From Script to Screen: Exploring the Filming Locations of Fair Play!

Fair Play captivated audiences worldwide with its tense portrayal of ambition and power dynamics in a Manhattan hedge fund. The sleek office towers and modern apartments seemed quintessentially New York. Yet the truth reveals a fascinating film production story that takes us across the Atlantic to Belgrade, Serbia.

Director Chloe Domont chose Belgrade as the primary filming location, with virtually all scenes shot in purpose-built studio sets and select city locations. This decision reflects the growing trend of European cities serving as cost-effective alternatives to American locations, whilst offering unique visual authenticity. For travellers interested in film tourism and cultural exploration, Belgrade presents an unexpected destination that blends cinematic history with authentic Eastern European experiences.

Belgrade’s Transformation into a Film Production Destination

The Serbian capital has quietly positioned itself as one of Europe’s most attractive film production centres. What began as occasional location work has evolved into a sophisticated industry offering comprehensive production services, competitive incentives, and diverse architectural backdrops.

Serbia’s Film Production Infrastructure

Belgrade’s film industry infrastructure rivals established European production hubs. The city offers multiple modern studio facilities equipped for large-scale productions. Avala Film Studios and other production houses provide soundstages, post-production services, and experienced local crews who have worked on international projects.

The Serbian Film Commission actively supports international productions through streamlined permitting processes and location scouting assistance. Local production companies offer bilingual crews familiar with both European and American production standards. This professional ecosystem made Fair Play’s complex shoot manageable, despite the logistical challenges of replicating New York settings.

For ConnollyCove’s work documenting film locations and creating destination content, Belgrade represents the type of authentic story that resonates with culturally curious audiences. Our video production and content creation services focus on uncovering these behind-the-scenes narratives that transform destinations from mere backdrops into compelling stories.

Financial Incentives Driving Film Tourism

Serbia offers a 20-25% cash rebate on qualifying production expenditures, making it financially attractive compared to filming in actual New York locations. Productions spending over €100,000 in Serbia can access these incentives, which cover everything from accommodation to equipment rental.

The cost advantages extend beyond rebates. Local crew rates average 40-60% lower than equivalent positions in Western European cities. Studio rental, construction materials, and daily operational expenses create substantial savings that allow productions to allocate more budget to creative elements.

Exchange rate benefits favour productions paying in euros or pounds sterling. The Serbian dinar (RSD) typically offers favourable conversion rates, stretching production budgets further. For Fair Play, these financial considerations enabled the creation of elaborate studio sets that might have proven prohibitively expensive in Manhattan.

Why Belgrade Convincingly Doubles for Global Cities

Belgrade’s architectural diversity makes it remarkably versatile for location shooting. The city’s layers of history created distinct visual zones that filmmakers can leverage. Ottoman-era buildings coexist with Austro-Hungarian architecture, communist-era brutalist structures, and contemporary glass towers.

The riverfront developments along the Sava and Danube rivers provide modern skylines that read as generic international business districts on camera. New Belgrade’s wide boulevards and tower blocks offer the scale and anonymity required for major metropolitan settings. Meanwhile, older districts like Dorćol and Stari Grad supply intimate street scenes.

Director Chloe Domont specifically chose Belgrade for its ability to suggest New York without requiring extensive visual effects work. The modern sections of Belgrade photograph similarly to Manhattan’s newer developments, whilst careful framing eliminated distinctly Serbian elements. This authenticity-through-substitution creates more convincing results than green screen alternatives.

Specific Belgrade Locations Used in Fair Play

Whilst Fair Play relied heavily on constructed sets, several recognisable Belgrade locations provided exterior shots and atmospheric backdrops. Understanding these specific sites offers insights into how filmmakers transform real places into fictional settings through careful cinematography and selective framing.

New Belgrade’s Modern Architecture

The sprawling district of Novi Beograd (New Belgrade) across the Sava River supplied many of Fair Play’s urban exteriors. Built primarily during the Yugoslav era, this area features distinctive modernist architecture characterised by wide boulevards, residential towers, and commercial blocks that create an imposing sense of scale.

