The production of Dragn, an action-horror film directed and co-produced by Peter Webber, has officially wrapped. Featuring James Paxton (Eyewitness), Lilly Krug, Carlos Bardem (Narcos: Mexico), and Alice Pagani (Baby), the film promises a visually striking exploration of the conflict between humanity and technology.

In exclusive interview for Deadline, Webber said: “After a month of madness in the wilds of a distant Serbian forest with as fine a bunch of actors as one could hope to meet, our shoot has come to an end. The largely local crew excelled themselves helping us bring this story to the screen. It was a memorable and exhilarating journey as we pitted man against machine in our tale of technology run rampant.”

The shoot capitalized on Serbia’s blend of historical and futuristic settings. This project is co-produced by Alek Conic, while Belgrade-based Clockwork Film Production ensured smooth production in Serbia. Dragn is supported by the Government of the Republic of Serbia through the Incentive Program.

Photo Courtesy: Myriad Pictures 

Serbia continues to establish itself as a premier destination for international film and TV productions, offering stunning landscapes and world-class studios. This autumn, several high-profile projects filmed in Serbia are set to make a splash on screens worldwide.

“Cicatriz” (TVE): After premiering at TVE in August, all episodes of this gripping thriller will hit Amazon Prime in Spain on September 23rd. The first ever Spanish – Serbian co-production in television, brings to life revenge and romance with Milena Radulovic leading the cast. Locations in Serbia serve as the backdrop for character’s origin story based on the bestselling novel Cicatriz by Juan Gómez-Jurado. The project is developed by Spanish Plano a Plano, Dopamine, Asacha Media Group and Serbian Adrenalin, in partnership with TVE and Telekom Serbia.

“Citadel: Hunny Bunny” (Amazon Prime Video): November 7th Prime Video’s international spy series Citadel have chosen Serbia as a filming hub for its Indian spin-off. This is not the first time that Prime’s action-packed project has utilized Serbia’s urban landscapes to create dynamic chase sequences and high-tech espionage scenes. The production execution was handled by the experienced Clockwork Film Production.

The Librarians: The next chapter (TNT): Release date January 1st – Time traveling goes wrong in the reboot of The Librarians: The Next Chapter. Helmed by Dean Devlin’s, Callum McGowan (Jamestown), Jessica Green (The Outpost), Olivia Morris (Hotel Portofino) and Bluey Robinson (Britannia) present the new librarian apprentices, while original series cast member Christian Kane and Caroline Loncq will guest-star. Once more, Electric Entertainment shows its creative power in partnership with Serbian Balkanic Media to embed local creatives and production teams from start to final pixel. 

The fall TV and streaming lineup showcases the incredible diversity of popular genres, where Serbian locations and creative teams shine both in front of and behind the camera. With established and fresh settings, Serbia proves to be the ultimate stage for talent, production excellence and team creativity.

Photo Credits: picture 1-Telekom Serbia (MTS), picture 2-Aleksandar Letic/The CW

May 31, 2024

Featuring actors Lara Dutta and Jimmy Shergill, Clockwork Production has executed another exceptional web series inspired by true events. Indian audiences have been praising the show since it’s been aired on April, 25th. According to a press release by platform JioCinema, the web series offers an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at India’s largest defense operation. It kept the promise to be an exciting and gripping experience for fans of action and drama. India’s huge celebrities such as, Elnaaz Norouzi, Lara Dutta, Ashutosh Rana took part in this project together with Serbian actors Ivan Jevtovic, Milos Cvetkovic, and fantastic Slovenian star Taiji Tokuhisa.

Serbian locations in the series include scenes shot inside the Serbian National Assembly, Military airport Batajnica and Belgrade city center, Pozarevac military compound. One of the high-profile locations is The National Prison Zabela which was a very tough challenge for Clockwork Production to execute. The direction was lead by very talented Santosh Singh, one of the favorite Indian directors among the Clockwork team. The series are produced by Sphereorigins Multivision, based in Mumbai.

In a recent interview, actor Jimmy Shergill shared his thoughts on his latest project, India’s first war-room focused web-series inspired by real-life events. He described his role as challenging but immensely satisfying, and unlike any he has done in the past. Shergill spoke about the unique experience of witnessing firsthand the strategy, risk-taking, and emotional trajectory of those who call the shots from inside the war room. He attributed their resilience to the adrenaline rush that kept them going through what felt like being right in the middle of all the action. With such dedication and passion from the cast and crew, audiences can expect an intense and authentic portrayal of the events that shook the nation.

Ranneeti was fully supported by the Serbian government in the process of production, having very demanding and busy sets counting more than 200 crew members each day and still filming on the real and authentic locations.

Trailer link: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3438462745

Photo Custody: Clockwork Film Production

April 29, 2024

Tencent Interactive Entertainment MoreFun Studio presents customized Series “The Story of Kamona” for Arena Breakout

MoreFun Studio, a game studio under the umbrella of Tencent gaming, China’s leading gaming giant, and Mama Production, a film production company from Serbia, have created a 4-episode-long video series to promote the highly anticipated Chinese shooting game, Arena Breakout, who has garnered over a hundred million registered players worldwide already. Creating a live-action series tailored to the gritty realism of such a hardcore shooter game presents a significant challenge for both collaborating parties. Undoubtedly, this venture represents a fascinating endeavour in the realm of game-derived content and marks a highly successful cross-border collaboration between the involved parties.

