloons), grip, sound gear, and wireless video systems.

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LBB> What has been your biggest/most successful production in this country to date? Provide images/video if you wish.

Yavor> We made a very ambitious project for Unilever a few months ago in cooperation with Family from Kiev and Kode Media – it is still not out. Still, I’m sure a few people in the industry will be very impressed by it.

Other notable experiences are car commercials – like the one we did for Mazda near Sofia; Beer commercials that we did for Carlsberg with Papaya Films and Grey London; music videos for various artists – from the hottest Belgian rapper Hamza with Birth to up-and-coming pop stars like Beabadoobee with Park Pictures – all very creative and interesting projects of which we’re very proud!

Beautiful moments worth mentioning and making us proud this year are our partnership with Park Pictures, with two upcoming music videos fresh from the Balkans, and our newly nominated branded video for Asphaltgold – Stories2Tell from Germany.

One of our most successful projects this year that we can talk about is hosting two episodes of the American show ‘The Amazing Race’ on the oldest and most famous reality competition format in the world. The production involved more than 250 crew members, over 100 vehicles, and simultaneous shooting across seven different locations, requiring us to travel with the live action and adapt to any challenge on the go.

LBB> Do’s & Don’ts in the Balkans (The Fun Part)

Yavor> Always accept a rakia invitation and a good night out. Take off your shoes and enjoy the hospitality; always ask, and you will be granted. Appreciate people and they will love you. If you need something, always ask.

Sometimes, people may seem straightforward or even a bit tough, but it’s simply a cultural difference – don’t mistake it for rudeness. We do not shout or argue; this is how we talk.

For don'ts - never say no to grandma's food – refusing is nearly impossible anyway.

Come and see! You’re gonna love it!

LBB> Insider Recommendations

Yavor> Accommodation is plentiful, with excellent options ranging from luxurious five-star hotels to comfortable budget-friendly stays.

Dining and nightlife are vibrant and diverse: from cosy family-run restaurants and cafés to hipster bars, trendy venues, and large party scenes, there’s something for every taste.