As Director of The Public Open University Varaždin, I am delighted to present our new partnership with Stage 32 Certification, which started in 2025 with the training of 3 Location Managers on behalf of Varaždin Film Commission in order to strengthen both local and international productions that choose Varaždin as their filming base.

This collaboration marks an important milestone for our growing screen sector. Varaždin is already known for its rich cultural heritage, charming villages, and highly adaptable locations, and now, with Stage 32 Certification, we are taking a confident step toward empowering our local talent to compete and thrive on the global stage.

Here is why Stage 32 Certification matters for Varaždin. Stage 32 Certification provides world-class, industry-endorsed training designed to equip aspiring and working film professionals with the practical skills that today’s productions require. Through accessible online courses taught by experienced industry leaders, Stage 32 lowers barriers to entry and ensures that anyone in our community with a passion for film, whether just starting out or seeking to advance, can gain the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed.

Key benefits for Varaždin’s creative community include:

• Practical & Much-Needed Skills: Courses cover essential roles such as production accounting, assistant directing, and, crucially for our region, location management, ensuring that our workforce is fully prepared for real-world challenges on set.
• Career Advancement: With industry-recognized credentials, professionals from Varaždin can stand out to both Croatian and international producers, opening doors to exciting new opportunities.
• Global Recognition: Certified professionals are entered into an international database, making it easier for productions filming in and around Varaždin to connect with job-ready, trusted crew members.

Proper training is the foundation of any successful film community and any sustainable creative career. By partnering with Stage 32 Certification, Varaždin is investing in its own future as film friendly city while contributing to the strength of our entire regional production ecosystem. Whether your ambition is to work on local independent projects or major international films and series, these certification courses will provide the skills, credibility, and network you need to break in and make your mark.

At The People’s Open University Varaždin, our mission is to foster growth, innovation, and excellence across education and the arts. Partnering with Stage 32 Certification allows us to bring world-class film training directly to our community, helping to ensure that Varaždin becomes—and remains—a sought-after destination for filmmakers from around the world.

We are also building a new Center for creative and cultural industries in Varaždin, where this kind of education will be supported even more by adequate classrooms and labs.

Film & Television Production in Varaždin

Although Varaždin is still an emerging screen destination compared with Croatia’s capital Zagreb and the country’s coastal hotspots, its baroque architecture, preserved Old Town, and Varaždin Castle have attracted a growing slate of domestic shorts and independent productions, as well as commercial and promotional shoots that use the city’s streets, squares, and riverside as a period-looking backdrop. The city has been actively courting larger projects: in recent years international location managers who have worked on major films and series in Croatia—alongside titles like Game of Thrones and Jack Ryan filmed elsewhere in the country—have scouted Varaždin and praised its cinematic potential, noting its historic core, older industrial buildings and the Drava River as particularly strong assets for future film and TV work. The same goes for the Varaždin region.

In 2026, People’s Open University Varaždin intends to continue this co-operation and new educational programs with Stage 32 will be published. Stay tuned!

The Two Types of Stage 32 Certification

Master Certifications: These are a group of courses that make up a master's knowledge of a particular discipline. You will need to take all of the courses in a Master Certification track and pass a test in each course in order to be Master Certified.

Current Master Certifications Include:

• Production Accounting Master Certification
• TV Production Management Master Certification
• Feature Film Production Management Master Certification
• Line Producing Master Certification
• Producer Key Legal Agreements Master Certification
• Script Supervising Master Certification
• Location Management Master Certification
• Production Coordinator Master Certification
• Production Assistant Master Certification
• Assistant Director Master Certification
• Post-Production Supervision Master Certification

Individual Certifications: These are individual courses that focus on a particular skill set, in which you will watch the course and then be tested at the end to receive your certificate.

Current Individual Certifications Include:

• Budget Creation
• Production Scheduling
• Call Sheets
• Production Accounting 101
• Payroll Accounting and Management for Film & TV
• Cost Reporting
• US Tax Incentive Management
• Script Supervision 101
• Script Supervision: Script Timing & Page Breakdown
• Script Supervision: Continuity Breakdown
• Script Supervision: Script Notes & Lined Script Pages
• Script Supervision: On Set Continuity
• Script Supervision: Progress Reports & Work Flow
• Production Wrap Deliverables
• Final Delivery Elements Of A TV Show
• Final Delivery Elements Of A Feature Film
• Option/Purchase/Shopping Agreements
• Feature Film Financing Agreements
• Investor Agreements
• International Co-Production Agreements
• Crew Agreements
• Talent Agreements
• Distribution & Sales Agency Agreements
• Fundamentals Of Location Management
• Location Scouting
• Location Management: Budgeting & Scheduling
• Location Management: Contracts, Risk Management & Negotiating
• The Fundamentals of Production Coordinating
• Production Coordinator: Logistics
• Fundamentals Of Production Assisting
• Production Assistant: On Set Protocols
• Production Assistant: Paperwork & Department Interaction
• Fundamentals Of Assistant Directing
• Assistant Director Scheduling
• First Assistant Director On Set Protocols
• Key 2nd Assistant Director Protocols & Call Sheets
• 2nd 2nd Assistant Director Protocols
• Fundamentals of Post-Production Supervision
• Post-Production Supervisor Protocols for a TV Series
• Post-Production Supervisor Protocols for a Feature Film
• Post-Production Supervisor Scheduling & Budgeting
• Post-Production Coordinator & Production Assistant Protocols

What Happens After You Get Certified?

Once you complete a Stage 32 Certification, you will:

• Be included in a global database searchable by industry professionals, film commissions, and studios.
• Receive a certification badge on your Stage 32 profile, which is visible to over 1.3 million members worldwide.
• Gain credentials to display on your social media, resume, and LinkedIn profile.
• Be recognized as a qualified industry professional, making it easier for you to get hired and advance your career.

Get Certified. Get To Work. Start By Clicking Here!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32 , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage-32 .