While an ongoing production exodus has prompted much soul-searching and handwringing in Hollywood, industry professionals in Central and Eastern Europe couldn’t be more bullish, as studio blockbusters, streaming series and other international productions continue to flock to the region.
In the traditional powerhouse production hubs of the Czech Republic and Hungary, business is booming. A resurgent Romania has finally begun to turn the page after its fledgling rebate system was hamstrung by years of mismanagement. Bulgaria is rising fast, as is Slovakia, whose proximity to Prague and Budapest has bolstered its status as a de facto backlot for those two boomtowns. Across Central and Eastern Europe, spirits are high.
“Global content is shrinking. It’s not shrinking in this region,” says David Minkowski, head of production at leading production services outfit Stillking.
What’s driving the surge comes down to a range of factors, among them a portfolio of varied landscapes and cities that have historically excelled when it comes to reproducing Old World charm. But in the age of Hollywood cost-cutting, Minkowski sums it up best with what he describes as a “trifecta” of regional attractions: “good incentives, super-competitive labor rates and really developed infrastructure” with a legacy that dates back to the earliest days of moviemaking.
