Slovenia

Slovenia is a small but adaptable territory that offers incoming productions everything from Alpine to Mediterranean scenery. Its 25% cash rebate scheme combined with the low crew costs and easily accessible locations (most only a couple of hours’ drive from capital Ljubljana) continue to attract companies such as Netflix (which made The Union starring Halle Berry and series The Witcher in Slovenia) as well as independent filmmakers.

It is now almost 20 years since Disney’s The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian was shot in the Soca valley, with its spectacular river, mountains, forests and waterfall. There was no cash rebate in place at the time. Experienced producer Ira Cecic worked on that project as a production co-ordinator and has seen the evolution of the local industry in subsequent years. At first, the country was slow to capitalise on the project, but when the impact of the film incentive in nearby Croatia became clear, the industry in Slovenia realised it could benefit from a similar measure. A cash rebate scheme was introduced in 2017.

Much of Slovenia’s international appeal is built on its pristine natural environments and historic architecture — all found across a small geographic area. Ljubljana is the main production centre and it is relatively easy to move crew and equipment from there to the coast or the mountains. 

“Most of the shoots happen in the north west part of Slovenia due to its stunning nature,” insists Jernej Krivic, head of production at local outfit Bas Production. But the historical capital city, Ljubljana, is also growing in popularity.

Ljubljana has some eye-catching historic buildings including a castle, town hall and cathedral. Koper on the coast is also spectacular for its scenery. Founded by the Romans and later ruled by the Venetians, the medieval town centre is an especially striking site.

The Julian Alps can be reached in a couple of hours from Ljubljana, offering easy access to the spectacular Lake Bled, with its island, castle and mountain backdrops. A large part of the alpine scenery is within Triglav national park, where it is possible to find glacial lakes such as Bohinj. The country also offers lush meadows and rolling hills, forests, rivers, vineyards and beaches. Head south to find Mediterranean vistas and climate along the 50 kilometre Adriatic coastline.

“It is possible to shoot at various locations during the same day, as one can be surrounded by the rolling hills of Pomurje in the morning, while enjoying the sea or looking down from an Alpine summit in the afternoon,” says Mojca Plansak at the Slovenia Film Commission. “Slovenia boasts two climate zones — the continental and the coastal. This is extremely convenient for filming, especially during the winter.”

“The variety of locations can double for Italian coastal towns and Tuscany, Swiss and Austrian Alps and old metropolises thanks to Austrian-Hungarian empire influence,” adds Krivic.

Slovenia’s beauty makes it a viable choice for commercials producers. One high-profile production was Park Pictures’ The swan for Audi, serviced by Ljubljana-based Bas Productions. Another project saw LG shoot a commercial for its 3D TVs in Ljubljana against the backdrop of a town square with rows of historic houses. More recently, Anonymous Content filmed a campaign for mobile game Game Of War: Fire Age in Slovenia. Ireland, the Czech Republic and Croatia were also considered as locations but the producers said Slovenia offered the most cost-effective option.

International film and TV producers have also taken an interest in shooting in the country, with seven productions taking advantage of the incentive in 2018, and more from Croatia, Italy and the UK in 2019, including the Strike Back TV series. Bollywood is also flocking to its shores.

Permits

Getting permits to shoot is usually straightforward. “There is no restriction with regards to access to filming in public spaces,” says Mojca Planšak from the Slovenian Film Commission in the Slovenia Film Centre.“It typically only takes up to five working days for permits in the cities.

“There are some restricted areas, such as Lipica or Triglav National Park where special permission for shooting is needed.”

Slovenia is a small territory without major studios, but there are excellent and very resourceful crews. 

Slovenia is a member of the European Union and participates in the Schengen Agreement. Its currency is the euro.