Location Awards 2024
The EUFCN Location Awards are the annual prizes for European filming locations, organized by EUFCN.
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 Award Jury selected the shortlist of five locations competing for two distinct Awards 2024:
a) The EUFCN Location Award 2024, selected by the Location Award Jury
b) The EUFCN Audience Location Award 2024, selected by the public through online voting. Voting closes on January 31, 2025.
The winners of the EUFCN Location Awards, celebrating the best European filming locations of the year, will be revealed at the European Film Market 2025 in Berlin.
One voter will win a trip to the “EUFCN Audience Location Award” winning location!
1 Midgard Film Commission Norway
FRØYA — Norway
TV Series: BILLIONAIRE ISLAND
Frøya Island in Trøndelag, Norway, shines in Netflix’s Billionaire Island, where salmon farm rivalry runs deeper than the Norwegian Sea. This comedy - drama, from the creators of Netflix’s first TV series Lilyhammer, explores the crazy but still down to earth battles within Norway’s lucrative salmon farm industry.
Frøya’s authenticity as a salmon-farming island, with its raw and rugged coastline, windswept cliffs, and serene bays, is more than just a beautiful backdrop. Series creator Anne Bjørnstad explains, “On this beautiful, windswept island on the edge of the open ocean, fishermen have clung on for centuries. Now, it is home to some of the world’s most successful fish farmers. The combination of the dramatic, arch-Norwegian landscape and new Malibu-style villas with huge panorama windows makes Frøya a truly unique place, and the perfect backdrop for an intense family feud about wealth.”
Since 2020, Frøya’s policymakers have strategically focused on making the island more film-friendly, successfully attracting several major productions. This effort has also earned locals in Frøya the prestigious “ÅrneSæ” film-friendliness award twice, most recently for its role in Billionaire Island. The award recognises the island’s commitment to filmmakers, supported by a community that eagerly opens homes, shares expertise, and steps in as extras. Frøya welcomes filmmakers and visitors to experience its unique blend of raw nature, local charm and collaborative spirit.
2 Malta Film Commission
MDINA — Malta
Feature Film: NAPOLEON
Mdina, the "Silent City," is a fortified medieval town in Malta that captivates visitors with its timeless charm. Its honey-colored limestone walls, built by the Arabs in the 9th century, enclose a labyrinth of narrow streets and grand palaces, which recently stood in for Paris in Ridley Scott’s Napoleon.
Its ready-to-shoot quality has made Mdina a versatile choice for many productions, including Roman Polanski’s Pirates, Kevin Reynolds’ The Count of Monte Cristo, and Game of Thrones, where it famously served as King’s Landing. Mdina has also transformed into various historical settings, portraying Ancient Rome in Gladiator 2 and Ancient Egypt in Agora. With minimal adjustments, directors and producers adapt its streets and squares to fit their vision, making it a highly versatile and valuable location for productions.
Beyond its cinematic fame, Mdina remains a favourite destination for tourists drawn to its rich history and unique atmosphere. The enduring legacy of films and TV series shot within its fortified walls enhances the experience of exploring its palazzos and medieval streets. In recent years, the Malta Film Commission has continued to strengthen Malta’s film industry on the national agenda and, more importantly, as a strong filming location on the international film production map.
3 Vienna Film Commission
SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE — Austria
TV Series: THE REGIME
Schönbrunn Palace, the Baroque summer residence of the Habsburgs from the early 18th century serves for the very first time ever as filming location. It is the residence of reigning dictator Elena Vernham (Kate Winslet) in HBO’s limited series The Regime, directed by Stephen Frears and Jessica Hobbs.
Schönbrunn Palace plays a vital role in the storytelling of The Regime and compliments the storyline in every respect. The historic exteriors hint towards the long history of the reigning dynasty and reflect Elena Vernham’s motivation to do everything to stay in power as ruling sovereign. An architectural masterpiece, Schönbrunn Palace impresses with its extraordinary and pompous exteriors as well as interiors, which make the perfect on-screen residence for a selfish, neurotic dictator. To her country, Elena Vernham’s palace is the definition of power and resilience – but when the doors close, the walls of her majestic residence seem to come down, literally and metaphorically.
With HBO’s The Regime, the location has undergone a massive reinterpretation, open for national and international productions. Until now Schönbrunn Palace has only been perceived as a historical monument. The shooting of The Regime was the very first one at this location. The filming with an internationally acclaimed cast showed political decision-makers that filming can even take place at Austria’s most visited touristic destination and that shooting there is a matter of consultation and intensive preparation.
4 Film Commission Region Stuttgart
STAATSOPER STUTTGART — Germany
Feature Film: CRANKO
The Staatsoper Stuttgart, a classical building by the Eckensee, has been a hub for operatic art since 1912. Designed by Max Littmann, it blends tradition and modernity, seating over 1400 and boasting excellent acoustics. Recently, it served as the primary filming location for Cranko, a film by Joachim A. Lang about choreographer John Cranko, who revolutionized the Stuttgart Ballet in the 1960s.
The opera house’s architecture creates a timeless atmosphere, enhancing the drama and elegance of the production. Surviving World War II largely intact, its historic façade remains iconic. Filmed in original ballet studios, Cranko features Stuttgart Ballet members portraying dancers of the 60s and 70s. Lang masterfully intertwines Cranko’s life and art, exploring his inspirations, choreography, and relationships with dancers. The film premiered on September 20, 2024, at the Staatsoper itself, where many of Cranko’s masterpieces debuted.
The production of Cranko highlights Stuttgart’s cultural importance and the Staatsoper’s role as both historic treasure and vibrant artistic venue. Despite ongoing performances, the opera house was extensively used as a set, showcasing its versatility. The collaboration with local institutions like the Stuttgart Ballet underscores the city’s potential as a film hub. Lang aimed to spotlight Stuttgart’s greatness, and the project has strengthened local identity while emphasizing the film industry’s importance to the region. Cranko enhances global appreciation for the Staatsoper’s architectural and cultural significance.
5 Canary Islands Film
TAJOGAITE VOLCANO — Spain
Feature Film: LA HOJARASCA
La Palma, known as "La Isla Bonita", is the greenest of the Canary archipelago. La hojarasca (The Undergrowth), by Macu Machín, delicately blurs the thin line between documentary and fiction. Shot entirely on the island, the film was profoundly affected by the eruption of the Tajogaite Volcano in 2021.
The film, through its anthropological and geological exploration of Mother Earth, follows three main characters: the director’s own mother and aunts. Tajogaite is the most recent volcano in Spain, located in the municipality of El Paso. Its eruption began on September 19 and lasted 85 days, forcing the evacuation of 7.000 people, transforming the island’s orography and landscape, and leaving a reminder of the power of Nature. With lush forests and steep coasts that hide black sand beaches, La Palma – declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO – surprises visitors with its ecological treasures and exceptional nature.
The territory reclaimed from the sea is the youngest in Europe, with 48 hectares and 14 new beaches, a fresh volcanic paradise for scientists and, why not?, for artists as well. La hojarasca is Macu Machin’s directorial debut and has become one of the most successful recent Canarian films. It premiered at Berlinale’s Forum section 2024 and was awarded at the Malaga Film Festival and at the Guadalajara International Film Festival. The film integrates this natural and historical event into a cinematic narrative, portraying the reality of the people who experienced the eruption of the Tajogaite volcano in La Palma.
EUFCN Location Awards 2024
READY TO VOTE?
One lucky name will be picked among the voters and will have the chance to visit the “EUFCN Audience Location Awards” winning location!