In 20 years, 174 films have been funded, reaching a total of 548 million viewers. 10 million euros in subsidies have been distributed, generating 43.4 million euros in added value. The film subsidy was established in 2002 by the economic department of the province of Salzburg to promote commercial film productions, and the film location was set up at Innovation Salzburg GmbH. “As a film location, we are the first point of contact for film producers and offer assistance and advice when they want to shoot in Salzburg. The film location and promotion is a success story that strengthens the film location, but also an excellent advertisement for the city and the province of Salzburg,” says Edith Urban from the Filmlocation Salzburg.
From blockbuster to heimatfilm
Salzburg has served as the setting for many international and national productions: the evergreen “The Sound of Music”, the Hollywood blockbuster “Knight and Day” starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, the popular crime thrillers “The Dead of Salzburg”, the successful debut feature of young Austrian director Adrian Goiginger “The Best of All Worlds” and many more.
“Salzburg – regardless of whether it is a city or a countryside – is made for the camera thanks to its architectural as well as scenic charm. Whether it’s an alpine western, a homeland thriller or an agent satire, close to 200 films and series came to Salzburg with the support of the state,” says Manuela Strihavka, chairwoman of the Salzburg Film Advisory Board.
Salzburg shapes Austria’s film industry
The film business has become an important branch of industry in Salzburg. Salzburg shapes the overall Austrian development in the field of theatrical and TV film production. The investments of Sony DADC and Servus TV are making their mark there. Salzburg is currently home to 6 percent of production companies, according to the ÖFI’s Film Economy Report, 2021, but is responsible for 52 percent of revenues and earnings across Austria.
“Through the targeted promotion of film projects, the training opportunities available here at the location and the excellent cooperation between politics, administration and business, we are succeeding in strengthening the film location. In recent years, a breadth of film service providers has developed here that is second to none. We are well equipped for the future and look forward to further major film projects,” says Walter Haas, Managing Director of Innovation Salzburg.
Film location Salzburg as a contact point for film producers
Film producers benefit from this environment and the services of the Filmlocation Salzburg. From advice on film subsidies and the procurement of technical film service providers to help with location scouting and much more: Filmlocation Salzburg as a service and advisory facility for national and international film producers offers bundled assistance and services from a single source.
“In an incomparable way, Salzburg has been able to establish itself in the last 20 years as the most important film and media location in Austria next to Vienna. The way in which scenic beauty, tourist expertise, economic breadth, technological diversity, young scene, but also popular and above all high culture come together and mutually stimulate each other in the state of Salzburg is an absolutely unique selling point. The fact that this works so well has to do with the active and sustainable economic and cultural policy as it is lived in the Innovation Salzburg GmbH,” says Alexander Glehr from Film AG Produktions GmbH.
About the Salzburg Film Fund
The aim of Filmförderung Salzburg is to promote the cultural and film industry development of Salzburg and to support film and TV productions that also promote the economy in Salzburg. It is aimed at national and international film producers and screenwriters who want to carry out a film or TV production in the state of Salzburg. It is not bound to any genre. The prerequisite is that the production strengthens both the economy and in particular the film industry with increased employment opportunities in Salzburg (Salzburg effect and Salzburg film industry effect). In addition, the film must be internationally exploitable, for example films that are produced for the entire German market or that are distributed internationally.