Ivana Dimitrijevic, owner of Mama Production believes a set of specific skills and a vast reference list in gaming content development were the things to recommend them for the job. “This collaboration not only deepened our understanding of the Chinese gaming industry but also provided valuable cooperative experience for both parties. I am thrilled to have contributed Serbian expertise to this groundbreaking project and look forward to further opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration”, said Dimitrijevic.

The entire process of ideating, casting and producing lasted almost three months, while filming locations included the old BIP brewery in Belgrade, house at Ivanovo and a crew of approximately 100 people per set. To ensure the utmost professionalism, Mama Production enlisted the acclaimed actor Andrei Lenart, known for his roles in Hollywood films such as “Kingsman: The Secret Service” (IMDb rating 7,7) and “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” (IMDb rating 7,8), as the lead role. Additionally, the invited a group of local experienced professional tactical advisors and weapons experts to participate in the production and provide guidance, adding hardcore realism and impact to the promotional video. Striving to craft an immersive cinematic experience, while ensuring actors’ reactions align with reality and maintaining a high level of professionalism in military aspects.

“The partnership with Mama Production represents an exciting step forward in our efforts to create engaging content for our global audience. We are proud to pioneer this cross-border partnership and believe it sets a positive precedent for future collaborations in the
gaming industry”, highlighted Jack, creative director of Tencent’s More Fun Studio.

The live-action series “The story of Kamona” produced in Serbia, is set to premiere worldwide in May of this year.

This case of collaboration between Serbia film production company and China’s leading gaming company in the gaming content industry opens new possibilities for future cooperation and contributes to the diverse development of the global content industry. Looking forward, it is hoped that Mama Production from Serbia and More Fun Studio from China will have more opportunities for collaboration, jointly creating more high-quality and influential works, bringing more exciting gaming experiences to players worldwide.

April 12, 2024

The acclaimed Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese, is Executive Producer of the new series The Saints. The series will encompass eight one-hour episodes exploring the remarkable stories of eight men and women who risked everything to embody humanity’s most noble and complex trait – faith.

The series was created by Matti Leshem and developed by Martin Scorsese for Lionsgate Alternative Television and was written by Kent Jones and directed by Elizabeth Chomko.

“I’ve lived with the stories of the saints for most of my life, thinking about their words and actions, imagining the worlds they inhabited, the choices they faced, the examples they set,” Scorsese said in a statement. “These are stories of eight very different men and women, each of them living through vastly different periods of history and struggling to follow the way of love revealed to them and to us by Jesus’ words in the gospels. I’m so excited that this project is underway, and that I’m working with so many trusted and talented collaborators.”

Venturing into the picturesque landscapes of Serbia, the international production team has set its sights on capturing the essence of The Saints in stunning detail. With filming underway at Firefly Studios in Belgrade and various locations across Serbia, the stage is set for a cinematic spectacle unlike any other.

Creator and Executive Producer Matti Leshem expressed his excitement about returning to Belgrade, reminiscing about his previous collaboration with the legendary Kreka on Barry Levinson’s film, The Survivor. “When he invited me to Belgrade I fell in love with it and promised him I would come back and shoot here.  I’m honored to be reuniting with Kreka and working with Ivana Mikovic and all the talented people at Firefly Studios,” said Leshem.

Drawing upon his illustrious career and international acclaim, Production Designer Miljen Kreka Kljakovic is tasked with infusing the period piece stories filmed in Serbia with an authentic atmosphere that transports viewers through time.

Ivana Mikovic, COO and line producer at Firefly Productions, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with Lionsgate and Fox Nation on The Saints: “To have the The Saints as our first foreign project is an incredible validation of our ability in the world marketplace”, remarked Mikovic, highlighting the significance of this collaboration.

Anticipation mounts as The Saints gears up for its highly-anticipated debut on Fox Nation in November, promising audiences an unforgettable exploration of faith, resilience, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

January 22, 2024

Filmtastic East Serbia, a comprehensive project spanning multiple months, successfully concluded in November, with the aim of showcasing the rich heritage and mystical allure of Eastern Serbia. This initiative, orchestrated by the Serbian Film Commission in collaboration with the Association for the Development of Sustainable Communities – TOC from Zaječar, meticulously mapped both existing and novel filming locations across the regions of Zaječar, Negotin, and Majdanpek. The result is a robust database featuring 32 distinct locations, which will be accessible on the Film in East Serbia website.

The platform, designed for the presentation of Eastern Serbia’s cinematic potential, not only highlights the scenic beauty but also consolidates essential information for film productions. The website serves as a valuable resource, offering more than 300 photos, an equal number of 360-degree images, and over 30 drone-recorded videos. This wealth of visual content aims to provide filmmakers with a comprehensive understanding of the locations, fostering increased utilization of these sites for future projects. Moreover, the website acts as a hub for local contacts and shares anecdotes from previous film shoots in the area.

