Why Sweden – all the resources to realise your artistic vision
Work in a business-friendly economy that provides a safe, sustainable production environment with access to cutting-edge visual production technology.
Discover Sweden’s Exceptional Film and TV Financing Opportunities
Here is an overview of the key components of the Swedish film funding ecosystem.
The Swedish Film Institute (SFI)
The Film Institute’s production funding is aimed at professional producers, screenwriters and directors. It also includes international film co-productions.
The Film Institute promotes new and coming Swedish features, documentaries and short films at key markets and festivals, often under the banner of The Five Nordics together with the other Nordic film institutes and has an international distribution support scheme in place.
For more information, visit:
The Swedish Film Production Incentive
This support is for companies that want to produce films or TV series in Sweden. It can be used for feature films, documentaries, drama series, or documentary series, regardless of the technology used to bring them to the screen.
However, it cannot be used for reality shows, music videos, or commercials. The support can cover costs for pre-production, production, and post-production.
Important details
- The support is permanent from 2022 and totals 87 million SEK per year.
- Applications are open twice a year and are handled on a “first come, first served” basis.
- The support can cover up to 25% of eligible costs.
- Eligible costs include salaries for people who pay taxes in Sweden and purchases from companies that are required to pay taxes in Sweden.
- You can apply for the payment after the costs have been incurred.
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth administers this support and works to foster competitive businesses and sustainable development across all parts of Sweden.
For more information, visit:
Ingmar Bergman, Elliott Gould (David Kovac), Bibi Andersson (Karin Vergues), Sven Nykvist and Max von Sydow (Andreas Vergeus) during the recording of The Touch. Photo: Bo-Erik Gyberg © AB Svensk Filmindustri
The Regional Film Funds
In Sweden there are 19 regions active in Film. There are four of them that work more extensively abroad – Film i Väst, Film Stockholm, Filmpool Nord and Film i Skåne. The four largest regional film funds provide funding, resources, and support for filmmakers based in their respective regions.
These regional funds may cover part of the production costs in exchange for local economic benefits, and they often emphasize local talent and projects with regional relevance.
Below there is a brief presentation of the four largest regional film funds in Sweden. The size of their investments varies from fund to fund and over time.
Filmpool Nord
Filmpool Nord is Sweden’s northernmost film region and has co-produced more than 1,000 films and drama series since its inception in 1992. Located in Norrbotten County, parts of the region stretch above the Arctic Circle. Covering 25% of Sweden’s landmass, it is also one of the largest film regions in the country—and among the northernmost in the world.
Norrbotten shares borders with both Finland and Norway and offers a unique variety of seasons, from snowy winter landscapes lit by the northern lights to the endless daylight of the midnight sun.
Filmpool Nord is dedicated to developing and growing the regional film industry while also promoting Norrbotten’s visibility on both a national and international level. We invest in feature films, TV series, documentaries, and short films, many of which have been showcased at the world’s most prestigious film festivals. We also focus on talent development and work actively with children and young people.
We welcome productions from all over the world and are happy to share our expertise in everything related to filming in Norrbotten.
For more information, visit:
Film i Väst
Film i Väst is Scandinavia’s leading film fund and has co-produced more than 1,600 Swedish and international films and drama series since 1992. Based on the Swedish West Coast, Film i Väst is part of Region Västra Götaland.
Thanks to strong collaborations with Swedish and international producers, over 100 films have been screened at Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, and Sundance. Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness was filmed at Studio Fares in Trollhättan. The same studio is now home to Europe’s largest projector-based Virtual Production Wall, newly built to support cutting-edge filmmaking.
Film i Väst accepts applications for feature films, documentaries, and drama series on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadlines. Projects must secure most of their financing within their own territory before applying, demonstrate the ability to obtain theatrical distribution in Sweden, and show potential for selection at prestigious international film festivals. As a co-producer and equity investor, Film i Väst can invest up to 100% of the production costs allocated to the region.
For more information, visit:
Film Stockholm
Film Stockholm AB is the regional film fund in the capital of Sweden, promoting and developing film production in the region as well as offering co-production of films and tv-series, talent development and film commission services.
Film Stockholm provides guidance for productions that want to produce in the area, helping you with permits, local contacts such as production service companies, scouts, fixers, studios, general knowledge on local best practice and more.
Film Stockholm AB is owned by Region Stockholm and run in close collaboration with the city of Stockholm. Film Stockholm supports projects that have regional urgency. That is projects that either film in Stockholm and/or have essential crew and creatives from Stockholm.
For more information, visit:
Film i Skåne
Film i Skåne is the regional film fund of Southern Sweden and was formed in 1995. Film i Skåne favours growth and development of the region’s film industry, while also helping to make Skåne more visible internationally.
To improve and enhance the professional film infrastructure of the region, Film i Skåne invest and co-produce short films, documentaries, feature films and TV series, and focus on talent development. Film i Skåne works in various ways to increase young people’s opportunities to see, understand and create moving pictures.
Ystad Studios offers production facilities in a peaceful environment in Ystad close to Kastrup Airport, Copenhagen, and northern Germany. Southern Sweden Film Commission (SSFC) has been set up to promote Southern Sweden as a shooting location, and the southern Swedish film industry internationally.
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Image: A traditional sheep’s shelter enveloped in fog on Fårö, Gotland. Photographer/Credit: Jerker Andersson/imagebank.sweden.se
Locations – from sizzling metropolises to enchanting forests
Sweden boasts a variety of locations, seasonal scenery, and architecture spanning all styles and eras – all easily accessible through clean, safe infrastructure.
Give sustainability a leading role
Sweden is a leader in sustainable film production, with environmentally friendly practices like non-fossil energy sources, green filming locations, and sustainable transport options.