Application period from April 16 to October 31, 2026

INTRODUCTION

The Investment Promotion and Development Unit (henceforth Hellenic Film Commission or HFC) of the HELLENIC FILM & AUDIOVISUAL CENTER (ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ) presents the edition of the Location Scouting Support Program for 2026 which supports: a) the preliminary location scouting of film and TV projects of foreign initiative, exploring the possibility of shooting in Greece or b) the location scouting of film and TV projects of foreign initiative at the pre-production stage which have verifiably planned to carry out filming in Greece.

LOCATE (with)in GREECE is the renewed Location Scouting Support Program of the Hellenic Film Commission. Its 2026 edition is aligned with the founding Law of EKKOMEΔ (Law 5105/2024, Government Gazette A’ 61, “Creative Greece: strengthening the film, audiovisual and creative sector, establishment of a body for the book and other provisions for contemporary culture”), as well as with its newly amended operating regulation (Decision No. EX9419 / Government Gazette 97/12.09.2025)..

The LOCATE (with)in GREECE (henceforth the Progam), in accordance with the Operating Regulation of ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ, is drafted and implemented by the Investment Promotion and Development Unit of the General Directorate for Investment & Innovation in the Audiovisual Creative Sector, always in collaboration with all involved Units of the Organization.

The philosophy of the new edition continues the tradition of the Program, while being based on the premise that its operation contributes to the fulfillment of the objectives of the HFC, as the financial support of international film and television projects at the pre-production stage constitutes a key tool for attracting international audiovisual productions, always in line with best international practices. Through in situ research and repérage, foreign producers are given the opportunity to comparatively assess the advantages of each site/location, as well as to explore all the economic, geographical, and technical advantages that Greece offers within the international audiovisual landscape. During the Program’s new phase, particular emphasis will be placed on the geographical significance of the regions selected for each Location Scouting activity.

Within this framework, the 2026 edition of the Program of the Hellenic Film Commission of ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ aims to:

a) strategically attract and support international audiovisual productions in Greece (make your story GReat), with particular emphasis on less developed geographical regions, b) support foreign projects that draw artistic inspiration from a wide range of Greek locations (Locate your Story), c) enhance the employment of Greek film professionals, thereby contributing to the development of expertise within the domestic workforce through collaborations with international audiovisual professionals (GReat Crews).

Read here the detailed regulations of LOCATE (with)in GREECE

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY

This Program is addressed to foreign-led feautre film projects (fiction or creative documentary) with a minimum duration of 90 minutes and foreign-led mini-TV series (up to 10 episodes) of fiction or creative documentary.

Not eligible and excluded automatically from the Program are: a) recorded artistic performances and events (theatre, opera, dance, music) b) sports broadcasts or coverage c) news, informational, or reality programs d) talk shows, interviews, entertainment formats e) advertising, teleshopping, public service announcements f) pornographic content g) corporate/promotional content h) purely educational programs i) travel or gastronomy TV series

Funding by the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center has the form of a subsidy. 

Eligible projects:

  1. Applications for the program may be submitted by Greek minority co-producers -sole proprietorships or legal entities- or Greek production companies -sole proprietorships or legal entities- that have an active NACE code for production or activities related to the production of feature films, videos, and television programs and have entered into a contract with a foreign production company to secure filming locations in Greece. More specifically, companies that are established or have a branch or will operate within Greek territory must have:
  2. KAD 59.11 Production of motion pictures, videos, and television programs, and KAD 59.12 Services incidental to the production of motion pictures, videos, and television programs.
  3. A prerequisite for the applicant’s participation in the Program is compliance with any existing contractual or financial obligations to EKKOMEΔ.

For eligible projects in both categories, the prerequisites are: 

  1. Minimum filming days in Greece: a) 15 days for fiction projects b) 7 days for documentaries
  2. Minimum projected expenditure in Greece during the production (in case of project realization) is set to 150.000 euros,
  3. The project must not have started filming before application submission
  4. Maximum of 2 supported projects per year per beneficiary. The application and completion of scouting must occur within the same calendar year.

