General information about the Russian Arctic: Murmansk and Teriberka

Murmansk is a city in the far northwest part of Russia (1h 40min flight from St. Petersburg, 2h flight from Moscow), where the polar night lasts three months of the year. Throughout the hard arctic winter, aurora borealis is visible in the outer-city sky. Most striking is the architecture of the city: to escape from the colour starvation during the grey and dark winter-time, citizens paint their panel houses with bright colours. On the street, you can find painted stones and benches. Filming in Murmansk at winter time is challenging but possible.

Despite the low temperatures, the Murmansk port continues to operate. Barents sea does not freeze due to the warm North Atlantic Current. The port of Murmansk is not only the largest trading and fishing northern port of Russia: it also houses Russian Atomflot, the nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet.

Murmansk is a major transportation hub in the polar region. Murmansk railway station is an important part of the Oktyabrskaya Railway. The station building with a dome topped with a spire and a five-pointed star was built in 1954. From there, trains depart to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sochi.

Teriberka is a village located in the Murmansk Oblast, Russia, on the shores of the Barents Sea. The village was founded in the 16th century as a fishing and hunting settlement by the indigenous Sami people. Throughout the centuries, Teriberka has been occupied by various foreign powers, including the Swedes and the Finns. During the Soviet era, the village became a major centre for fishing and processing of seafood. Today, Teriberka is known for its stunning natural beauty, attracting tourists from all over the world.

Key filming locations the Russian Arctic zone: Murmansk and Teriberka

The main natural feature of Murmansk, in addition to the Northern lights, is probably the year-round ice-free Kola Bay. The Kola Bay bridge, one of the longest automobile bridges in Russia, crosses the Bay. The bridge is a symbol of the city. It is even printed on post stamps, and can be perfect for filming purposes. From the bridge, you can see the city and the Kola Bay perfectly. In the polar winter, the bridge has bright illumination and thus turns to be an integral part of the city’s landscape.

In Soviet times, several military settlements were located around Murmansk. Now they are abandoned or half-abandoned and very attractive for filming. The same happened with the workers’ settlements that once appeared next to factories, for instance, Afrikanda-1. When the the military forces left from Afrikanda-1, it gradually began to fall into disrepair and now is semi-abandoned: only two apartment buildings remain residential. Like visions of the past, abandoned houses, tanks that have fallen out of use, abandoned rusty ships and military aircraft lie in the woods and on the shore of the Kole Bay and frighten passers-by with their mysterious appearance. Our fixers in Murmansk can organize a safe and legal filming in the area.

Teriberka is another great location for filming in the Murmasnk region. At winter time the shore never freezes, so locals practice polar winter surfing. Shipwrecks, abandoned wooden houses and stunning landscapes. In winter from December till March it’s possible to films the Northen lights (Aurora borealis). Our production managers can help you choosing the best spots in Murmansk region for filming. Many locations in the are require access procedures or filming permits from local authorities. FilmspbTV can handle the paperwork while you concentrate on the creative part of the filming.

Rybachy Peninsula and Sredny Peninsula. Locations that require permits for access, but totally great visually.

Teriberka village – the cemetery of ships.

Great Waterfall on the river Lavna.

Memorial Complex Valley of Glory.

Multiple locations for watching and filming the aurora borealis.

Pechenga Monastery: the oldest monastery on the Kola Peninsula built entirely of wood.

Building up a TV production in the Russian Arctic

FilmspbTV is a professional film production company that specialises in organizing film shoots in the Russian arctic region. With their extensive experience and knowledge of the area, they can help you plan and execute your film project smoothly and efficiently.

Our team can provide you with a full range of services, including location scouting, logistics support, permits and visas, equipment rental and crew hiring. We also have a network of trusted suppliers and partners, ensuring that your production runs smoothly.

By working with FilmspbTV, you can ensure that your film project in the Russian arctic region is organized to the highest standards, with attention to detail and a commitment to quality.

Most filming equipment and crew will be coming from our branches in St Petersburg and in Moscow

You can find the information about visas and customs procedures required for filming in Russia here.