Inflation is the big monster that isn’t hiding under your bed – it’s standing in plain sight, casting a heavy shadow over your business. It affects companies of all kinds, but here we focus on its impact on our world: filmmaking and production.
Working mainly in less wealthy European countries means inflation hits us hard. Take Bulgaria: over the past three years inflation has hovered around 13.5%. Even so, the country is still known for competitive prices and highly skilled crews – a golden combination that helped major companies bring dream projects to life without breaking the bank. But costs are rising, and with travel and accommodation added, it is getting harder to keep Bulgaria the clear bargain it once was. As a service company, we have to get creative in how we attract productions here.
There is a bright side: local crews are finally earning what they deserve, and their exceptional work is valued more than ever. That is the double-edged sword honest production companies face – fair pay for the people who make everything possible, but tighter margins and shrinking budgets on our end.
So how do we keep going? On smaller projects we open doors for the next generation, bringing in up-and-coming professionals and giving young people a real chance to learn, grow and make the connections that will shape their careers.
The global business climate is tightening and the pressure is felt across the industry. In the Balkans the impact usually arrives about a year after the rest of the world starts cutting back – but when it hits, it pushes every crew to its limits. It’s unsettling, yet we remain optimistic. After every storm the flowers bloom, so we keep moving, keep adapting and, above all, keep hustling.
How does inflation affect the business?
Simply put, inflation is a general increase in prices. Consumables – electricity, fuel and so on – become more expensive. As prices rise, people ask for higher wages, especially freelancers who negotiate individually, which pushes our costs higher still.
At the same time, it reduces the competitiveness of the region, because the same budgets we had a year or two ago now stretch less. Brands are cutting budgets too, because everything is more expensive for them as well. The result is a double squeeze: smaller budgets while our own prices are higher.
As a provider you adapt – you lower your rates and trim your margins, and to keep the same income you go for bigger volume, pushing even harder to attract new clients.
The Balkans are getting a bit more expensive, but not for nothing: crews are better than ever, and local equipment rentals rival the best in Europe.
It is our job as a service company to make this as smooth as possible – keeping short-term price stability while moving in pace with global inflation and the industry. Inflation hits everybody everywhere, and being “competitive” depends on who you compare yourself to. We can safely say that the Balkans are still one of the most attractive filming destinations in the world.
Inflation isn’t just a temporary obstacle – it has reshaped the production landscape. But the industry adapts: markets recalibrate, productions shift across borders and pricing stabilises as supply and demand rebalance. Inflation may raise costs, but it also forces the industry to evolve, innovate and become more efficient. Those who adapt quickly – as we aim to at Film Fixers Balkans – will keep thriving wherever the global economy moves next.
This article was first published on LBB Online on 17 November 2025. Learn more about our work across 19 countries at filmfixersbalkans.com.
