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Could the film industry become a new branch of Montenegrin economy?
Source: eKapija
Saturday, 19.09.2026.
22:46
Saturday, 19.09.2026.
22:46
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Illustration (Photo: Pixabay / manseok_Kim)
The director of the Film Center of Montenegro, Aleksandra Božović, tells eKapija that locations are one of the country`s greatest assets.
- Montenegro has a real potential to become a competitive international movie destination. The best evidence for this is the numerous foreign films that were filmed in Montenegrin locations even before the establishment of the Film Center of Montenegro and the introduction of formal financial incentives for foreign productions - Božović states.
As she adds, in a relatively small area there are "Mediterranean coasts, historic urban cores, rural areas, mountains, lakes and rivers".
- This enables the productions to find very different environments for filming in a short time and at short distances. The short distances between the locations also facilitate the organization of filming, and that is something that the producers also take into account - says Božović.
Cash rebate increased to 30%
An additional argument for attracting foreign productions is now greater financial incentives. The recently adopted amendments to the Law on Cinematography increased the cash rebate from 25% to 30%, with an additional 5% for projects that are filmed in less developed municipalities.
- With this, Montenegro strengthened its position in relation to the countries of the region with which it is competing for the same projects - Božović says.
The amendments to the law, according to her, are not only aimed at the financial part, but also at facilitating the recording process itself.
- Our goal is that international producers in Montenegro, in addition to locations,
find clear procedures and a reliable partner in the institutions, which the Film Center of Montenegro certainly already is - Božović says.
Staff, infrastructure and specialized services are lacking
However, attractive locations and financial incentives alone are not enough to develop a complete film industry. Božović singles out the development of personnel, production companies, studio and technical infrastructure, as well as the availability of equipment and specialized services as challenges.
- It is not possible to observe these areas separately. The development of production companies depends on the available personnel, and the personnel gain experience only if there is a sufficient number of projects - she says.
That is why, as she points out, one of the priorities of the Film Center of Montenegro is to strengthen local film professionals.
- Larger international productions hire a large number of specialized profiles and local staff must be ready to meet their demands - Božović states.
In that, she adds, there is also a direct interest of foreign productions.
- Since the financial incentives refer to qualified costs incurred in Montenegro, foreign productions have a direct interest in hiring domestic film workers.
There is also room for improvement in infrastructure.
- This is why it is necessary for the support system to remain competitive enough to attract projects that will employ existing domestic capacities and encourage new investments - says Božović.
The money from filming also flows into other sectors
However, the economic effect of a major foreign shooting does not remain only in the film sector, Božović points out.
During the filming, as she explains, local production companies and film workers are engaged, as well as numerous service providers from other sectors.
- Hotels, restaurants, transport and rent-a-car companies, shops, craft and technical services and others. The stay of a large film crew for several weeks has a direct impact on the economy of the environment in which it is filmed - she states.
It is particularly significant that this effect could be extended outside the most developed tourist centers.
- Additional incentives for projects that are implemented in less developed municipalities, which are mainly located in the north of the country, should contribute to the fact that filming takes place outside the coastal and tourist centers, where today the largest number of foreign productions are realized - says Božović.
According to her, the benefit of foreign productions can be longer than the period of filming itself.
- Through work on international projects, domestic professionals and companies gain references and contacts, and work standards in the sector are raised - she states.
Illustration (Photo: Unsplash / Jakob Owens)
Movies can also promote tourism
Film production can also have an effect on tourism, as locations that appear in films and series are additionally promoted to an international audience.
- When Montenegro appears as a backdrop in a film or series, its locations gain additional international visibility and can encourage viewers to visit them. The experiences of the countries around us show that film can be a very successful channel for additional promotion of a tourist destination - Božović says.
However, the ultimate goal is for Montenegro not to be just a country where filming is done because of its attractive landscapes.
The goal is for the productions to leave a lasting mark
"Attractive locations are a good starting point, but they are not enough to make the country a serious international film destination," Božović warns.
It is necessary, as she states, to develop "a complete production system that includes quality domestic personnel and production companies, technical and studio infrastructure, specialized services and efficient administrative support".
According to her, the amendments to the Law on Cinematography represent a step in that direction. In addition to the improved system of financial incentives, solutions have been introduced that should facilitate communication between productions and local institutions.
- Every municipality is now obliged to designate a single point of contact for producers, through which they will receive information about the necessary documentation and permits for filming - Božović says.
Filming permission for foreign productions is now issued by the Film Center of Montenegro, within 15 days of submitting the request.
- In the long term, the most important thing is that international productions leave a lasting mark in the domestic industry through greater involvement of Montenegrin film workers and companies. The goal of the Film Center of Montenegro is for producers to choose Montenegro because of its locations, and to return to it because of the quality of the working conditions - Božović concludes.
Ivana Žikić
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