All About Filming in Greece: A Comprehensive Guide to Locations, Incentives, and Industry Support

The Hellenic F i lm Commission (HFC) has published its summer 2025 edition of All About Filming in Greece, a comprehensive guide on every aspect of shooting a film or a TV series in Greece. The guidebook aims to be used as a Greek industry guide, providing all the necessary information on the funding opportunities and incentives available, as well as with useful facts and figures about filming in Greece. All About Filming in Greece presents the country’s advantages in terms of locations, climate, economic incentives (especially the Cash Rebate Greece program), professional staff and infrastructure and is a valuable tool for any international production considering Greece as a potential filming location.

The Hellenic Film Commission (HFC), a directorate of the newly established Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece (HFAC-Creative Greece) serves as the principal point of contact for international film and audiovisual productions planning to shoot in the country. The HFC’s core mission is to promote and develop Greece as a filming hub, offering information, advice, and guidance free of charge. Its main services include connecting foreign producers with the Greek industry, providing guidance on filming permits and financial incentives, locations, crew, and facilities, collaborating with ministries and public bodies, networking with local authorities, and organizing training days for talent development. As a member of the European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN), the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), and Green Film, the HFC is integrated into international industry networks.

*Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center S.A. – Creative Greece was established in 2024 with the merger of the Greek Film Centre and the National Centre for Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME)*

Greece is increasingly establishing itself as a premier filming destination in South-Eastern Europe, renowned for its diverse locations, favorable climate, competitive incentives, and skilled local professionals. The country offers filmmakers the “friendliest light in the world” and a Mediterranean climate conducive to shooting year-round. With a rich tapestry of landscapes, from unique islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas to ancient monuments, medieval towns, picturesque villages, forests, snow-capped mountains, lakes, hot springs, rivers, canyons, and even volcanoes with film-friendly craters, Greece provides a vast range of backdrops and architectural styles. The camera lens can capture more shades of blue here than perhaps anywhere else.

Greece has also been recognized internationally for its stunning filming locations. These awards highlight the diverse appeal of Greek locations, from islands to mainland areas.

*Corfu Island was crowned Best European Film Location of 2018 by European Film Commissions Netvwok (EUFCN) and Chiliadou Beach on Evia Island received the same honor in 2022.*

Adding to its appeal, and a major draw for international productions is a compelling 40% cash rebate program. Administered by the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece, the Cash Rebate Greece – Film and TV (CRGR-FTV) scheme supports feature films, documentaries, and television series filmed in Greece, covering principal photography, production development, and/or post-production stages. The rebate is calculated on eligible expenses incurred within Greek territory. Applications can be submitted by Greek partner companies, and the beneficiary can be the Greek producer, co-producer, production services provider, or their foreign partner. Eligible applicants include audiovisual production companies established or with a branch in Greece, foreign producers contracted with a Greek company, or Greek companies contracted with a foreign company for cross-border production. The rebate is paid after the completion of production and post-production in Greece, following an audit of costs.

Another significant initiative supported by the HFC is the Location Scouting Support Program. This program provides subsidies of up to 10,000 euro for foreign feature films (minimum 70 min), documentaries (minimum 70 min), and TV drama or documentary series interested in conducting preliminary location scouting in Greece. To be eligible, fiction feature films and TV drama series must have a minimum of fifteen shooting days in Greece, while documentaries and TV documentaries require at least seven shooting days. Additionally, the minimum estimated expenses to be incurred in Greece must be 50,000 euro if the project is produced in the country. Applications for this program are open year-round and can be submitted by Greek co-producers or Greek production companies contracted with the foreign production company.

*Productions filmed on location in Greece (selected)*

The Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece provides other funding opportunities through programs like the Minority Coproduction Program, supporting projects originating outside Greece with Greek participation, and new programs through the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience “Greece 2.0”. These new programs support various projects, including international co-productions and episodic work, with funding for the development of new technologies like 3D, VR, and AR.

Greece is also committed to promoting sustainable filming practices. The Hellenic Film Commission and Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center have joined Green Film, a label certifying environmental sustainability for audiovisual productions. They assist producers in adopting environmentally responsible practices and have organized workshops to discuss green protocols and evaluation systems.

The All About Filming in Greece guidebook also features testimonials from productions that have filmed in Greece, highlighting positive experiences with locations, crews, and the support of local production companies. The Greek film industry is described as vibrant, with experienced and engaged crews. Local professionals, many of whom speak excellent English, are available for various roles including cinematography, art direction, costume design, makeup, production management, sound, visual effects, stunts, camera, and electrical departments. The guidebook provides an extensive guide to the Greek industry, listing numerous companies specializing all aspects of production.

Little Drummer Girl, directed by Park Chan-wook | Filming Locations: Acropolis/Athens, Temple of Poseidon/Sounio, Kinetta, Elefsina (used as Lebanon), Nikaia/ Athens (used as Israel), Plaka/Athens (used as Rome)

Directors and producers who have filmed in Greece have praised the local crews’ commitment, creative passion, conscientious work ethic, and high standards, as well as the support of the Hellenic Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center as well significant benefit of the cash rebate.

Jon Gunn appreciated the economic incentive, energy, and commitment to developing the TV/film market in Greece for “House of David.”

Ruben Östlund found the crew experienced and engaged, locals friendly, and locations unique for “Triangle of Sadness.”

David Cronenberg felt Athens perfectly suited “Crimes of the Future.”

Molly Manning Walker had a great time in Crete for “How to Have Sex,” praising the community and Greek crew. (p. 32)

Michael Winterbottom highlighted the accommodation, pragmatism, and flexibility of people on Mykonos for “The Trip to Greece.”

Bettina Brokemper described shooting “Mediterráneo” in Amorgos as like shooting in paradise.

Alexander Skarsgård noted that Greece, as the birthplace of Western drama, offers a canvas of unique resonance for “The Little Drummer Girl.”

The producers of “The Durrells” were impressed by the willingness, hard work, and skill of the Greek crew.

Aashish Singh from “Tiger Zinda Hai” anticipated that Greece would benefit from word-of-mouth in India due to a successful shoot in Naxos.