Your Stage : Hyllbaz’s €150 Million Studio Complex Aims to Cement Bulgaria’s Role in The Media Industry by Alex Francis

Hyllbaz Entertainment Group, the Sofia-based media house behind a growing slate of international features, is currently developing a €150 million studio complex that will mark the largest film infrastructure investment in Bulgaria’s history.

Set to begin construction by the end of 2026, the project will span over 100,000 square meters, creating a purpose-built production environment designed to meet the scale and speed demands of contemporary filmmaking. The facility will feature:

10 sound stages, ranging from 1,400 to 2,200 square meters

6 dedicated backlots, including New York street sets, a functioning airstrip, a medieval castle zone, and more

Over 40,000 sqm of open lot space for large-scale exterior builds

20 workshops and technical storage facilities

A centralized administration and production office complex

20 on-site residential houses for cast, crew, and department leads

Full post-production facilities, virtual production stages, and AR-ready infrastructure

While Hyllbaz will continue to provide full-service production support for international features and series, the studio complex marks a deeper, long-term commitment: not just to servicing productions, but to helping shape one of the most complete and production-ready ecosystems in Eastern Europe.

The €150 million facility is expected to create more than 2,300 direct and indirect jobs—including roles in set construction, lighting, grip, art departments, post-production, transportation, catering, and hospitality. Beyond that, the studio will support long-term opportunities for local vendors, training institutions, and technical talent, helping to retain and grow Bulgaria’s creative workforce.

By anchoring global-scale infrastructure in Sofia, Hyllbaz is positioning Bulgaria not just as a beautiful place to shoot—but as a country where complex productions can be fully conceived, executed, and delivered with speed, scale, and world-class support.Locations You Haven’t Seen (Yet)

For directors and location managers, Eastern Europe offers a rare combination: cinematic range and underexposed terrain. From medieval fortresses and Black Sea coastlines to forested mountains, Soviet-era & Modern architecture, and remote rural villages, the country delivers diverse looks without the visual fatigue of overshot locations.

In an industry increasingly defined by repetition—where the same streets, ruins, and rooftops cycle through series after series—Bulgaria stands out simply because so much of it hasn’t been seen yet.

Crucially, much of this range is accessible within a 90- to 120-minute radius from Sofia, allowing productions to shift looks without relocating base—an operational advantage that adds both speed and efficiency to even the most demanding schedules.