Flanders, located in the heart of Europe, has emerged as one of the most attractive destinations for film and audiovisual productions. This region offers a unique combination of architectural diversity, stunning landscapes, financial incentives, and top-tier audiovisual infrastructure, making it a perfect place for all types of productions.

Variety of locations

One of the main reasons why Flanders stands out as a filming destination is its extraordinary variety of locations. From vibrant urban landscapes to charming rural settings, the region offers endless possibilities. The medieval centre of Bruges, with its untouched architecture and cobbled streets, is a perfect setting that transports filmmakers and viewers to another era. On the other hand, the cosmopolitan avenues of Antwerp offer a modern and sophisticated atmosphere, ideal for contemporary productions. Flanders also boasts industrial sites like the port of Ghent, which provides an aesthetic fit for industrial or futuristic-themed projects.

Furthermore, to facilitate location scouting, Screen Flanders offers an online location database that allows producers to explore and easily select the ideal locations for their projects, using specific keywords and tags.

Financial incentives

One of the biggest attractions for international productions in Flanders is its financial incentive system, designed to attract foreign investments into the audiovisual sector. Firstly, Belgium has the Tax Shelter, a fiscal incentive that allows Belgian or foreign companies established in Belgium to invest in audiovisual productions and receive tax deductions in return. This system is highly valued for its ability to finance projects and generate cash flow efficiently. It’s a win-win system, benefiting not only the producers but also the investors and the Belgian economy in general.

In addition to the Tax Shelter, Flanders offers the Screen Flanders Economic Fund, which provides an annual budget of €3.5 million to support productions and co-productions that spend part of their budget in the region. This selective fund, which can grant up to €400,000 per project, focuses on fiction, animation, and documentary productions and is based on economic criteria, ensuring that eligible productions contribute to local economic growth.

Top-Tier audiovisual infrastructure

Flanders not only stands out for its locations and incentive system but also for its sophisticated audiovisual infrastructure. The region has a range of studios and stages designed to meet the needs of any production. These include water stages and studios equipped for XR/VR, motion-capture, and 3D scanning services. In addition, post-production facilities in Flanders are of international quality, allowing filmmakers to carry out all stages of production without leaving the region.

Moreover, Flanders has become an important hub for animation production. The region’s studios offer services across all animation techniques, from 2D hand-drawn to stop-motion and computer-generated 3D animation. Flanders has participated in prestigious international co-productions and is gaining recognition for its ability to lead innovative projects in this field.

Internationally recognised talent

Another strength of Flanders is its availability of highly skilled talent. The region boasts internationally recognised actors, directors, and technicians who have worked on globally renowned productions like “Peaky Blinders”, “Legion”, and “Ms. Marvel”. Cinematographers such as Ruben Impens and Nicolas Karakatsanis are among the many names who have made their mark internationally. Additionally, the multilingualism of Flanders’ professionals, fluent in several languages including English, French, Dutch, and in many cases German or Spanish, makes it easier to collaborate on international co-productions.

Strategic connections

Flanders’ location in the centre of Europe is another significant advantage. The region is within close proximity to key cities like Paris, London, Berlin, and Amsterdam, facilitating the movement of crews and actors, as well as collaboration with other European industries. The compactness of Flanders allows film crews to quickly move between different locations within the region, optimising both time and production costs.

Screen Flanders presents itself as a complete and versatile destination for audiovisual productions, offering a unique combination of diverse locations, highly attractive financial incentives, state-of-the-art audiovisual infrastructure, and a pool of highly skilled and experienced talent. Its strategic location in the heart of Europe, along with its experience in international co-productions, makes Flanders an exceptional option for producers seeking an efficient, creative, and cost-effective place to carry out their projects.Whether for major international productions or smaller, more intimate projects, Flanders has everything necessary to ensure a high-quality cinematic result.