Mongolia Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Mongolia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Mongolia

For an introduction to shooting in Mongolia see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

Mongolia Film Locations

Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia known for its vast, rugged expanses and traditional nomadic culture. Film locations of note include steppes, deserts, mountains, lakes, national parks, Buddhist sites, Soviet-era architecture, and museums. The south of the country is a dry cold desert and the north is green and mountainous.

Agricultural film locations include fields of corn, wheat, and barley. Mongolia is known for its high quality cashmere wool production, as well as its horse culture. Industrial locations include mines for copper, coal, tin, gold, and other rare metals. Coal-fired power plants are the main source of energy.

1242 – Gateway to the West (2022), and The Amazing Race 10 (2006) filmed in Mongolia.

Film locations can be divided into the following provinces: Ulaanbaatar, Arkhangai, Bayankhongor, Bayan-Ulgii, Bulgan, Darkhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Govi-Altai, Govisümber, Khentii, Khovd, Khuvsgul, Orkhon, Selenge, Sükhbaatar, Tuv, Umnugovi, Uvs, Uvurkhangai, and Zavkhan.

Ulaanbaatar is the capital, the largest city, and main production service centre. Originally a nomadic Buddhist center, today Ulaanbaatar is known for its bustling modern city streets, Soviet-era architecture, and Buddhists monasteries. Film locations include the Museum of the Bogd Khaan, Gandantegchinlen Monastery, Choijin Lama Monastery, National Museum, Natural History Museum, Mongolian Military Museum, Zaisan Monument, Chinggis Khaan Statue, Sükhbaatar Square, Narantuul Market, National Amusement Park, Ulaanbaatar railway station, and Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport.

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park is located just north of Ulaanbaatar, making it one of the most accessible Mongolian backcountry locations. The park is known for its pine covered mountain valleys, rock structures, natural hot springs, nomad camps, and camel farms. The Amazing Race 10 (2006) filmed in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. The area is popular with rock climbers.

Khustain Nuruu National Park, also located outside of Ulaanbaatar, is famous as being the home of the wild Przewalski Horses.

The Gobi Desert, located in the south of the country, is known for the Flaming Cliffs, Yol valley, Khongoryn sand dunes, Moltsog sand dunes, and the Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes.

Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park is home to the snow leopard and bactrian camel.

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, located in the remote western part of the country, is famous for its landscape of mountains, glaciers, lush valleys, lakes and waterfalls. Wildlife that call the area home include Argali sheep, Ibex, Beech marten, Moose, and Golden eagles. The park is also home to nomadic Tuvan and Kazakh people who are famous for hunting with eagles.

Khüiten Peak in the Altai Mountains is Mongolia’s highest peak.

Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, located in central Mongolia, is known for the ruins of Karakorum (the capital of the Mongol Empire), ruins of Xanadu, and beautiful waterfalls such as Orkhon Waterfall.

Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, located in the centre of the country, includes Terkhiin Tsagaan lake and Khorgo volcano.

Buddhist sites of note include Aglag Buteel Monastery, Erdene Zuu Monastery, Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Tövkhön Monastery, Baldan Bereeven Monastery, Shankh Monastery, Manzushir Monastery, Khamar Monastery, Ikh Burkhant complex, and the Shambhala site.

Picturesque lakes of note include Khövsgöl Lake, Uvs Lake, and Khuisiin Naiman Lake.

Bayantal is an abandoned Soviet air base available for filming.

Erdenet is the second-largest city in Mongolia.

Mongolia Film Location Permits

Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. Film Permits and Press Cards are required and take about 10 days to process. Please contact us for more location specific information.

When To Shoot?

The Land of the Blue Sky, Mongolia enjoys over 250 sunny days a year. Mongolia has a dry climate with extreme temperature variations. Winter (November to April) is long and extremely cold. Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital city in the world. Spring (April to June) brings unsettled weather. Summer (July to September) is short and hot, especially in the Gobi Desert. Much of the landscape becomes lush and green during the summer. Autumn (October) has beautiful fall colours in the north. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Mongolian festivals and events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:

• Ice Festival at Khovsgol Lake in February.
• Tsagaan Sar Mongolian New Year in February.
• Thousand Camel Festival in the Gobi Desert in February / March.
• Naadam Festival in July. Events include Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and archery.
• The Gobi March takes place in July.
• The Yak Festival in Khorgo National Park in August.
• Golden Eagle Festival in October.
• The Mongol Derby taking place in August is the longest horserace in the world, traversing 1000km through the Mongolian Steppe.

Many Mongolians are non-religious. Buddhism is the largest religion. A small minority practise Shamanism, Islam, and Christianity.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Mongolia.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

Costs & Tax Incentives

Costs. Since little filming infrastructure exists, key crew and equipment may need to be brought in from abroad. Our Mongolian fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.

Tax Incentives. Mongolia overs up to 45% cash rebate for qualifying visiting film and TV productions. This includes 30% for productions that use a substantial number of Mongolian personnel for post-production, a 10% cultural incentive available to productions that highlight Mongolian culture and heritage, and a 5% foreign crew and talent incentive.

Alternatively there is a 20% Mongolia Film Incentive. This applies to local or joint-film productions that promote Mongolian culture and heritage to international audiences.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. Mongolia has a small pool of directors, videographers and stills photographers. Some key crew needs to be brought in from abroad.

Contact us if you are looking for a director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in Mongolia.

Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable.

Mongolian is the official language.

Mongolia is the least densely populated country in the world. Mongolians are the main ethnic group. A sizeable number of Mongolians continue to live nomadic lives. Some of the larger minority groups include the Kazakh, Dörbet, Bayid, and Buryat peoples. Of particular interest to filmmakers and photographers are the Dukhans, or Taiga Reindeer People as well as Kazakh eagle hunters. All other talent is best cast abroad.

Mongolia Film Equipment

Equipment. Some basic camera, lighting and grip equipment is available locally. You will need to bring in most equipment from abroad. For productions looking to bring in film equipment Mongolia is an ATA carnet country.

Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production

Art department and set construction is very basic.

Studios. Some studios servicing mainly local work exist.

Post Production. Post abroad.

Visas & Work Permits

Visiting crews travelling on passports from some western countries can enter visa-free for stays of up to 30 or 90 days. The rest are required to apply for visas. Work permits are not required to film in Mongolia. Film Permits and Press Cards are required and take about 10 days to process.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure. There are very few paved roads outside of Ulan Bator so make sure to allow plenty of time for land travel. Our Mongolian film fixer organises safe and reliable 4WD transport. Helicopters are available in Mongolia but are quite expensive.

Accommodation. Contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in your most likely port of entry, Ulan Bator. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments. For those shooting in remote areas or those just wanting a unique experience, our Mongolian fixer also organize accommodation in traditional Mongolian gers (felt tents).

Final Notes

Safety. See here for up to date travel advice.

Down Time. Ride horseback across the Mongolian steppes.

Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Mongolia, please see below:

Hire Mongolia Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Mongolia, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Mongolia, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.

We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.