Filming in Eastern Europe’s Georgian Mountains, Brutalism, and Modernity

Situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Georgia is visually explosive. It is a land of extreme contrasts: snow-capped peaks tower over semi-arid deserts, and ancient stone towers sit just miles from futuristic glass skyscrapers.

For directors and photographers, Georgia offers a visual texture that is hard to pin down—it feels familiar yet exotic. Recent Hollywood blockbusters (like Fast & Furious 9) have woken up to Georgia's potential, drawn by its dramatic roads and "film-friendly" government policies.

Tbilisi A City of Architectural Clashes

The capital, Tbilisi, is a dream for location scouts who want visual drama. The city is a chaotic, beautiful mix of the old and the new.

The Brutalist Icons: Tbilisi is home to some of the world's most famous Soviet Modernist structures. The Bank of Georgia Headquarters (the "Jenga Building") is an architectural icon that looks like stacked concrete blocks. The Chronicles of Georgia monument is often called the "Georgian Stonehenge"—massive, brooding pillars that look incredible on camera.

The Old and The New: Below these concrete giants lies the Old Town, with its sulfur baths and carved wooden balconies. Meanwhile, the Rike Park area features ultra-modern, tubular glass structures. This mix allows for a wide range of storytelling within a single city.

High Altitude Locations Kazbegi and Ushguli

Georgia’s mountains are its crown jewels. The Georgian Military Highway offers winding roads surrounded by massive peaks—perfect for car commercials requiring drama and scale.

Ushguli: Located in the Svaneti region, this is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. It is defined by its medieval stone defense towers set against the backdrop of the Shkhara glacier. It looks like a fantasy set (think Game of Thrones) but it is real, ancient, and accessible for filming.

Chiatura The Soviet Mining Town

For a truly unique aesthetic, we scout Chiatura. Famous for its network of rusting, Soviet-era cable cars that traverse the steep valley, this town offers a "time capsule" atmosphere. It is moody, industrial, and visually arresting—perfect for music videos, documentaries, or narrative films requiring a specific, gritty atmosphere.

Incentives and The "Film in Georgia" Program

The Georgian government offers a cash rebate of 20%, with an additional 5% available if the production includes specific cultural elements. The application process is straightforward. Perhaps more importantly, the country is known for being incredibly bureaucracy-light. Closing down major city streets for car chases or stunts is significantly easier and cheaper here than in Western Europe or North America.

Why Georgia for Your Next Shoot?

Georgia is for the bold. It is for productions that want landscapes that look epic and untamed. It is for brands that want to associate with the "edge" of brutalist design. With 12 climate zones in a small country, you can shoot snow, desert, and sub-tropical coast (in Batumi) all in the same week. It is a high-adventure, high-reward filming destination.