EUFCN reveals Location Awards 2024 Winners

The European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN) announced the winners of the EUFCN Location Awards 2024 at the Location Awards Ceremony on Monday, February 17 at the Landesvertretung Sachsen-Anhalt, during EFM – European Film Market 2025 in Berlin.

The ongoing development of the EUFCN Location Awards lead to a Ceremony, which was a massive success and attracted esteemed guests from the industry partners, international producers, the Media, and the entire Jury of the Awards, consisting this year of highly acclaimed film professionals.

Frøya (Midgard Film Commission Norway) was awarded the EUFCN Location Award 2024, selected by the Location Awards Jury, while Schönbrunn Palace (Vienna Film Commission) won the EUFCN Audience Location Award 2024, chosen by the public through online voting.

EUFCN Location Award 2024

Mona Elisabeth Skarsvåg (film coordinator on Frøya), Kristin Furunes Strømskag (Mayor of Frøya), Solveig Sigmond Ræstad (film commissioner at Midgard Film Commission Norway), Gudny Hummelvoll, (producer at Rubicon). Photo by Irene Cruz / ©EUFCN.

Frøya Island in Trøndelag, Norway, with its dramatic windswept coastline and unique blend of fishing heritage and luxury architecture, stands out as more than just a beautiful backdrop in Netflix’s Billionaire Island, produced by Rubicon.

The EUFCN Location Award was received by Solveig Sigmond Ræstad, film commissioner at Midgard Film Commission Norway, who was joined in Berlin by Kristin Furunes Strømskag, Mayor of Frøya, Mona Elisabeth Skarsvåg, film coordinator on Frøya, and Gudny Hummelvoll, producer at Rubicon.

 “We are incredibly proud to receive this award. It’s unbelievable that Frøya has been named the most attractive filming location in Europe. The criteria were strict, and we competed against very strong contenders. Winning the Location Award is truly touching” – Solveig Sigmond Ræstad, film commissioner at Midgard Film Commission Norway.

“What is special is how quickly everything has happened. Since the Midgard Film Commission visited us on Frøya for the first time and informed us about the benefits of film production in 2019. We followed up and, in a short time, film productions came as thick as beads on a string” – Mona Elisabeth Skarsvåg, film coordinator on Frøya.

With this Award, Frøya is not only recognized for its spectacular nature but also for the strategy and the systematic work to make the island a film-friendly destination, which was implemented since 2019.

“This victory belongs to everyone on Frøya who has worked hard to make our island an attractive place for filmmakers from all over the world. It also highlights the importance of establishing an improved film incentive scheme” – Kristin Furunes Strømskag, Mayor of Frøya.

EUFCN Audience Location Award 2024

Stefanie Rauscher, Head of Project Management and Deputy Managing Director of the Vienna Film Commission, Marijana Stoisits, Managing Director of the Vienna Film Commission. Photo by Irene Cruz / ©EUFCN.

Schönbrunn Palace, the Baroque summer residence of the Habsburgs since the early 18^th century, was voted favourite filming location by the public. The Viennese Palace served as a filming location for the very first time portraying the residence of reigning dictator Elena Vernham (Kate Winslet) in the HBO/Warner Bros. limited series The Regime, directed by Stephen Frears and Jessica Hobbs.

The recipients of the EUFCN Audience Location Award were Marijana Stoisits, Managing Director of the Vienna Film Commission and Stefanie Rauscher, Head of Project Management and Deputy Managing Director of the Vienna Film Commission.

“We are thrilled and very happy that the EUFCN Audience Location Award 2024 goes to Vienna and Schönbrunn Palace. Schönbrunn Palace is an extraordinary location that has opened its doors wide for the shooting of The Regime for the very first time in such scale. This was a huge challenge for the most visited touristic spot in Vienna, but it was mastered perfectly by the entire team of Schönbrunn Palace. The filming was absolutely a positive experience for everyone at Schönbrunn Palace, HBO/Warner Bros. and the Vienna Film Commission” – Marijana Stoisits, Managing Director of the Vienna Film Commission.

One lucky voter of the EUFCN Audience Location Award will be offered a trip to Vienna to visit Schönbrunn Palace where they will have the chance to experience the magnificent Baroque architecture of the Palace.

EUFCN Location Awards 2024 Jury & Finalists

The EUFCN Location Awards 2024 Jury. Photo by Irene Cruz / ©EUFCN

During the first stage of the competition, EUFCN member film commissions had the opportunity to submit one location from a film or a TV series shot in their territory and released between Sept. 12, 2023 and Sept. 28, 2024.

The Location Awards 2024 Jury, composed by Tammy Glover (SVP Production, Sony Pictures Television, USA), Caroline Greville-Morris (Production Designer, UK), Benjamin Hendriks(Supervising Location Manager, Netherlands), EJ Richards (Supervising Location Manager, UK) and Sabine Schulmeyer (Supervising Location Manager, Germany), evaluated all 14 submissions by the EUFCN members, focusing on the significant role of each location in the story and its remarkable impact on the audiovisual work.

“What a privilege to participate in the 2024 EUFCN Location Awards! Doing a deep dive into this year’s candidates created such an immersive experience and the shortlist reminded me of how powerful the setting of any story becomes – how the specificity of these locations elevates individual stories, while at the same time creating something universal that audiences from everywhere can connect to. Watching Frøya was like a travelogue for Norway, while the journey of the characters felt grounded and relatable. Congratulations to all the finalists – they all brought excellence and diversity to the 2024’s competition” – Tammy Glover (USA), Senior Vice President Production for Sony Pictures Television.

“Being a juror for the EUFCN has been a fascinating process; really digging deep into how the location led the visual storytelling of the projects and being made aware of the larger impact the filmmakers’ choices have on communities and destinations. Being reminded of these responsibilities has modified my personal view of the wider aspects of a location choice going forward. Frøya stood out as a character itself in the production because it was not pretending to be anywhere else and its own rugged beauty and can-do inhabitants cast a spell on me.” – Caroline Greville-Morris (UK), Production Designer.

Congratulations to all finalists and thank you for your efforts. It was a great experience to be part of this international community of jurors, with a superb selection of astonishing locations to choose from – all strong contenders. As location managers working in Europe, it is very nice to see that filming on location is being put in the spotlight and its importance is being recognized, which of course will help elevate our profession. Frøya presented their community and landscape in a unique perspective” – Sabine Schulmeyer (Germany), Benjamin Hendriks (Netherlands)  EJ Richards (UK), Supervising Location Managers, members of LMGI – Location Managers Guild International.

The 2024 finalists are:

Frøya for Billionaire Island – Midgard Film Commission Norway (NORWAY)

Mdina for Napoleon – Malta Film Commission (MALTA)

Schönbrunn Palace for The Regime – Vienna Film Commission (AUSTRIA)

Staatsoper Stuttgart for Cranko –Film Commission Region Stuttgart (GERMANY)

Tajogaite Volcano for La Hojarasca – Canary Islands Film (SPAIN)

EUFCN promotes the wide spectrum of landscape across Europe, the creative use of filming locations and it advocates the complex and hard work behind the scouting process which involves film professionals, Film Commissions and local authorities, as well as the economic and social growth of a territory generated by film productions.

EUFCN is a non-profit Association that supports and promotes the European film industry and culture. It currently represents 102 film commissions in 33 countries in Europe.

Media Partner:

Partner: