Bulgaria is two hours from London by air and a fraction of the cost of shooting in the UK. For British advertising agencies, independent production companies, and broadcasters, it offers the full range of European landscapes and architectural periods - without the permit complexity, weather risk, and rate-card costs of shooting at home. Push Pull Production has worked with UK clients across commercials, branded content, and drama, providing full production services from Sofia.
Why UK Productions Choose Bulgaria
The UK commercial production market increasingly looks east for cost efficiency without sacrificing quality. Bulgaria delivers: experienced crews who have worked with British directors, locations that double credibly for Western Europe, and an English-speaking production infrastructure built for international clients. Sofia is on GMT+2, meaning real-time communication with London throughout the working day. Post-Brexit, shooting within the EU from a UK production company is straightforward - Bulgaria's legal framework is clear for both equipment carnets and talent contracts.
What We Provide
Push Pull provides line producing, location scouting, permitting, local crew, casting, equipment, transport, and accommodation coordination. We are accustomed to working with UK agency producers and their approval chains, and we understand the pace and standards British directors expect on set. Budgets are quoted in GBP or EUR depending on preference.
Planning a shoot in Bulgaria from the UK? Send us your brief and we will come back within 48 hours.
Explore Our Locations
Natural Locations - mountains, forests and Black Sea coastline. Backlots - New York, London, Rome and Middle East standing sets. Studios - sound stages and production facilities in Sofia. City - Sofia and Plovdiv urban locations. View all locations.
Extended Shooting Territory - North Greece and North Macedonia
Push Pull's production territory extends beyond Bulgaria. We service shoots in northern Greece - including the Halkidiki peninsula and Thessaloniki - as well as North Macedonia, all under the same team and the same logistics chain. For productions wanting Aegean beaches, traditional Greek fishing villages, or the dramatic Macedonian highlands, we handle scouting, permitting and crew in all three countries without the need for a second service company. One brief, one point of contact, three countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cheaper is filming in Bulgaria compared to the UK?
Crew day rates in Bulgaria run at approximately 25-35% of UK equivalents. Location fees, permits and catering costs are similarly competitive. A production budget that covers three shoot days in London commonly covers a full week in Sofia.
How long is the flight from London to Sofia?
Direct flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick to Sofia run in approximately 3 hours. Multiple carriers operate daily services, making same-day travel practical for recces and short turnaround productions.
Do UK productions need a carnet for equipment when shooting in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is an EU member state. UK productions post-Brexit may need an ATA Carnet for professional equipment entering Bulgaria. Push Pull coordinates all equipment logistics and customs documentation as part of the production service.
What is the time difference between the UK and Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is GMT+2 (GMT+3 during British Summer Time), meaning a one-hour difference in summer and two hours in winter. UK agency approval chains and client calls are straightforward to manage within normal working hours on both sides.
Can Push Pull film outside Bulgaria?
Yes. Push Pull's production territory covers northern Greece - including the Halkidiki peninsula and Thessaloniki - and North Macedonia, with its alpine lakes, Ottoman bazaars and Skopje's dramatic urban contrast. Productions can combine multiple countries in a single shooting schedule, all managed by one team. One brief, three countries.
What film production incentives does Bulgaria offer?
Bulgaria offers a 25% cash rebate on eligible local production expenditures, administered by the Bulgarian National Film Centre (NFC). The rebate applies to feature films, high-end TV series, documentaries and animation. Qualifying spend includes crew salaries, equipment rentals, location fees and post-production costs. Minimum qualifying spend is EUR 250,000, with a maximum rebate of EUR 5 million per project. International productions apply through a registered Bulgarian service company - Push Pull Production is registered and handles the application process as part of the production service.
