There’s a tendency to think of Europe in terms of familiar tropes. Alpine vistas. Classical architecture. Chic little beaches and acres of lavender, or undulating vines. Yet it is filled with settings that are as astonishing and exotic as further-flung locales, all without the long haul. With tempting tax incentives, these European alternatives offer a surprising choice of scenery for a more positive sustainable impact.
Greece
Drama was born in Greece, as far as Western culture is concerned. But without getting stuck on images of noble ruins, which you’ll find in abundance, let us steer you towards Greece as it is now. Athens, for example, is home to almost as much modernist, mid-century architecture as pre-Christian historical sites.
The variety extends beyond rugged beaches and whitewashed villages to lush woodlands and snow-capped mountains. Filming in multiple diverse locations is a logistically-positive possibility. A predictable, pleasant climate year-round, and ‘film-friendly’ light quality whatever the time of day, allow for uninterrupted production and fewer costly delays.
Award-Winning Locations
Corfu Island, site of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, was deemed Best European Film Location of 2018 by European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN).
Chiliadou Beach on Evia Island, as captured in Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness, was likewise crowned in 2022.
Financial Incentives
- 40% cash rebate on production expenditure for feature films, documentaries, TV
series, animated films and digital games. - The Location Scouting Support Program provides subsidies of up to €10,000 for preliminary scouting for foreign feature films, documentaries and TV dramas, with applications open year-round.
- Additional subsidies of up to €500,000 for productions showcasing Greece’s cultural heritage.
Italy
Often elegant, sometimes edgy, there’s more to Italia than classic cities and shimmering coastlines. While the government may be less committed to promoting sustainable filming practices than its Greek counterparts, Italy’s accessibility and exceptional beauty make it a strong contender for location hunting and luxury goods advertising alike.
With interiors as stunning as the exteriors, you’ll find diverse architectural styles and an almost unlimited array of villas and palazzos. But there’s plenty of dystopia also: the industrial urban decay of Genoa’s abandoned shipyards or Rome’s fascist-era fixation with brutalist architecture.
Hidden Gems
- Ravello perches prettily on a hilltop, lush with gardens that overlook gorgeous costal views.
- Tarquinia hides painted crypts behind its ancient walls, beyond which stretches unless bucolic scenery.
- Nora consists of half-submerged ruins, waves lapping ancient mosaics and the structural remains of Sardinia’s earliest civilisation.
Doppelganger Destinations
- Ostuni - an atmospheric labyrinth of North African-style dwellings and alleyways
- Castello di Sammezzano, Tuscany - Oriental opulence meets Moorish citadel
- Costa Smeralda - white sand, aquamarine seas, it’s the Caribbean in Sardinia
Italy offers a 30–40% transferable tax credit with no “shooting day” requirement. Post-production time is also eligible.
The Canary Islands
Closely packed with wildly different locations, this Spanish archipelago is just a four-hour flight from most European cities. Within a few klicks of each other you’ll find colonial edifices, volcanic craters and deserts, and mossy, fern-filled forest – with mobile phone coverage. Consistent weather conditions and a mild, sunny climate make the islands ideal for filming all year-round.
This Atlantic outpost attracted traders from Iberia, Africa and South America who settled and contributed to the architecture, culture and cuisine. Today, the Canaries are becoming a highly competitive option for making big budget fantasies become real.
The Canary Islands offer a 45–50% direct tax credit – the highest in Europe – specifically for foreign productions, with a special regional regime.
Fantastical Realism
Canteras Beach, Gran Canaria - first made its mark on the cinematic map in 1954 with John Huston’s Moby Dick, chosen again by Ron Howard in 2013 for In the Heart of the Sea.
The Teide National Park, Tenerife - an arid enormity ideally representing Tolkien’s region of Rhûn, in Amazon Prime Video’s second season of The Rings of Power.
Corralejo’s dunes and the Jandia Peninsula, Fuerteventura - rooted the Amazonian action in reality for director Patty Jenkins on Wonder Woman 1984.
Sustainability, Taken Seriously
As you might expect from a territory that has protected more than 40% of its domain in National Parks and UNESCO World Heritage sites, conservation is crucial. The Tenerife Film Commission penned a good practice guide to make shoots more environmentally friendly by combining balanced economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. For more on how to make your production more sustainable, take a look at our previous blog post.
Affiliated with The Production Guild of Great Britain, Air Partner provides aircraft charter solutions to the Film & TV sector.