The maximum amount of the subsidy is set up to 10.000 euro. 

A film project which began shooting before being examined by the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center is not eligible. 

Each sole proprietorship or legal entity can apply to the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center for this subsidy for maximum two (2) projects per year. 

PROJECT EVALUATION CRITERIA

Projects that meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed based on the following specific criteria:

  • Special Criterion Ι: Geographical Impact of the Project (highlighting specific areas such as remote, less developed, or underexplored filming locations)
    • Focus on remote areas (mountain villages, border regions, remote islands, etc.)
    • Selection of areas under just transition, in line with the 2022–2027 regional aid  intensity map
    • Promotion of cinematically underexplored regions (e.g. North Aegean, Epirus, Western Greece, Western Macedonia, Thessaly, Eastern Macedonia & Thrace)
  • Special Criterion ΙΙ: Strategic Dimension of the Project (covering strategic priorities such as storytelling in Greece, cultural heritage, inclusion, and visual representation)
    • At least 25% of the script set or expected to be filmed in Greece
    • Promotion of archaeological sites and modern cultural heritage
    • In line with the principles of inclusivity and accessibility in the creation of film works, the Program promotes female participation in key creative roles (director, screenwriter, DOP, production manager, location manager)
    • Enrichment of Greece’s screen representation as a filming destination
  • Special Criterion ΙIΙ: Creative Potential of the Project [assessment of the main members of the creative team (festival recognition, artistic identity) and the producer(s) experience)
    • Assessment of the profile of the key creatives (director, screenwriter, DOP)
    • Experience of foreign and/or Greek producer

Read detailed information about the evaluation of the projects and the calculation of the amount of funding in the regulations of LOCATE (with)in GREECE

CATEGORY A | Thinking of GREECE

This category includes and provides financial support to film or television projects that are considering filming in Greece and carry out preliminary location scouting within the Greek territory.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES 

  • Domestic travel tickets in Greece for foreign and Greek crew
  • Arrival and departure tickets to/from Greece in the condition that they are issued by a Greek travel agency  
  • Accommodation expenses, meal and local transport of foreign and Greek crew
  • Location manager fee
  • Photographer fee (if registered in Greece)

CATEGORY B | We Chose GREECE

This category includes and provides financial support to film or television projects that, having already scheduled filming in Greece, conduct location scouting at the pre-production stage.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES 

  • Domestic travel tickets in Greece for foreign and Greek crew
  • Arrival and departure tickets to/from Greece in the condition that they are issued by a Greek travel agency  
  • Accommodation expenses, meal and local transport of foreign and Greek crew
  • Location manager fee
  • Producer fee (up to 8%)
  • Assistant producer fee
  • Photographer fee (if registered in Greece)
  • Location permit fees

SUBMITION PROCESS – EVALUTATION – APPROVAL

  1. The applications are received digitally and are processed by the Hellenic Film Commission within one (1) month. The digital system for the applications is open from February till October each year, provided that the Program’s annual budget has not been exhausted. For 2026, on an exceptional basis, the Program will operate from April through October.
  2. Once the application file has been checked for completeness, the submitted projects are evaluated by the Hellenic Film Commission strictly in the order in which they were received, on a first-come, first-served basis.
  3. The total amount of support approved under this program annually, as well as the amount of support for each project, depend on the size of the program’s annual budget. The Unit automatically ceases to grant approvals upon exhaustion of the Program’s available annual budget.
  4. The amount of funding for a project is determined by taking into account the budget for location scouting activities in Greece, as submitted with the application.
  5. Applications are approved by decision of the Chief Executive Officer of ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ, following a recommendation by the Head of the Hellenic Film Commission. In all cases where implementation constitutes a simple application of the terms of the Regulation, a detailed decision by the Managing Director will be issued, and based on this, the Financial Services will proceed with the payment of the approved support to the Beneficiary, without the need to draft and sign a private agreement. Private agreements will be drafted only in cases involving specific particularities that must be regulated in detail in an agreement, or cases of a more complex nature.
  6. Decisions regarding the Hellenic Film Commission’s Location Scouting Support Program take effect upon their publication on DIAVGEIA. Following publication on DIAVGEIA, the Unit notifies the applicant in writing, as well as the beneficiary foreign producer.
  7. The support amount is paid on a reimbursement basis, following a qualitative and financial review of the required deliverables/supporting documents. 
  8. The beneficiary is required to complete the location scouting within the calendar year in which the application was submitted.
  9. In the event that a project benefiting from this Program proceeds to production in Greece (partially or exclusively), the foreign producer of the audiovisual work undertakes to credit EKKOMEΔ’s Hellenic Film Commission as a supporter with the following text: “Supported by EKKOMEΔ’s Hellenic Film Commission Support Program – ‘LOCATE (with)in GREECE’” and the EKKOMEΔ logo in the closing credits of the audiovisual work. Failure to comply with the above obligations may result in a proportional reduction or revocation of financial support.

