Meghan Beaton, Chief Executive of the Norwegian Film Commission, shares her perspective on what international productions truly need from a filming destination—and why world-class professionalism, seamless practical support, and genuine trust matter just as much as breathtaking scenery.
By Ehab Soltan
HoyLunes – A breathtaking landscape might catch the eye of an international filmmaker, but deciding where to bring a major production requires far more than a stunning view.
For producers navigating complex international projects, locations are just one piece of a demanding puzzle. Financial incentives, permits, logistics, local crew depth, equipment, and the ability to solve unexpected challenges on the fly all play a decisive role.
This is precisely where modern film commissions make their mark: translating a country’s potential into a seamless operational reality. At the forefront of this effort is the Norwegian Film Commission, dedicated to helping international film and television productions thrive across Norway. By connecting filmmakers with top-tier local professionals, modern facilities, and supportive authorities, the commission ensures that choosing Norway is as efficient as it is rewarding.
Steering this vision is Meghan Beaton, Chief Executive, a respected leader who represents Norway’s creative industry on the world stage. Her insights are particularly vital today, as specialized platforms continue to bridge the gap between global production hubs and regional destinations.
Chief among these platforms is Shooting Locations Marketplace, hosted by Feria de Valladolid and Spain Film Commission. Rapidly becoming a cornerstone event for the global audiovisual industry, the marketplace has established itself as an essential gathering place for location professionals, film commissions, and production service providers. Its remarkable growth—highlighted in 2025 by professionals from over 24 countries and nearly 1,600 tailored business meetings—underscores its vital role in fostering international collaboration.
Ahead of this year’s edition, HoyLunes sat down with Meghan Beaton to explore what really turns a great location into a successful production destination, the value of total transparency, and how meaningful industry relationships endure long after the market doors close.
Scenery gets you on the shortlist, it doesn’t get the production. Producers choose territories that reduce risk: a predictable incentive, crew and service companies that can handle an international production, and a film commission that solves problems quickly.
Meghan Beaton, Chief Executive of the Norwegian Film Commission
What must a territory offer beyond scenery?
Scenery gets you on the shortlist, it doesn’t get the production. Producers choose territories that reduce risk: a predictable incentive, crew and service companies that can handle an international production, and a film commission that solves problems quickly.
Showing a location vs. providing the conditions to shoot there?
We’re blessed with amazing natural locations. The conditions are what make the seemingly impossible natural locations possible on schedule and on budget: permits from landowners and municipalities, access and logistics, accommodation for the unit, local crew depth, equipment, and weather contingency. We need to be honest about limitations, for example capacity in remote areas during peak season. A production that hears the problems early trusts the film commission and service providers, no one wants to discover limitations on set.
Turning a first meeting at a market into future projects?
The relationship has to be one of longevity, built on dialogue and trust. After a market like Shooting Locations Marketplace, the follow-up must be concrete and timely: locations matched to their actual script, realistic and tailored information, and introductions to the right local partners. Productions discussed at first contact aren’t always a perfect fit, so we stay in touch and remain a reliable partner. Location managers talk to each other, and one production that had a good experience with a film commission and in a territory is worth more than any campaign.
A Territory is More Than a Location
The insights shared by Meghan Beaton capture a fundamental truth of international filmmaking: spectacular scenery gets a destination noticed, but exceptional execution brings a production to life. In an industry driven by tight deadlines and high stakes, a territory’s true strength lies in its credibility—the depth of its local talent, the clarity of its guidance, and the reliability of its support when challenges arise.
It is precisely this standard of excellence that elevates platforms like Shooting Locations Marketplace. More than just a hub for preliminary meetings, the marketplace serves as the catalyst for long-term global partnerships, setting the benchmark for how destinations and creators connect, collaborate, and build lasting trust.
Ultimately, as Meghan Beaton reminds us, competing on the global stage isn’t merely about showing filmmakers what a region looks like.
It’s about demonstrating, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what you can make possible together.
