Our location scouts are very experienced and  understand the importance of the preproduction process, so they do the best to understand the goals of the director and DOP.

We will find you an environment best suited for a particular scene, or the entire commercial, TV show, or movie. We will handle the negotiations, legal issues, permits etc. We will find the prefect location you need!

Small and big budgets – it’s a marvellous production nevertheless!

Our budgets are made with the best interest of our client and project and are completely transparent. We work with 10% markup.

We will take full charge of the necessary permits and other legal requirements from street closure to traffic and drones, so you can focus on your work.

• Different models of RED & Arri Alexa cameras and camera sets. Special requests can be fulfilled in collaboration with Nordic rentals

•   Phantoms

•  Arri Alexa Flex, Mini, Sony Venice

•   Various Canon, Sony, Phanasonic, Blacmagic still and video cameras

•   35 mm and 16 mm Film Cameras

•   Steadicams, Helicams

•   Wide range of lenses, as well as Anamorphic, Micro, Macro

•   Wide range of lighting

•   Cranes, dollies, drones  etc.

Our local crews speak fluent English and are experienced in accommodating international production needs.

Estonian Production main team speaks Estonian, English, Finnish, Italian and Russian.

The strong work ethic and passion of Estonian Production Service film crews stands unrivalled. From scripting to location scouting, DOPs, to costume designers, stunt people to lighting technicians, Estonia boasts professional and committed specialists with international experience in all fields.

We bring the best Estonian professional and amateur models and professional actors and extras together with internationally renowned advertising agencies, film producers and photographers!

Our Estonian Casting website is the biggest talent database for wide cast selection in Estonia.

Go have a look HERE.

Estonia can be reached by air from every major city in Europe in a mere two or tree hours.

During your production period Estonian Production Service operates with new (7-9 seat) minivans and transfer cars driven by professional drivers.

Cuba Films’s studio welcomes you in our office for full time prep period and for needed offline editing and preview.

Estonia is easily accessible by air, ferry, buss or trains.

The national carrier Nordic Aviation links Tallinn with some 15 cities in Europe at reasonable prices. Lufthansa, SAS, Finnair, Turkish Airilene, Air Baltic,  LOT  Aegean and Aeroflot also fly into the Tallinn airport. Lowcost airlines like EasyJet, Rynair, Vueling and Norwegian have flights between Tallinn  and certain European destinations.

•   Tallinn Airport

•   Nordica

•   Ryanair

•   Easyjet

•   SAS

•  Lufthansa

•   Turkish Airlines

•   Finnair

•   Norwegian

•   airBaltic

Estonian Production Service selection of accommodation facilities include some of the global hospitality sector giants, such as Hilton, Radisson Blu, as well as smaller-scale and more intimate Estonian hotels ranging from two- to five-star. The wide choice of accommodation includes luxury boutique hotels, wellness and spa centres, apartments, private rooms, mansions and private cottages.

Estonia is a member of the EU and part of the Schengen Area. Brits, Americans, Canadians, Australians, in total more than 60 nations, can enter Estonia Visa-free. In order to enter the area citizens of third countries must hold a valid travel document and if required, a visa. Before submitting an application for Schengen or national visa, please contact our International relations manager in order to provide you assistance and invitations for further process.

Estonia belongs to the Taxation and Customs Union together with the other European Union Member States and good brought into, and taken out of, the country from within the EU are not liable for duty. Estonia is also a signatory of the Convention of Temporary Admissions. ATA Carnets are thus honored, making the transportation of film equipment over the border a simpler matter.

More information on Ministry of Foreign Affairs website http://vm.ee/en

Remote Filming

Flexibility and being able to run a shoot from anywhere in the world is increasingly more important and relevant, that’s why we offer a state of art remote filming service. Whether you need a partially or fully remote shoot, big or small, we have tailored remote options to really allow you to bring your shoot into life, regardless of location.

In partnership with High Voltage, an industry leading rental company in the Baltics, we can offer remote access to the set for both, small scale run & gun or a large scale complex shoot. We got you covered!

The run & gun package delivers one HD video stream over RTMP to whomever needs it – for example agency or director in another location. This setup does not need a special operator and is aimed for smaller shoots, where an easy solution is a must. The stream can be private or shared to a bigger audience via Youtube, Vimeo or any other larger platform with RTMP support.

However, when the stakes are high and there is a need for ultra low latency video feed with talkback system – the industry standard Qtake system is for you. We can offer up to 4 HD video feeds, delivered via private cloud server to the relevant member’s device. This system is operated by a professional VTR operator, who can do instant playbacks, quick edits, chroma keying and even compositing on the fly.

This system also has the advantage of talkback functionality – used whether for the director to give comments on the go or as a multi channel complex “walkie talkie” system, where key crew members can be based wherever – even overseas if needed.

Whatever your needs, we can provide you with the right tailored remote filming solution for you.

Cash Rebate with Film Estonia production incentive

Film Estonia production incentive supports the production of feature films, feature documentaries, animation films, animation series, high-end TV-drama and the post-production of all beforementioned works. An application can be made for international production service or co-production to receive a cash rebate up to 30% on eligible production costs.

Which projects qualify?

The scheme is open for:

• feature films with a budget of at least € 1 million;
• feature and short animation with a budget of at least € 250 000;
• animation series with overall budget of at least € 500 000;
• high-end TV-drama with a budget of at least € 200 000 per single episode;
• feature documentary with a budget at least € 200 000;
• post-production of all the above mentioned works.