The Genex Tower, a striking brutalist landmark visible in several establishing shots, exemplifies the area’s architectural boldness. Though distinctly Eastern European in design, the tower’s geometric severity photographs as generically international when framed against cloudy skies. Filmmakers used similar techniques throughout New Belgrade to suggest Manhattan’s vastness.

The Belgrade Waterfront development provided contemporary glass-and-steel backdrops essential for the film’s corporate setting. These luxury residential and commercial towers, completed in recent years, offer the polished aesthetic of modern financial districts. Strategic camera angles captured reflective facades and geometric patterns that reinforced the film’s themes of ambition and isolation.

For visitors exploring these locations, New Belgrade offers a fascinating study in urban planning and architectural philosophy. The district’s scale feels purposefully imposing, creating the anonymity the film required. Walking these streets provides context for understanding how physical environments shape cinematic mood.

Knez Mihailova Street’s Urban Energy

Central Belgrade’s pedestrian thoroughfare, Knez Mihailova Street, served as a location for crowd scenes requiring a bustling urban atmosphere. This historic street, stretching nearly 800 metres through the city centre, features neoclassical buildings housing cafés, shops, and cultural institutions.

The street’s architectural consistency and pedestrian-only status made it ideal for controlled filming that suggested New York’s busy pavements without revealing distinctly Serbian elements. Production could dress storefronts temporarily and direct foot traffic to create the desired density and movement.

Street performers, café culture, and constant activity give Knez Mihailova a vibrant energy that translates well on camera. The blend of historic architecture and contemporary commercial activity creates visual layers that add depth to exterior shots. For travellers, this street remains a must-visit destination offering shopping, dining, and people-watching.

Sava Riverfront and Skyline Views

The Sava River’s embankments provided key establishing shots showcasing Belgrade’s developing skyline. Recent construction along both banks created modern silhouettes that read as international business districts. Filmmakers captured these views during specific times of day when lighting conditions minimised distinctions from other global cities.

The Belgrade Waterfront promenade offers the type of polished public spaces associated with urban renewal projects worldwide. Glass buildings reflecting water and sky create abstract visual compositions useful for transition shots between scenes. The area’s relative newness meant fewer historical markers that might identify the location as distinctly Serbian.

River views also supplied metaphorical imagery for the film’s themes. Water’s reflective qualities and constant movement subtly reinforced ideas about ambition’s fluidity and relationships’ shifting dynamics. These atmospheric shots elevated the production’s visual storytelling beyond mere location documentation.

Studio Sets at Avala Film Studios

The majority of Fair Play’s scenes occurred in meticulously constructed studio sets rather than practical locations. Production designer Steve Summersgill created the hedge fund office and apartment interiors at facilities near Belgrade, allowing complete control over lighting, sound, and spatial dynamics.

The office set emphasised cold precision through glass partitions, minimalist furniture, and stark lighting. Every design choice reinforced the environment’s competitive, surveillance-oriented atmosphere. The apartment set contrasted with warmer tones and softer textures, though still maintaining an underlying tension through spatial constraints.

Studio construction offered practical advantages beyond creative control. Weather independence, acoustic isolation, and 360-degree camera access enabled complex shots impossible in real office buildings. The sets could be modified between shooting days to reflect narrative progression without location continuity concerns.

For content creators documenting film production, understanding the balance between location work and studio construction provides insights into the filmmaking craft. ConnollyCove’s approach to video production and content creation similarly balances authentic location footage with controlled studio interviews and demonstrations.

Belgrade as a Cultural Destination Beyond Film Tourism

Whilst Fair Play introduced global audiences to Belgrade’s cinematic potential, the city offers far richer experiences than its role as a filming location. Understanding Belgrade’s cultural depth, historical layers, and contemporary vitality transforms a film tourism visit into a genuine cultural exploration.

