Screen International is profiling all the winners of the fourth Global Production Awards, which were held tonight (May 18) at the Mademoiselle Gray Barriere in Cannes.
Location Of The Year — Natural
Winner: Svalbard, Norway (Arctic Film Norway)
Judges were tasked with anointing a single natural location for its work across one or multiple film and TV productions, whether that be a town or outdoor location that was not constructed on a soundstage.
The winning location also had to show its creative importance in the storytelling of productions. Judges looked for the impact of the location, its versatility, and the support and services provided to the producers who have used it. City locations were not eligible for this category.
“Norway’s Svalbard clearly articulates the value of the location itself, not just the productions it hosts,” according to one judge. “Svalbard is positioned as a distinct filmmaking environment, with defined geography, infrastructure and operational realities that shape what can be achieved on screen.”
The submission balanced cinematic impact with logistical credibility, demonstrating how extreme conditions can be navigated safely and effectively. “Strong use of case studies reinforces both capability and growing international relevance. One of the few entries that fully frames location as a creative and production asset,” said another judge. A third judge described the location simply as “an incredible piece of the planet that you can’t duplicate anywhere else. A wonder of nature.”
The Arctic destination has played host to Superman, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, The North Water and Blue Planet II.
Nominees:
- Seacrow Island, Sweden (Film Stockholm)
- Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland (Glassriver & SPi)
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