Who can apply?

Estonian production companies can apply for funding on behalf of the recipient, the foreign production, to whom the support goes directly to.

When to apply?

There is no application deadlines, producers can apply at any time during the year. The term for the processing applications is up to 30 days.

Budget and cash-rebate

The level of support is determined by amount of the Estonian production costs that are both eligible and directly spent on parties that are subject to Estonian taxation, multiplied by 20%, 25% or 30%.
Regardless of the support intensity which proceeds from eligible costs of the Estonian production stage, the intensity of the support from the Estonian creative staff is: – 30% if at least 2 creative employees are tax residents of Estonia; – 25% if at least 1 creative employees is a tax resident of Estonia.

When can you expect payment?

The report on costs is audited within 30 days of the submission by the applicant of the documents. The payment is made within 10 days of the date of approval of the report.

Regional Funds

Besides Film Estonia incentive, there are 2 main regional funds – Tartu Film Fund and Viru Film Fund.

Tartu Film Fund rebate is capped at 20% of eligible expenditure incurred in the Tartu area by international film productions or the provision of production services to them and is budgeted at 150,000 euros annually.

Viru Film Fund’s annual budget is €200,000 for the co-funding of feature films, documentaries, TV series, and music videos filmed in Ida-Viru County, by offering cash rebate up to 40% of local production costs.

You can also combine Film Estonia Cash rebate with one of the two regional funds, increasing your cash rebate even further.

Green Production

Cuba Films has committed to sustainable production to reduce the environmental impact and footprint of our productions. We believe that sustainable production is the future of film industry. With long-term resilience in mind, we will improve the integrity and health of the ecosystem, communities and the environments in which we work.
We are always looking at new ways and implementing sustainable production practices to reduce the ecological footprint of our productions.
We are proud to announce that per each project we donate to planting trees as part of our initiative to give back to our environment and keep the green thriving!

PRODUCTION

• we prioritize digital workflow and virtual meetings are prefered to limit in-person meetings
• use of photo libraries and virtual tours are preferred for scouting
• paperless production – all information regarding the preparations and shoot, as well as moodboards, day plans, CS etc. will be shared through electronic channels or apps. Print outs will be used as a last resort and in case, 100% recycled content paper will be used and printer cartridges are re-filled and recycled
• renewable, recyclable and environmentally friendly materials will be preferred, when purchasing new office supplies
• we prefer digital over film tape
• renewable power are used whenever possible
• we limit generator use whenever there is access to grid power
• energy efficient lighting and appliances are used whenever possible, LED light sources are preferred

SET BUILD

• re-usable and recyclable materials will be preferred on set builds
• set materials will be reused as much as possible, to reduce the amount of new building materials purchased
• smarter design sets will be used so that they can be easily deconstructed
• excess set materials will be donated to local community
• recyclable materials will be separated
• paint and products with environmentally friendly labels are selected whenever appropriate
• rent and lease of large items such as furniture etc. are always preferred instead of purchasing

STYLING

• we prefer loaned or second hand wardrobe whenever appropriate
• we avoid use of garments and accessories made from endangered species
• we try to avoid clothes requiring Dry Cleaning processes. When Dry Cleaning needed, we prefer dry- cleaners who use energy- efficient machines and do not use the solvent perchloroethylene
• we re-use coat hangers and plastic garment covers
• reusable bags will be used for shopping and transporting wardrobe
• excess wardrobe will be donated to local community or charity

MAKE- UP & HAIR

• we select make- up, hair and personal care brands committed to avoiding animal testing, are cruelty- free and meet the criteria of Compact to Safe Cosmetics
• we favor make up, hair and cosmetic brands that use less packaging
• we are using refills to avoid disposing of non-recyclable make-up containers
• we try to avoid the use of aerosols containing ozone-depleting substances
• we are on the constant look of organic alternatives for make-up, hair and personal hygiene care products

TRANSPORT

• fuel consumption will be monitored throughout the production- attention has been paid to the size of the vehicles, effectiveness of the trips, method, packing etc.
• people on pre-production scouts are minimized to reduce transportation needs
• hybrid/ electric cars will be preferred, whenever production team/ assistants need transport solutions. Our e-car rental partner is ELMO Rent (https://info.elmorent.ee/en/cars/)
• zero emission parcel service/ delivery will be preferred, whenever there is a need for local or international shipment. Our parcel partner is DPD, a company which has announced its commitment to deliver 225 of the largest European cities with zero- and low-emission delivery means.
• alternative means of transport such as cycling and public transport are encouraged

CATERING

• more plant-based, locally sourced, seasonal, organic food will be used on set catering
• we have reduced beef as one of the largest driver of tropical deforestation and greenhouse gases emitter, on our menus
• fair trade principles are applied when selecting imported products e.g. tea, coffee, chocolate etc.
• food overstock will be donated to local Food Bank, which heps on average 7200 persons in need per week
• we provide water refill stations for crew on sets
• we encourage the use of reusable cutlery, plates and cups rather than using plastics and single use items

* if there is a need for single use items, we use Vegware plant- based compostable products
* crew has re-usable water bottles which they can fill in filling stations, avoiding the use of plastic water bottles set

WASTE MANAGEMENT

• responsible waste management in office and set goes without saying- all production waste will be overlooked and recyclable materials will be separated