2024
Biographical drama
Verified locations · Crew · Fixer · Film incentives
Filming in Bulgaria
Verified Bulgaria filming locations, local crew, a fixer, permits and the 25% film incentive, handled end-to-end from one platform.
Up to
25%
cash rebate on eligible spend
€5m
per-project rebate cap, raised in 2026
~
40%
lower cost vs Western Europe
150
+
large-scale international productions hosted in 10 years
Why Bulgaria
International expertise,
eastern economics.
Filming in Bulgaria offers Western-grade craft at Eastern-European cost.
Film production in Bulgaria sits at the heart of a deep CEE filmmaking tradition, generations of below-the-line crew trained on international features and series, working in fluent English. Its geography doubles for half a continent: the Black Sea coast stands in for the Mediterranean, the Rila and Pirin ranges for the Alps, and Sofia's boulevards and Soviet-era blocks for cities from Paris to Moscow. Studios outside the capital offer some of the largest sound stages in the region. Add a 25% cash rebate and production costs roughly 40% below Western Europe, and Bulgaria becomes one of the most efficient places in Europe to put a story on screen.
Bulgaria film incentives
The 25% cash rebate, decoded.
Bulgaria's film incentive is a 25% cash rebate on eligible local production spend, and in early 2026 the per-project cap was raised from €1m to €5m. The rebate is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and has signed 62 filming projects in Bulgaria since launch, including movies filmed in Bulgaria such as Disney+'s Young Woman and the Sea and Hellboy: The Crooked Man. It covers crew salaries, location fees, equipment, and post-production for feature films, high-end TV/streaming series, documentaries, and animation.
Bulgaria is an EU member state, and since January 2026 it has adopted the Euro as its official currency, so your rebate, contracts, and crew payments all settle in € with no currency risk.
The process has real traction: foreign companies need 2+ years of film-company registration, all documents (including the script) must be in Bulgarian, and you can't start work before your first application. As your production company and fixer in Bulgaria, ScoutAround's concierge handles the NFC registration, qualification test, paperwork, and audited report, so the 25% lands in your budget instead of getting lost in admin.
Weighted average labour savings
Bulgaria vs Hungary
31.4% cheaper
Bulgaria vs Texas
57.5% cheaper
Based on data from 30+ productions in recent years
Last updated 12 June 2026
25%
cash rebate
€5m
per-project cap (2026)
62
projects signed
€100K
minimum spend
How it works
Four steps to your set.
01
Search
Filter verified locations by type, region, and shoot date, with rates and availability up front.
02
Shortlist
Message location owners directly, compare options, and lock your set.
03
We handle everything else
Our concierge runs government liaison, permits, and crew so the paperwork never reaches your desk.
04
Shoot
On-site coordination keeps the day moving, from load-in to wrap.
Where to shoot
One country, every look.
Jump straight into Bulgaria filming locations filtered by region.
Bulgaria filming locations
Film-ready, verified sets.
Filmed here
Movies filmed in Bulgaria.
A snapshot of international productions shot at studios and locations in Bulgaria.
2014
Action epic
300: Rise of an Empire
2019
Action
Rambo: Last Blood
2011
Fantasy adventure
Conan the Barbarian
2012
Action
The Expendables 2
2024
Horror fantasy
Hellboy: The Crooked Man
2006
Neo-noir
The Black Dahlia
2010
Survival drama
The Way Back
Services · Fixer · Concierge
Everything around the location.
One team handles the work around your set, so your unit stays focused on the shoot.
Location scouting
Your location scout in Bulgaria, matching verified sets to your script and schedule.
Fixer & coordination
An experienced fixer in Bulgaria, solving problems on the ground before they reach set.
Crew
English-speaking local heads of department and full units.
Equipment rental
Camera, grip, and lighting packages on call.
Permits
Government liaison and municipal sign-off, handled.
Travel & accommodation
Picture vehicles, unit moves, and cast-and-crew housing near set.
Why ScoutAround
Built by working producers.
More than a marketplace, ScoutAround is your production company and fixer in Bulgaria, founded by people who have run sets, not spreadsheets. Founder Gabriel Georgiev produced features including Hurricane Heist and War of Letters, so the platform is shaped by the realities of production, not guesswork.
Every location on the platform is verified by our team, checked for access, power, and shoot-readiness before it ever reaches your shortlist.
On-location scouting
Every set checked in person
Team-verified locations
Do I need a permit for filming in Bulgaria?
For most public spaces and many private filming locations in Bulgaria, yes, permits are issued per municipality and per site, and rules vary by region. You won't be chasing them: as your fixer in Bulgaria, ScoutAround's concierge handles government liaison and every permit end-to-end, so approvals are in place before your unit arrives.
What movies have been filmed in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria has hosted 150+ large-scale international productions in the past decade, from studio features to high-end streaming series. Recent movies filmed in Bulgaria include Disney+'s Young Woman and the Sea and Hellboy: The Crooked Man. The mix of sound stages, period architecture, and varied landscapes is why productions keep coming back.
What are the Bulgaria film incentives and who qualifies?
The headline Bulgaria film incentive is a 25% cash rebate on eligible local production spend, with the per-project cap raised to €5m in early 2026. Feature films, high-end TV and streaming series, documentaries, and animation qualify after passing a qualification test. Our concierge handles the NFC registration, paperwork, and audited report.
How much does film production in Bulgaria cost?
Production costs run roughly 40% below Western Europe, and every one of our Bulgaria filming locations lists its rate up front. Combined with the 25% cash rebate, your net spend drops further, which is why the country signs filming projects on every budget tier.
When is the best time of year for filming in Bulgaria?
The coast and lowlands hold a long warm season from May to October, ideal for Black Sea exteriors. The Rila and Pirin mountains deliver reliable snow through winter. Sound stages run year-round, so interior schedules are never weather-dependent.
Do you provide a fixer, crew and equipment in Bulgaria?
Yes. Through the concierge arm you get a local fixer, English-speaking crew, camera and lighting packages, transport and picture vehicles, and cast-and-crew accommodation, all sourced and coordinated around your location and dates.
How fast can I go from booking to filming in Bulgaria?
As little as two weeks from booking to your first shoot day for location and permits, with rebate registration running in parallel so it never holds up the schedule.
Concierge
Planning a shoot in Bulgaria?
Tell us about your production and our concierge will get back to you, usually within two hours.
Thanks, message received.
Our concierge will reply to you shortly.
Image credits:
Kerry Ferguson (CC BY 3.0) · Vladislav Bezrukov (CC BY 2.0) · Untravelled (CC BY-SA 4.0)