CANDIDATURE FILE CONTENTS

Location Scouting Support Program 

Applications for the program may be submitted by Greek minority co-producers (sole proprietorships or legal entities) or Greek production companies (sole proprietorships or legal entities) that have an active NACE code for production or activities related to the production of feature films, videos, and television programs and have entered into a contract with a foreign production company to secure filming locations in Greece. More specifically, companies that are established or have a branch or will operate within Greek territory must have: KAD 59.11 Production of motion pictures, videos, and television programs, and KAD 59.12 Services incidental to the production of motion pictures, videos, and television programs.

A prerequisite for the applicant’s participation in the Program is compliance with any existing contractual or financial obligations to EKKOMEΔ.

Each beneficiary must register on the platform (username & password) and complete the Electronic Funding Application, including the following:

  1. One-page synopsis, including a brief note on the strategic importance of attracting the production to Greece
  2. Script or script treatment in English
  3. CVs of the foreign producer/production company, the director, and the Greek production company or Location Manager
  4. Agreement assigning location scouting in Greece (for Category A) or Agreement confirming production/co-production in Greece and filming in Greece (for Category B)
  5. Detailed list of locations required based on the script
  6. Location Scouting Plan (timeline)
  7. Location Scouting Budget
  8. Production Budget (for activities in Greece)
  9. Financing plan of the project
  10. Completed Self-Assessment Table
  11. Required legal documentation

DELIVERABLES & SUBSIDY PAYMENT

Upon completion of location scouting in Greece and for the necessary financial audit, the beneficiary must submit the following via the platform:

  • List of expenses related to location scouting in Greece / Budget execution report,
  • Legally valid supporting documents in the name of the applicant, issued from the date of submission of the application to EKΚOMED onwards, based on the eligible expenses in each of the two categories of the Program, the total of which must be at least equal to the amount of the approved support. In the event that the financial report of expenses for location scouting falls short of the approved support amount, the  approved support shall be reduced accordingly.
  • Location Scouting Execution Report in Greece (detailed list of locations/sites visited, evaluation of the locations/sites visited, according to the requirements of the script, etc.)
  • HQ photographs of the locations (1–5 for each location visited by the crew), in accordance with the specifications for potential use in the Locations database on the Hellenic Film Commission website and exclusively for the purpose of promoting Greece as a filming destination,
  • A summary report from the representative of the foreign initiative regarding the location scouting experience in Greece and a statement of intent, or lack thereof, to film in Greece (applicable only to CATEGORY A),
  • Tax and social security clearance, where required.

ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ will proceed with the disbursement of the support after receiving a legally valid supporting document  from the beneficiary to ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ for the final amount of the approved support following the ex-post audit, as well as tax and social security clearance, where required. VAT is borne by ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ.

If the location scouting is not carried out within the calendar year of the application, the FUNDING DECISION is revoked.

Please note that funding from ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ takes the form of a grant and cannot cover the entirety of the Location Scouting cost. Payment is made on a reimbursement basis, after the completion of Location Scouting and upon submission of the required supporting documents and deliverables.

GO TO APPLICATION FORM