FILMLINK case study: how does film production impact the Tartu and Liepāja regions?
Tartu Film Fund and Liepāja 2027 have prepared a joint case study within the FILMLINK project to explore the economic and socio-economic impact of film production in regional settings.
The analysis focuses on selected film projects in Tartu and Liepāja. It looks at documented regional expenditure, the use of local services and companies, involvement of local film professionals, filming activity in the regions, and the wider potential effects of film production on regional visibility, community engagement and film-friendliness.
The Tartu examples show that regional film fund support can generate measurable direct spending in the region: in the two analysed Tartu projects, €70,000 of support was connected to €224,520 of documented regional expenditure. The Liepāja examples highlight a different funding model, where direct spending is accompanied by wider benefits such as city visibility, involvement of local institutions and residents, and the strengthening of Liepāja’s image as a film-friendly location.
The case study is not a full macroeconomic impact assessment. It does not calculate tax return, GDP impact or indirect economic effects. Instead, it provides a practical, evidence-based overview of the direct regional impact of selected film productions.
The case study was prepared within the FILMLINK project, co-funded by the Interreg VI-A Estonia–Latvia Programme 2021–2027.
