Written by Kianna Best on Feb 18, 2025. Posted in Awards and Festivals

EUFCN Announces Winners of the 2024 Location Awards

The European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN) has revealed the winners of the EUFCN Location Awards 2024, honouring the best European filming locations of the year. The prestigious ceremony took place on 17 February at the Landesvertretung Sachsen-Anhalt during the European Film Market (EFM) 2025 in Berlin, drawing esteemed industry professionals, international producers, and media representatives.

Frøya, a rugged island in Trøndelag, Norway, won the EUFCN Location Award 2024, selected by a distinguished jury. The location, known for its striking coastal landscape and rich fishing heritage, was featured in Netflix’s Billionaire Island, produced by Rubicon.

Solveig Sigmond Ræstad, film commissioner at Midgard Film Commission Norway, accepted the award alongside key figures from Frøya, including Mayor Kristin Furunes Strømskag and film coordinator Mona Elisabeth Skarsvåg. They emphasised the importance of strategic planning in making Frøya a film-friendly destination, a goal that began in 2019.

"This victory belongs to everyone on Frøya who has worked hard to make our island an attractive place for filmmakers from all over the world. It also highlights the importance of establishing an improved film incentive scheme," said mayor Strømskag.

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna’s historic Baroque landmark, received the EUFCN Audience Location Award 2024, as voted by the public. The palace was prominently featured in HBO/Warner Bros.’ limited series The Regime, starring Kate Winslet and directed by Stephen Frears and Jessica Hobbs. This marked the first time the palace served as a filming location at such a large scale.

Marijana Stoisits, Managing Director of the Vienna Film Commission, expressed gratitude for the award, highlighting the collaboration between the film commission, Schönbrunn Palace, and the production team. To celebrate, one lucky voter will win a trip to Vienna to visit the palace.

“We are thrilled and very happy that the EUFCN Audience Location Award 2024 goes to Vienna and Schönbrunn Palace. Schönbrunn Palace is an extraordinary location that has opened its doors wide for the shooting of The Regime for the very first time in such scale," stated Marijana Stoisits, managing director of the Vienna Film Commission.  This was a huge challenge for the most visited touristic spot in Vienna, but it was mastered perfectly by the entire team of Schönbrunn Palace. The filming was absolutely a positive experience for everyone at Schönbrunn Palace, HBO/Warner Bros."

The 2024 competition featured 14 locations submitted by EUFCN member film commissions, representing film and TV productions released between 12 September 2023, and 28 September 2024. A jury comprising top industry professionals—including Sony Pictures Television executive Tammy Glover, production designer Caroline Greville-Morris, and supervising location managers Benjamin Hendriks, EJ Richards, and Sabine Schulmeyer—evaluated the entries based on their role in storytelling and overall impact.

Tammy Glover (USA), senior vice president production for Sony Pictures Television commented: “What a privilege to participate in the 2024 EUFCN Location Awards! Doing a deep dive into this year’s candidates created such an immersive experience and the shortlist reminded me of how powerful the setting of any story becomes – how the specificity of these locations elevates individual stories, while at the same time creating something universal that audiences from everywhere can connect to. Watching Frøya was like a travelogue for Norway, while the journey of the characters felt grounded and relatable. Congratulations to all the finalists – they all brought excellence and diversity to the 2024’s competition."

“Being a juror for the EUFCN has been a fascinating process; really digging deep into how the location led the visual storytelling of the projects and being made aware of the larger impact the filmmakers’ choices have on communities and destinations," added Caroline Greville-Morris (UK), Production Designer. "Being reminded of these responsibilities has modified my personal view of the wider aspects of a location choice going forward. Frøya stood out as a character itself in the production because it was not pretending to be anywhere else and its own rugged beauty and can-do inhabitants cast a spell on me.”

All finalists for this year’s awards included:

• Frøya, Norway (Billionaire Island) – Midgard Film Commission Norway
• Mdina, Malta (Napoleon) – Malta Film Commission
• Schönbrunn Palace, Austria (The Regime) – Vienna Film Commission
• Staatsoper Stuttgart, Germany (Cranko) – Film Commission Region Stuttgart
• Tajogaite Volcano, Spain (La Hojarasca) – Canary Islands Film

The EUFCN Location Awards highlight the diverse and visually stunning filming locations across Europe while recognising the extensive efforts of film commissions, local authorities, and production teams. EUFCN, a non-profit organisation representing 102 film commissions across 33 countries, continues to support and promote the European film industry.

By showcasing the significance of filming on location, the EUFCN aims to strengthen the continent’s presence in global filmmaking while boosting local economies and cultural tourism.

Images courtesy of EUFCN