What You Need to Know About Filming in Croatia

If you’re looking to create a film with professional production company, Croatia is the place to be. The Mediterranean nation has been one of the largest production hubs in Europe since its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. It’s also been named one of the top filming locations in the world, so it’s no wonder that some of Hollywood’s most famous movie titles have been shot there, including Game of Thrones and Captain America: Civil War. Before you plan your next film production in Croatia, here are five things you need to know about filming there.

10 Facts

1. Dubrovnik has been used as a filming location for more than 200 Hollywood movies and TV series, most notably Game of Thrones and Troy.
2. The first movie filmed on Croatian soil was 1911’s The Old Wives’ Tale, directed by George Loane Tucker.
3. Often praised for its beauty, Dubrovnik is ranked one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities on Earth and has been named Best European Destination by Condé Nast Traveler three years running.
4. Dubrovnik is also home to several award-winning festivals, including World Fest (the world’s biggest film festival dedicated to children) and INmusic (one of Europe’s biggest rock festivals).
5. In fact, INmusic will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year—and has already secured big-name acts like Depeche Mode and Kings of Leon for 2017.
6. On average, it costs just $3,000 per day to shoot a feature film in Croatia.
7. As well as being cheap, it’s easy: All you need is an International Film Permit issued by Croatia’s Ministry of Culture—which can be obtained from their website within 24 hours.
8. Along with Dubrovnik, other popular locations include Split, Rovinj and Zagreb.
9. Croatia is renowned for its blue Adriatic Sea waters, which were once voted Best Beach in Europe by TripAdvisor users.
10. Last but not least: It boasts incredible food! A local specialty called pršut (air-dried ham) is made from wild boar or domestic pig raised on acorns and juniper berries.

How did it all start?

Split became a popular filming destination when James Cameron’s blockbusters, Titanic and Avatar, were filmed here. Back then, it was mainly due to its proximity (being close to Italy, Austria and Hungary) and favorable tax incentives for filming. Nowadays, Split is a favorite among filmmakers from all over the world because of its reputation for having beautiful seaside locations and clean modern facilities.

The Reasons Why

The most important aspect of any film production is getting funding. But before you can do that, you need to know why your story matters and what will make it appealing. Maybe it’s the characters, or maybe there’s a particularly memorable location. Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to sell yourself: If people know exactly what they’re going to get out of a movie, then they have less trouble putting their money into something that could otherwise seem intangible.

The Benefits of filming in Croatia

If you’re looking for a fresh location to film your next project, look no further than Croatia. With gorgeous Adriatic Sea beaches, quaint cities and historic towns dotting its coastline, it’s not hard to see why so many movies have been filmed here. Check out some of these unique filming locations around Croatia: Mostar Old Bridge, Omišalj on Brač Island and Plitvice Lakes National Park. So when planning your next project, think about making it Croatian!