fixer austria

Filming in Austria

Hiring a fixer in Austria

As productions stopped due to coronavirus, Austria was the first country to address the problem that insurers were not providing coverage for possible forced shutdowns or delays, says our fixer in Austria. A government-backed fund paid grants of up to 2.8 million USD per production to cover losses incurred. Filming in Austria, you will not only benefit from this great film-friendly approach, but you will also find a built-up infrastructure needed for filming, even in mountainous regions, i.e. the ski resorts of Ischgl, Fiss, and Kaunertal.

Visa for Austria

Filming in Austria, you will most likely not need a visa. Austria is a member of the Schengen Area. US passport holders can enter Austria visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. To make sure, check the most updated information online, entering your departure and the country that issued your passport. Austria is a very safe place for foreign productions to visit. It also has a wealth of accommodation options for visiting crews.

Film Permits in Austria

As per our fixer in Austria, B-roll shoots in Vienna that are not affecting public movement do not require permits. Shoots that require exclusive use of public space such as laying track, setting up large lights, or controlling traffic, typically take about 1 to 2 weeks to permit. Locations in Vienna often require film permits from multiple government departments so please make sure to contact us in due time so we can allow lead time for this.

Special equipment renting info

Professional film and video cameras, lighting, rails, dollies, cranes, motion control, and sound equipment are all available. Most Austrian film equipment rental companies provide convenient one-stop shopping. You can rent an assortment of cameras in all currently-used formats. Sound equipment such as Nagras, mixers and microphones, tripods, lighting equipment, and broadcast vans is also at hand. Our film fixer will negotiate the best prices on package deals for you. They have leverage because of our long-standing partnerships with suppliers.

Cultural facts

Besides obtaining your film permits in Austria, here are some other things to keep in mind. Punctuality is taken seriously. Austrians are more formal than most countries. Avoid employing first names until invited to use them. Start with Mr. Surname. Do not be surprised Austrians are more reserved about giving & receiving compliments and avoid public affection. When walking around, do not block or step onto the bike lanes. You should also wait for people to get off buses or trains before getting on.

Weather when filming in Austria

Filming in Austria, you will discover that weather conditions vary only slightly across the country. The lowland regions in the north and east have more continental-influenced conditions with colder winters and hotter summers. The southeastern areas of Austria have longer and warmer, almost Mediterranean-like summers. In the western part of the country winters are usually mild and summers rather warm. Be aware that whatever the season, if you’re at a high altitude, the weather can change quickly and dramatically.

Tax rebate in Austria

Ourfixer in Austria wants you to know that the country offers subventions for qualifying productions. Specifically, Austria’s grant ranges from 20% to 25%. To be eligible, a production must spend a minimum of 1 million euros, or approximately $1.16 million. In addition, a minimum of five shooting days must take place in Austria, and a cultural test is applied to all candidates. Recent productions shot in Austria include The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018), Red Sparrow (2018), and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015).

Conclusion on filming in Austria

Centralized production support is available through Location Austria, and through regional bodies like Cine Tirol. Austria was a key location for James Bond Spectre. The production was filmed at Lake Altausee in the center of the country before shifting to Tirol in the west for a snowy chase scene..

Vienna’s rich architecture was the setting for dramatic stunt work on central venues, including the Vienna State Opera building for Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. The crews our fixer in Austria works with have a high international standard. They work in small, efficient teams. Crews are in unions however there is enough flexibility to package deals. Unless you want to shoot a non-disruptive b-roll in Vienna, we advise you to let us handle the film permits here.

Get in touch

hello@fixeraustria.com