Serbian Cuisine and Culinary Traditions

Belgrade’s food scene blends Balkan, Mediterranean, and Central European influences into distinctive flavours. Traditional kafanas (taverns) serve ćevapi, pljeskavica, and sarma alongside local wines and rakija. These establishments range from historic venues with live folk music to modern interpretations of traditional recipes.

The Skadarlija district, often called Belgrade’s Montmartre, concentrates traditional restaurants in a bohemian quarter of cobbled streets. Here, dining becomes cultural immersion as musicians perform and locals gather for multi-course meals lasting hours. The convivial atmosphere contrasts sharply with Fair Play’s tense corporate dinners.

Street food culture thrives at Zeleni Venac market and along pedestrian zones. Burek vendors, roasted chestnut sellers, and sandwich shops provide affordable, authentic meals. For UK and Irish travellers accustomed to cosmopolitan food scenes, Belgrade’s culinary offerings present familiar accessibility with a distinctly Serbian character.

Rakija, the traditional fruit brandy, embodies Serbian hospitality culture. Sampling different varieties from plum to quince introduces visitors to regional production methods and social rituals. Many kafanas offer rakija tastings that become informal cultural exchanges.

Historical Layers from Romans to Modernity

Belgrade’s strategic position at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers made it perpetually contested throughout history. The city was destroyed and rebuilt more than 40 times, creating archaeological layers that reveal Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Yugoslav influences.

Kalemegdan Fortress crowns the city’s highest point, offering panoramic views where two rivers meet. This massive fortification evolved over centuries, with Roman foundations supporting medieval walls and Ottoman additions. Walking its ramparts provides historical context whilst delivering the cityscape views that attracted film productions.

The Museum of Yugoslav History documents the socialist era that shaped modern Belgrade’s identity. Tito’s mausoleum and extensive exhibits explore Yugoslavia’s unique path between East and West during the Cold War. Understanding this recent history illuminates the architectural and social landscape visitors encounter.

St Sava Temple, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches, dominates the skyline with its distinctive dome. Though construction began in 1935, the interior remains incomplete, offering insights into ongoing cultural and religious projects. The church’s scale and ornate decoration contrast with the minimalist modernism prevalent in New Belgrade.

Contemporary Arts and Cultural Scene

Belgrade’s contemporary art scene thrives in converted industrial spaces and purpose-built galleries. The Museum of Contemporary Art houses an extensive collection of Yugoslav and international works from the 20th century. Mikser House and similar creative hubs host exhibitions, performances, and cultural programming.

Street art decorates many neighbourhoods, particularly around Savamala and Dorćol. These murals range from political commentary to abstract designs, reflecting Belgrade’s creative energy and social consciousness. Walking tours focused on street art provide alternative perspectives on urban development and cultural expression.

The city’s theatre tradition remains vibrant, with the Yugoslav Drama Theatre and Belgrade Drama Theatre presenting both classical and experimental productions. Though performances occur in Serbian, the visual spectacle and cultural significance make attendance worthwhile for culturally curious visitors.

Music venues span genres from traditional folk to electronic music. Clubs along the river operate as floating venues (splavovi) combining dining, drinking, and dancing until dawn. This nightlife energy surprised many international productions that discovered Belgrade’s reputation for after-hours creativity.

Planning Your Belgrade Film Tourism Experience

Visiting Belgrade with Fair Play as inspiration requires planning that balances film location exploration with authentic cultural experiences. The city rewards visitors who venture beyond tourist circuits into neighbourhoods where local life unfolds naturally.

Creating a Film Locations Walking Route

Start in New Belgrade to appreciate the modernist architecture that provided Fair Play’s urban backdrop. The area’s scale requires walking substantial distances, so comfortable shoes are essential. Focus on the Belgrade Waterfront development and Genex Tower vicinity, where exterior shots are concentrated.

