Uruguay 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 Uruguay? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Uruguay
For an introduction to shooting in Uruguay see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, Uruguay 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.
Uruguay Film Locations
Uruguay is a South American country, located between Argentina and Brazil. It is known for its Spanish and Portuguese colonial locations, modern architecture, rolling green countryside, undiscovered forests and rivers, coastal villages, lighthouses, hot springs, lagoons, sand dunes, surf beaches, and resort towns.
Uruguay doubles well for a variety of international locations including Old Havana, Paris, London, Germany, the Caribbean, Italy and Ireland. Many productions come to film in Uruguay for opposite season looks. As a small country, visiting productions enjoy the advantage of locations being a short drive from each other.
Agricultural film locations include cattle ranches, dairy farms, sheep farms, and plantations of soybeans, barley, corn, wheat, rice, sugarcane, apples, and oranges. Uruguay has many renewable energy locations including hydroelectric, solar, wind, and biomass facilities.
The country has played host to productions including The Two Popes (2019), Children of Men (2006), Miami Vice (2006), and The Amazing Race (2001-) as well as a long list of US and European TV commercial shoots.
Uruguay is divided into the following departments: Artigas, Canelones, Cerro-Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandú, Río Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San José, Soriano, Tacuarembó, and Treinta y Tres.
Film locations can be divided into the following regions:
Montevideo
The capital and main production centre, Montevideo is a very film friendly city. It offers visiting filmmakers a diversity of architectural looks including Renaissance, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Bauhaus, French Gothic and Contemporary. Locations of particular interest include the Plaza Independencia, Palacio Legislativo, Plaza Constitución, Mercado del Puerto, Mercado Agrícola, Palacio Salvo, Teatro Solís, Palacio Taranco, Museo Blanes, Estévez Palace, Fortaleza General Artigas, Pittamiglio Castle, Parque Prado, De los Pocitos Beach, the Rambla riverfront promenade, and several film friendly football stadiums including Estadio Centenario which hosted the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup. Carrasco International Airport is a modern airport available for filming.
The Coast
Punta Del Este is known as South America’s Riviera. It offers visiting productions beautiful white sand beaches, luxury hotels and apartment towers, seaside mansions and the architectural masterpiece, Casapueblo. Hotel Fasano Las Piedras Punta del Este is an example of impressive modern architecture.
Other coastal towns of note include José Ignacio, Punta del Diablo, and Cabo Polonio.
Estancia Vik José Ignacio is one of Uruguay’s most beautiful haciendas.
Leonel Viera Bridge is a stressed ribbon bridge linking the cities of Punta del Este and La Barra.
The Laguna Garzón Bridge, designed by Rafael Viñoly, is known for its unusual circular shape.
Francisco Piria Castle is located in Piriápolis.
Lighthouses of note include Cabo Polonio, Cabo Santa Maria, Isla de Lobos, Punta José Ignacio, and Isla de Flores.
The Littoral
Located in the western part of Uruguay, the region is known for its rich agricultural soils that produce dairy, wheat, wines, cheeses, and citrus crops.
Colonia del Sacramento is a former Portuguese colonial settlement famous for its cobblestoned Barrio Histórico. Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos is an abandoned bullfighting ring located in this area.
Mocona Falls is a 3km long waterfall that runs parallel to the river.
Guaviyu and Almiron are famous hot springs resorts in this region.
The Interior
The largest and least populated region of Uruguay is famous for its plains, rolling hills, and gaucho culture. Cattle, dairy cow, and sheep farming are common in this area. Crops of note include wheat, rice, soybean, and sunflower fields.
Quebrada de los Cuervos is a beautiful green landscape with canyons crossed by Yerbal Chico creek.
Salto del Penitente is a beautiful waterfall location.
Uruguay Film Location Permits
Uruguay has a very film friendly, well established, streamlined permitting process. Most city locations take only a couple of days to permit. More complicated requests, such as shutting city streets or filming at the airport, take only a week to permit. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Uruguay has a temperate climate, with mild summers and winters not receiving any snow. Summer is from November to March and offers long sunny shoot days with cool nights. This is the best time to film for weather. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• Carnaval and Las Llamadas takes place in February / March.
• Dia de Muertos is celebrated in November.
Many Uruguayans are non-religious. Christianity is the largest religion, so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Uruguay.
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. Uruguay has one of the most competitive per shoot day costs in the world for a production service centre of its calibre. Local costs are much less expensive than Brazil, Argentina, Chile or Mexico. The main cost is getting there. Some specialised crew, equipment and talent may also need to be brought in from Buenos Aires or Sao Paulo. Some productions choose to shoot in Uruguay through Argentina, although it’s generally less expensive to work directly with a Uruguayan service producer and have them source additional requirements from Buenos Aires. Our Uruguayan service producer / fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Uruguay offers qualifying productions a cash rebate of up to 25%. Visiting productions are also exempt from paying the 22% VAT.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Uruguay has a small pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Crews are union but as with talent, costs are reasonable and flexible to budgetary requirements. Uruguayan crews are very experienced in servicing international work and have a reputation for being friendly and hard working. Heads of department all speak fluent English. Depending on your project, some crew may need to be brought in such as stylists or equipment specialists (Russian Arm, Motion Control, etc.).
Contact us if you are looking for a Montevideo based 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 Uruguay.
Talent is union but day rates and buyouts are negotiable and very reasonable.
Spanish is the official language.
Uruguay has mainly Caucasian looking talent. Other looks are best brought in from abroad. Uruguay’s close proximity to the more multicultural production centres of Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo allow easy access to that talent pool should you ever need to look further.
Uruguay Film Equipment
Equipment. Good stock of standard camera, grip and lighting equipment including Alexa cameras, REDS, Phantom Flex, Steadicam, remote heads, dollies. Technocranes can be brought in from nearby Buenos Aires and more specialised equipment is easily brought in from the US or Europe. Using a customs broker is a good idea to get gear in and out of Uruguay. The process usually takes about a week.
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 are up to international standards.
Studios. Basic facilities exist but are not Uruguay’s strong point.
Backlots. At present no backlots exist in Uruguay.
Post Production. Most post abroad.
Visas & Work Permits
Crews travelling on western passports can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. Work permits are not required to film in Uruguay.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure is all up to known and expected world standards. Uruguay’s travel friendly topography and extensive network of roads means all locations are easy to get to. Several international airlines service flights to Montevideo and Punta del Este with most transiting through Argentina or Brazil.
Accommodation. Contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Montevideo, Punta del Este, and other parts of Uruguay. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Final Notes
Safety. Uruguay is a safe and reliable shooting destination. See here for up to date travel advice.
Final Notes. The vibrant Latin culture makes it a fun place to shoot.
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 Uruguay, please see below:
Hire Uruguay Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Uruguay, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Uruguay, 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.
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