Developments are also expected for the new film studios Nu Boyana Hellenic Film Studios, which exceeded two scopes.
A new version of an older film filmed in the 80s, an epic production of fantasy cinema with the title “Red Sonja” in a new version is being prepared to be shot after the end of the summer and in the first period of autumn, in Thessaloniki.
“The film that is being prepared and will be shot in Thessaloniki is a remake of a film that was shot with Brigitte Nielsen, a film that was released at the same time as the well-known “Conan the Barbarian” with Arnold Schwarzenegger,” he explained. Panos Kouanis, president and managing director of the National Center for Audiovisual Media and Communication (ECOME), speaking on the APE-MPE radio station “Agency 104.9 FM”.
During this period, as Mr. Kouanis mentioned, the casting for the new Hollywood production is also “closing”. The new production is currently being prepared to start in the city and EKOME is also awaiting the official application for inclusion in the rebate program of Greece.
That particular film, which had been brewing as late as 2021 and early 2022, was delayed from moving forward as “the director behind the project had a commitment with Amazon to produce a series, so filming was postponed “, as explained by the president of EKOME.
In this period, the filming is being organized, as Mr. Kouanis added, pointing out that everything is converging so that in August, the production company will make the application to the National Center for Audiovisual Media and Communication in order for the filming “to start reasonably late August to early September”. According to the available information, these will mostly take place in Thessaloniki, with a duration of up to one month.
“Betas are falling in 2023” at the studios in Thessaloniki
However, developments are also expected for the new film studios Nu Boyana Hellenic Film Studios, which exceeded two scopes, as Mr. Kouanis said. “There were two issues that we have now put behind us. One was an involvement involving the property and it was resolved so it has passed into the hands of the entrepreneurs, while the other, which involved the pandemic and the “freezing” of many activities, also cleared up. The company is now proceeding normally, now they are preparing the dossier for strategic investments and in 2023 they will break ground”, revealed the president of EKOME on the issue of infrastructure in Nea Raidesto.
Mr. Kouanis emphasized on this specific issue that this investment, as well as another one of its kind in Athens, are the most important developments. “Right now we have reached a stage in the country where the next step is infrastructure. The cash rebate as well as the tax exemption, the two tools – incentives that we have, were very good but they were the “carrot” for these productions to come. In order to stay and create permanent growth, they need real infrastructure, which in depth is just the studios, nothing else,” he noted.
“As a country,” added Mr. Kouanis, “we don’t want a few weeks to come, shoot and the companies leave. We want this money that production takes to be reinvested in permanent infrastructure, anything around production”, said the president of EKOME, underlining that all the work that EKOME and the Ministry of Digital Governance has done goes in that direction.
When asked about this, the president of EKOME also mentioned that the training programs for those who wish to work in the field have also increased. “In all the upcoming productions, there is a big difference in 2022 from 2021. There are more Greeks working in the productions, while all companies now have training programs and train Greek children. For example, Universal held a workshop in Athens for production assistants, something similar was done by Disney last year and Millenium continues to hold workshops in Thessaloniki and trains stuntmen, assistants, cameramen. It is something that is progressing, but it takes time”, said Mr. Kouanis.
“This sector is currently being “built” and will be “built” for another five years, until we see large infrastructures, the studios, the infrastructures for post production houses, special effects, animation, etc. in our country”, concluded the president of EKOME.
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