Filming in Denmark

Hiring a fixer in Denmark

Denmark has a big reputation in the industry for its range of locations, depth, skill of the crew, and quality of equipment available. Filming in Denmark, you will discover that the country has a wide variety of equipment rental companies. This is complemented further by excellent studio facilities and a good working relationship between the authorities and the industry. Our fixer in Denmark tells us that the country featured as a major location in Tom Hooper’s The Danish Girl.

Visa for Denmark

Denmark is a party to the Schengen Agreement. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are not; however, you may travel to either location for 90 days for business or tourism purposes without a visa. As a US citizen filming in Denmark, your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay. You will also need sufficient proof of funds and a return plane ticket. Further useful information, in English and Danish, can be found on the Danish Immigration Service website.

Film Permits in Denmark

The City of Copenhagen offers guidelines for filming in Copenhagen and obtaining film permits on its website. As per our fixer in Denmark, if the filming requires traffic to be halted, you will most likely need police approval before permission from city authorities. You can contact the Excavation Permits department if you need advice in English for Copenhagen. It can take between three to five days to process a request here. If you are from Denmark, you can apply through the government website.

Special equipment renting info

Denmark has a good depth and standard of locally available camera, grip, and lighting equipment. Specialized equipment including car kits and heli-mounts are available locally. Gear can be rented from Twentyfourseven, Filmgear, and Kameraudlejningen. Our film fixer will let you know that specialized equipment, such as the Russian Arm, needs to be brought in from abroad. Denmark is an ATA carnet member country. The ATA carnet is an internationally-recognized customs document that allows goods to move into foreign markets free of duty and tax.

Cultural facts

Speaking of the rules you need to follow to obtain film permits in Denmark, culturally imposed customs are just as complex. You should know Danes prefer to get down to business quickly in meetings. Communication is direct and skips small talk. Do not be surprised to see young people in military clothes. All male citizens over 18 years of age and residents in Denmark must participate in a military draft that typically lasts between 4 to 12 months.

Weather when filming in Denmark

If you are filming in Denmark, please note the country has a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. It can be cloudy and rainy at times, especially during the winter months. Denmark experiences long summer days with up to 18 hours of daylight, and short winter days with only around 6-7 hours of daylight. It is important to consider that during the winter solstice (around December 21st), the sun rises around 8:30 am and sets around 3:30 pm.

Tax rebate in Denmark

In Denmark, tax rebates for film production are available through the Danish Film Institute’s tax incentive scheme. The scheme provides a rebate of up to 25% of eligible production expenses incurred in Denmark, including expenses for local labor and services. Our fixer in Denmark encourages you to visit the Danish Film Institute’s website. You might also want to subscribe to their newsletter as new programs become available all the time. As with most wealthy western countries, Denmark is a relatively expensive place to shoot.

Conclusion on filming in Denmark

If you want to save some time, our fixer in Denmark can help you navigate the complexities of obtaining film permits. If you want to engage with the culture, you must try saunas. They are popular in Denmark, and many people have them in their homes. Unlike traditional saunas, the Danish ones are often coed, and nudity is encouraged. Bring a towel if you are shy. From a different cultural aspect, Janteloven is a unique aspect of the Danish way of being.

It presupposes a set of social norms that encourage humility and discourage individualism. Danes are known for embracing hygge, which means coziness, comfort, and a feeling of contentment. Therefore you will see candles, warm drinks, and soft lighting everywhere.

Get in touch

hello@fixerdenmark.com