The Serbian film industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the country’s economic growth by serving as a location for foreign film productions. Eight Serbian companies, with support of the USAID Serbia Competitiveness Project and SIEPA, will participate in the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) Locations Trade Show  in Santa Monica. HRH Princess of Serbia, Catherine Oxenberg, and famous Hollywood restauranteur Dan Tana are also supporting this initiative to increase awareness of Serbia’s potential as a film location. 

From April 16th to 18th, a delegation of Serbian film producers and suppliers, supported by the USAID Serbia Competitiveness Project and SIEPA, will be participating at the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica, to promote Serbia as an excellent destination for foreign film productions.  Foreign film productions can have a significant impact on the overall economy as noted by project advisor Martin Cuff: “The benefit of the film industry is that its spending is not confined to a narrow economic band, but rather impacts across a range of sectors.  The average feature film will spend around $100,000 a day when in production in Serbia.  The average TV commercial can spend even more, and even the smallest still shoot will drop $50,000 a week into the local economy”.  

Serbia has several advantages as a film location that are not well known in Hollywood, including human talent, cost savings, and locations.  By participating in this trade show, the Serbian delegation will increase awareness of these advantages and generate new interest in filming in Serbia.  The market gathers 420 exhibitors from around 35 countries.

This event will be the international launch of the “Film in Serbia” brand, which was promoted in Belgrade last month.  Film in Serbia brand (www.filminserbia.com) is an industry collaboration to provide international producers with the information required on services, infrastructure, companies, and locations available for international film projects.  The Serbian delegation is being supported by highly visible and famous Serbians in Hollywood , including HRH Princess of Serbia, Catherine Oxenberg, and Dan Tana.  The Serbian delegation will host a reception for people from the industry in popular Dan Tana’s Restaurant in Santa Monica.  The guest list includes Universal, Warner Bros, the Walt Disney Company, Miramax, Paramount, MTV, HBO, NBC, as well as famous Serbian actors and film industry representatives who live and work in Hollywood.

The Serbian delegation includes production companies Work in Progress, Gargantua Films, Dream Company, Red Production, Cyber Entertainment, the only film lab Cinelabs Belgrade, post-production company Cinebox and studios for visual effects Crater and Digitalkraft.

• LA Daily News article on this year’s Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) Locations Trade Show  in Santa Monica. Read more