Tanja Mitić, the coordinator for mapping film locations at the Serbian Film Commission, emphasized the broader impact, stating, “By launching a special website that promotes locations in Eastern Serbia and including local residents who know its potential and beauty best, new opportunities are opened not only for the development of tourist offers in these regions, but the possibility of these locations being used more often as film sets is also encouraged, which opens the way for the development of film tours.”

The Filmtastic East Serbia project extends the Film Friendly program initiated by the SFC a decade ago, focusing on fostering collaboration between film crews and public administration representatives. As part of this project cycle, a three-day training for associates in the film location sector was conducted in September. Fourteen participants from Zaječar, Negotin, and Majdanpek received detailed insights into the intricacies of film locations, equipping them to assist productions during the initial research and preparation phases.

In addition to its cinematic aspirations, Eastern Serbia has experienced a surge in tourism, with around 295,000 visitors in 2022 (according to RARIS agency), setting a historical record for the region. Notable attractions include Đerdap National Park, Stara Planina mountain, Rtanj, Krupajsko Vrelo, Srebrno Lake, as well as culturally significant sites like Lepenski Vir, Gamzigrad, Trajan’s Bridge, and Trajan’s Plaque. Gems, such as Rogljevačke and Rajačke Pimnice near Negotin, have gained popularity, having served as filming locations for numerous domestic films and series.

Supported by funds from the European Union and the Government of Germany through the “EU for Cultural Heritage and Tourism” project, provided by GIZ, Filmtastic East Serbia project, along with 11 others in six municipalities, contributes to the development of creative industries and the promotion of cultural heritage and tourism in Eastern Serbia. The overarching goal is to enhance the tourist experience in an innovative and sustainable manner, fostering economic empowerment within local communities in Topola, Negotin, Donji Milanovac, Kladovo, Zaječar, and Golupac while creating new and enticing tourist products.

December 15, 2023

In October, the Firefly Studios complex celebrated its official inauguration near Pancevo, marking a significant milestone for the prominent Belgrade production company, Firefly, operating under the WMG umbrella. As the most modern studio complex in the region, spanning 12,500 square meters, the facility boasts three studios, including a specialized pool for underwater filming, alongside accompanying rooms.

This huge event not only signifies progress on the international stage for WMG and Firefly but also marks a pivotal development for the film industry in Serbia and the broader region. Serbia already stands out for its wealth of professional and experienced production teams, coupled with an effective system of tax breaks and incentives for film and serial production, further augmented by a robust infrastructure supporting the massive production of film and serial content.

Firefly Studios extends its services beyond its facilities, offering production services to both international and local producers. The studio provides a comprehensive set of services for film, television, and advertising. Additionally, Firefly Studios grants access to some of the region’s best suppliers, facilitating production management, accounting, site scouting, permitting, and construction services of world-class standards.

Serbia, renowned for its skilled craftsmen in construction, carpentry, scaffolding, locksmithing, blacksmithing, masonry, upholstery, painting, graphic arts, calligraphy, and skating, is now poised to compete vigorously with neighboring countries.

Ivana Miković, co-founder and director of Firefly Productions, proudly notes that the studio reached full capacity within the first few months after its opening, relying solely on word of mouth. Notably, Firefly has received requests from foreign productions eager to commence work in 2024. Miković emphasizes her pride in the studio’s underwater filming pool, filling what she perceives as a significant gap in the European market. Measuring 10mx15m with a depth of 3.5m and featuring two underwater filming windows, the pool places Firefly Studios alongside esteemed European production facilities like Pinewood Studios in the UK, Studio Babelsberg in Germany, and Malta Film Studios, all equipped with underwater filming capabilities.

More about Firefly studios on the company’s website.

December 1, 2023

3Lateral and Epic Games continue with intensive education in their hub in the Science and Technology Park in Novi Sad, completing the second Unreal Fellowship, which studies the principles and techniques of visual storytelling. A total of 17 visual artists with extensive experience in various artistic fields participated in the program, including a colorist from one of the leading post-production studios in the world, a TV producer, creators of documentary and art films, 3D generalists, VFX professionals, as well as a music composer.

The 5-week-long training included everyday lectures, workshops, motion capture sessions, and work with various tools from the Unreal Engine system. Finally, the participants produced 16 authentic short films based on their scripts. Once again, a motion capture studio Take One made an immense contribution to the program, with actors Aleksandra Arizanović and Lazar Đukić providing voice and movement to most animated characters created on the program.

The Dawn of Digital Awareness sizzle reel, which offers an overview of their projects, was published by Epic Games on their Unreal Engine channels, and you can watch it HERE.

If you want to keep up with programs and events within Epic’s hub in Novi Sad, we recommend that you follow the news on the Artstation page of Epic Games Novi Sad, as well as the LinkedIn and Instagram profiles of  3Lateral.