GFS Insider: July Edition
What we're seeing
Global production is no longer concentrated in just a handful of traditional filming hubs.
Established centres, including Los Angeles, New York, London, Vancouver, Toronto, Atlanta and Sydney, continue to offer experienced crews, strong infrastructure, and proven production capability.
At the same time, more productions are being filmed in emerging markets around the world. Governments are investing in their screen industries through incentives, infrastructure, and industry support, creating new opportunities for international productions.
This shift is already visible across several regions.
In the Middle East, Abu Dhabi increased its production rebate to a starting rate of 35% in 2025, while Saudi Arabia's Film Saudi programme offers grants of up to 60% for eligible productions.
In South America, Colombia continues to strengthen its position as a growing production hub through its national incentive framework.
The trend is clear - productions today have more location options than ever before, and the global production landscape is becoming increasingly diverse.
Why this matters on set
More filming locations create more opportunity.
Productions can access new environments, growing crew bases, expanding infrastructure, and markets that may previously have been overlooked.
However, operating in unfamiliar locations also introduces new planning considerations.
This may affect:
- Crew travel and accommodation
- Local supplier capability
- Equipment availability
- Production infrastructure
- Medical and emergency response arrangements
- Security, environmental, and community considerations
As productions expand into a wider range of locations, choosing where to film becomes more than a creative or commercial decision.
It also becomes an operational decision that influences how the entire production is planned and delivered.
Practical controls
- Assess whether the location has the infrastructure required for your production
- Review local crew capability, suppliers, and equipment availability early.
- Consider travel, accommodation, transport, and emergency response during planning.
- Engage experienced local production partners wherever possible.
- Include production, safety, security, medical, and operational teams in early location discussions.
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