Cross the Branko Bridge to Savamala, the creative quarter where film production infrastructure concentrates. This transitional neighbourhood blends industrial heritage with contemporary developments, galleries, and cafés. The area’s gritty authenticity contrasts with the polished settings seen in Fair Play.

Continue to Knez Mihailova Street for the pedestrian energy captured in crowd scenes. This central thoroughfare leads naturally to Kalemegdan Fortress, offering both historical context and city views. The walk takes 2-3 hours at a leisurely pace with stops for refreshment and photography.

Document your exploration through photography and video to understand how filmmakers transformed these spaces. Notice how specific angles eliminate local identifiers whilst emphasising universal urban qualities. This practice develops visual literacy useful for content creation and destination storytelling.

Seasonal Considerations for Visitors

Belgrade experiences a continental climate with distinct seasons affecting visitor experiences. Summer (June through August) brings temperatures often exceeding 30°C, making outdoor exploration challenging midday. However, summer also activates the city’s riverside nightlife and outdoor dining culture.

Autumn (September through November) offers ideal conditions with mild temperatures and fewer tourists. The city’s parks display autumn colours whilst cultural programming intensifies after the summer holidays. This season balances comfortable weather with an authentic local atmosphere.

Winter can be cold with occasional snow, but Christmas markets and festive atmosphere create appealing reasons to visit. Indoor cultural attractions become more attractive, and visitors experience Belgrade as locals do. Accommodation prices drop significantly compared to summer rates.

Spring (March through May) sees the city awakening from winter with outdoor cafés reopening and parks blooming. Weather remains variable, requiring flexible layering. Cultural institutions launch new exhibitions and programming for the tourism season.

Combining Film Tourism with Cultural Exploration

Film locations provide entry points but shouldn’t dominate a Belgrade visit. Use Fair Play locations as orientation markers whilst building itineraries around cultural depth. Balance architectural photography with market visits, museum exploration, and culinary experiences.

The Serbian Orthodox cultural heritage deserves attention through church visits and an understanding of religious art and architecture. These elements contrast with Fair Play’s secular corporate setting whilst revealing cultural foundations shaping contemporary Belgrade.

Engaging with local guides provides perspectives that transform surface impressions into cultural understanding. Walking tours focused on Yugoslav history, street art, or culinary traditions offer structured learning that enriches independent exploration.

Consider day trips to nearby sites like Novi Sad, Smederevo Fortress, or wine regions in Fruska Gora. These excursions provide rural contrasts to urban Belgrade whilst demonstrating Serbia’s geographical and cultural diversity.

Digital Documentation and Content Creation

Visiting film locations offers opportunities for content creation that documents personal discoveries whilst contributing to travel communities. Photographing the same locations seen in Fair Play allows direct comparison between cinematic representation and physical reality.

Video documentation can explore how filmmakers transformed spaces through camera work and framing. Creating side-by-side comparisons between film stills and personal footage demonstrates production craft whilst showcasing Belgrade’s actual appearance.

For content creators, Belgrade provides case studies in destination storytelling and visual narrative. Understanding how Fair Play’s production designer and cinematographer approached Belgrade informs travel content creation strategies. This analysis applies equally to travel blogs, destination marketing, and cultural documentation.

ConnollyCove’s content creation services help destinations and cultural organisations tell compelling stories that balance film tourism with authentic experiences. Our work in SEO, video production, and digital strategy ensures content reaches audiences searching for film locations whilst providing value that extends beyond simple location identification.

Conclusion

Fair Play’s transformation of Belgrade into convincing Manhattan reveals both filmmaking craft and the Serbian capital’s growing importance as a film production hub. The city’s architectural diversity, competitive costs, and professional infrastructure attracted an ambitious production whilst offering visitors a culturally rich destination beyond its cinematic associations. Whether exploring the modernist blocks of New Belgrade or discovering traditional kafanas in historic quarters, travellers find layers of experience that extend far beyond film location spotting into genuine cultural discovery.