Filming in Sweden: a practical guide for foreign TV crews

I've recorded sound for international crews in Sweden for over twenty years, for broadcasters including CNN, BBC News and NDR. Most problems on a Swedish shoot are predictable, and most of them come down to planning. Here's what I'd tell any producer before they book flights.

Daylight changes everything

Stockholm gets around six hours of daylight in mid-December and around eighteen in late June. In winter, plan exteriors for the middle of the day and assume the light is gone by mid-afternoon. In summer, golden hour is very late and very early. North of the Arctic Circle there's polar night in winter and midnight sun in summer.

Watch the calendar

• —Midsummer, in late June, is the biggest holiday of the year. Expect offices, contributors and many services to be unavailable that weekend.
• —July is the main holiday month. Many companies, officials and potential interviewees are away for weeks, so book contributors early or avoid July.
• —Nobel Week in early December fills hotels and local crew in Stockholm. Book as early as you can.
• —Lucia is celebrated on 13 December, and Christmas Eve, 24 December, is the main day of Christmas. The days between Christmas and New Year are quiet.

Permits and locations

Filming in public places is generally straightforward in Sweden. If you're going to occupy public space — tripods on the pavement, lights, blocking a street — you may need a permit from the police, and that can take time. Check with your fixer early.

Drone flights follow EU drone rules, with extra restrictions near airports, in central Stockholm and around protected sites. Leave time for that paperwork.

The right of public access (allemansrätten) lets people walk in nature, but it isn't a licence to film commercially on private land. For anything more than a small crew passing through, ask the landowner.

Contributors and consent

Almost everyone in Sweden speaks good English, but older contributors, people in rural areas and officials are often more relaxed, and more precise, in Swedish. A Swedish-speaking crew member makes interviews, releases and small talk with location owners much easier. For commercial and advertising use, get written consent from anyone identifiable. Personal data you collect falls under GDPR.

Hiring local crew

Hiring locally saves excess baggage, kit shipping and a travel day. In Stockholm you'll find experienced fixers, production services, camera operators and sound recordists who are used to international broadcast standards. A local sound recordist also brings wireless frequencies that suit the local radio environment, and knows the venues and the weather.

Swedish crew usually invoice through a company, with Swedish VAT for local clients and reverse charge for production companies elsewhere in the EU. Ask for invoicing in your currency; many crew can invoice in EUR or USD.

Weather and kit

Winter cold drains batteries fast. Plan for extra power and warm places to swap batteries. When you bring cold kit indoors, condensation can form, so let it warm up in a closed bag. Wind is constant on the coast and in the mountains, so allow for proper wind protection on every microphone.

If you're planning a shoot in Sweden and need sound, send me your dates, location and format. I usually reply the same day, weekends included.