When Hollywood Met Pirin

Why Bansko?
The answer lies in the perfect mix of accessibility and atmosphere. Less than two hours from Sofia, Bansko offers alpine scenery, dramatic weather, and cinematic textures at a fraction of Western European costs. Its old town – stone, wood, narrow streets, and rustic roofs – looks timeless on camera. Director Simon West wanted a European setting with an authentic winter feel, and Bansko delivered exactly that.

The Video That Revealed It All

On YouTube, the clip “‘Неудержимые’ в Банско. Как это было / The Expendables in Bansko – How It Was” shows local reactions and behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot. In the video, cameras and crew line ul. Pirin (Pirin Street) – Bansko’s main artery – while snow falls on old stone houses. Residents recall waking up to find Hollywood trucks blocking off the street.

One post from Bansko Noticeboard at the time read, “Filming on Pirin Street today…” sparking excitement among locals. The video captures Stallone’s crew setting up lights, extras rehearsing, and locals peeking from balconies. Even though only brief exterior shots made it into the final film, every Bansko resident recognizes the details – the stairways, balconies, and the unique glow of Pirin light.

From Pirin to Plovdiv – The Bulgarian Triangle

While the urban firefight scenes were filmed at Plovdiv Airport, and the famous “cave crash” took place inside Devetashka Cave, Bansko gave The Expendables 2 its authentic mountain backdrop. The crew used it for snowy exteriors and environmental shots, blending real winter with studio action. Locals still tell stories of long nights with film trucks parked along the street, and of sharing soup with stunt teams after midnight. For Bansko, it was more than a movie – it was a taste of the global stage.

Bansko’s Cinematic Flexibility

Bansko’s greatest cinematic strength is its ability to play many roles:

1. High alpine drama – snowy peaks and hard granite, perfect for adventure or action.

2. Cozy old town – stone-and-wood façades that can become “any European village.”

3. Logistical dream – proximity to Nu Boyana Studios makes it ideal for productions needing both scale and realism.

That’s why international crews – from Hollywood to Bollywood – keep returning to the region.

Bollywood in Pirin: Shivaay and Dilwale

After The Expendables 2, Indian superstar Ajay Devgn arrived to film Shivaay (2016). Much of the movie was shot in Bansko’s mountains, with Devgn’s company confirming the “last day of shooting in Bansko Mountain.” Temperatures plunged to –19°C near Vihren Peak, where the crew battled snowstorms to capture breathtaking scenes.

A year earlier, Dilwale (2015) – starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol – also filmed in Bulgaria. Reports from Bulgaria’s tourism authorities list Bansko among its key shooting sites, alongside Sofia and Veliko Tarnovo. The film’s trailers, seen by hundreds of millions, showcased Bulgaria’s landscapes to a global audience – a priceless tourism promotion.

From Film Crew to Film Festival

After the Hollywood and Bollywood wave, Bansko strengthened its identity as a film destination through Bansko Film Fest – the International Mountain Film Festival. Held annually, it brings together filmmakers, climbers, and explorers from around the world. Many participants see poetic meaning in meeting under the same Pirin peaks that once hosted The Expendables 2.

The Local Legacy

Residents still remember the winter of 2011–2012 vividly. Children watching Stallone’s crew at work, cafés serving tea to cameramen, and locals lending a hand to move lighting rigs up icy streets. Small signs of that time remain – like old Nu Boyana Transport crates tucked away in storage rooms, reminders of when Bansko became a movie set.

Walking the Hero’s Path

Visitors can trace the movie’s footsteps:

1. Start at the lower part of Pirin Street – where the main filming took place.

2. Walk toward the town square, where some background shots were done.

3. Explore the old quarter, whose narrow lanes appear briefly in the film.

4. End at Vihren Hut, gateway to where Shivaay filmed its mountain scenes.

Film buffs can continue to Devetashka Cave – about a three-hour drive – to see the awe-inspiring location of The Expendables 2’s cave sequence.

Bulgaria’s Film Boom – and Bansko’s Role

Throughout the 2010s, Bulgaria became one of Europe’s hottest filming destinations. Nu Boyana Studios, owned by Millennium Films, expanded rapidly with full-scale sets of New York, Rome, and Middle Eastern cities. Titles like 300: Rise of an Empire, Rambo: Last Blood, and The Hitman’s Bodyguard all shot there. Yet Bansko remains special. It’s where nature and cinema meet without compromise – real snow, real light, and a town that breathes history.

From Backdrop to Character

To live in Bansko is to understand why the mountains are more than scenery. They are alive, shaping the rhythm and soul of daily life. Maybe that’s why filmmakers keep coming back – because the Pirin range isn’t just beautiful, it’s expressive.

When Stallone and his crew stood on set in 2011, they probably didn’t realize they were creating a legend for this mountain town. Over a decade later, Bansko still carries that cinematic energy.

The Future of Filmmaking in Bansko

New European and Asian studios are now scouting locations in Bansko, Dobrinishte, and Razlog. Plans are forming for smaller outdoor “mountain stages” and green film programs in collaboration with the Bansko Film Fest. The vision is to make Bansko the center of sustainable, nature-conscious filmmaking in the Balkans.

A Final Shot

Stand on Pirin Street on a snowy evening. The lamplight glows against the snow, the mountains rise behind the rooftops, and for a moment it feels like the cameras are still rolling. Bansko is no longer just a ski resort. It’s a living film set – a place where stories are born, and where Hollywood once met the soul of Bulgaria.