Uzbekistan 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 Uzbekistan? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Uzbekistan
For an introduction to shooting in Uzbekistan 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.
Uzbekistan Film Locations
Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country located in Central Asia. It’s known for its ancient mosques, madrasahs, mausoleums and Silk Road locations. Uzbekistan has snowy mountains, rivers, lakes and desert.
Agricultural film locations of note include cotton and wheat fields. Uzbekistan is also known for its gold mines, as well as its oil and gas facilities.
Film locations can be divided into the following regions:
Tashkent City Region
Located in the east of the country, Tashkent is the capital, the largest city, and the main production service centre where crew and equipment are based. Locations of note include Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent TV Tower, Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, Amir Temur Square, Amir Timur Museum, State Museum of History of Uzbekistan, Hotel Uzbekistan, Tashkent Circus, Mausoleum of Zangiota, and a modern international airport. Tashkent Metro also has old Soviet style subway stations available for filming. Faith locations include Kukeldash Madrasah, Barakhan Madrasah, Kukcha Mosque, Khoja Akhrar Mosque, Minor Mosque, Dzhuma Mosque, Hazrati Imam complex, Sacred Heart Cathedral, and Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin.
Andijan Region
Located in the far east of the country, the city of Andijan is known for the Jomi Mosque and Babur House Museum.
Bukhara Region
Located in the southwest of the country the ancient city of Bukhara is known for the Ark of Bukhara, Samanid Mausoleum, Po-i-Kalyan, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo Haouz Mosque, Magok-i-Attari Mosque, Kalyan minaret, Chor Minor, Mir-i-Arab Madrasah, Divan-Beghi Khanaka, Toqi Sarrofon Bazaar, and Toqi Telpak Furushon Bazaar.
Rabat Malik Caravanserai is located in the Bukhara Region.
Fergana Region
Located in the east, the Fergana Valley is known for its traditional silk and pottery crafts.
Margilan is known for its silk factories.
Khudayar Khan Palace is located in Kokand.
Jizzakh Region
This centrally located region is known for Zaamin National Park.
Namangan Region
Located in the eastern part of the country, the verdant region of Namangan is known for its flowers and wineries.
Navoiy Region
The central Navoiy Region is made up predominately of the Kyzyl-Kum desert. The Navoi and Zarafshan mines produce some of the world’s purest gold. The Muruntau gold mine is the world’s largest open-pit gold mine.
Qashqadaryo Region
This southern region is known for the city of Shakhrisabz which is home to Ak Saray Palace and Dorut Tilavat.
Samarqand Region
This centrally located region is known for the city of Samarkand, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia. Film locations of note include Registan Square, Sherdor Madrasah, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Gur-e-Amir, Shah-i-Zinda, Ulugh Beg Observatory, and Siyob Bazaar.
Sirdaryo Region
The Sirdarya region is centrally located.
Surxondaryo Region
The Surxondaryo region is the most southern region in the country.
Hakim al-Termezi Mausoleum is located in Termez.
Tashkent Region
Located in the east of the country, Ugam-Chatkal National Park has mountain steppes, forests, alpine meadows, river valleys and floodplain forests. Urunghach Lake and Charvak Lake are beautiful film locations.
Xorazm Region
The Xorazm region is located in the northwest of the country.
The city of Khiva is known for Itchan Kala, Kalta-minor Minaret, Islam Khoja Minaret, Tash-Khovli Palace, Kunya-Ark Citadel, Juma Mosque, Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah, Islam Khodja Madrasah, Allakuli Khan Madrassah, Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrassah, and Nurullaboy Saroyi.
The desert oasis of Khwarezm is located near Khiva.
Karakalpakstan
Karakalpakstan is an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan located in the northwest of the country.
The Aral Sea is located in Karakalpakstan. Agricultural use of the Aral Sea has shrunk it to 10% of its former size. Moynaq is a deserted fishing village that now sits in the middle of a desert. Kantubek on Vozrozhdeniya Island was used by the Soviets as a biological weapons test site. The location hosts an annual music festival.
Other film locations of note in Karakalpakstan include the Ancient Zoroastrian Tower of Silence, and the State Art Museum of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
Uzbekistan Film Location Permits
Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. Unauthorised photography of sensitive government buildings and other public infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels, reservoirs, mountain passes, and the subway system, is strictly policed. Penalties may include arrest, fines, and confiscation of film equipment. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Uzbekistan has an extreme continental climate. The south of the country is generally warmer than the north. Winters (November to March) are cold and snowy. Spring (April to May) has plenty of sunshine with mild conditions. Summers (June to August) are very hot and dry. Fall (September to October) has plenty of sunshine with mild conditions. Spring and fall are the best seasons to film for weather. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• Navruz is celebrated in March.
• The Boysun Spring Festival takes place in May.
Ramadan is observed by the majority Muslim population with some services closed during this period.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Uzbekistan.
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.
Uzbekistan Costs & Tax Incentives For Filming
Costs. Locations, local talent and support crew are inexpensive but since little to no filming infrastructure exists all key crew and equipment must be brought in from abroad. Our Uzbek fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Uzbekistan offers a 20% rebate for qualifying film and TV series productions.
Uzbekistan Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Uzbekistan has a very small pool of directors, videographers and stills photographers. Key crew should 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 Uzbekistan.
Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable.
Uzbek and Karakalpak are the official languages.
Uzbeks are the main ethnic group. There are also minorities of Russian, Tajik, Khowar, Tajik, Kazakh, Tatar, and Karakalpak talent available locally. All other talent looks are best cast abroad.
Uzbekistan Film Equipment
Equipment. Uzbekistan has a range of new camera, lighting and grip equipment available locally. More sophisticated gear needs to be brought in from abroad. Bringing in small camera, lighting, grip and sound gear is easy. Note, importing drone equipment is illegal in Uzbekistan. We have a locally based DJI Phantom for rent including an operator. If your shoot requires bringing in a lot of big equipment you will need to hire a customs broker.
Communication. Some websites are blocked from access.
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.
Uzbekistan Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production
Art department and set construction is very basic.
Studios and backlots. None exist at present.
Post Production. Post abroad.
Uzbekistan Visas & Work Permits For Filming
Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. For smaller projects crew can enter as tourists. All crew travelling on Western passports must possess a valid Uzbek visa to enter and film in Uzbekistan. Visas must be applied for at your closest Uzbek embassy or consulate. An in-person interview may be required before a visa is approved. Our local fixer / service producer will submit a Letter of Invitation in support of your entry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. US passport holders see here for more information about Uzbek visas. Contact your local Uzbekistan embassy or representative for more information.
For larger productions such as feature films, you will need to apply for an official film permit which will give you full government support. The process can take 1 or 2 months and requires submission of all project information for government approval. The government will provide you with a government official to be with you at all times (at your cost).
Uzbekistan Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. Main roads connecting major cities are relatively well maintained. Rural and mountain roads, particularly in the Tien Shan Mountains region are only accessible by 4WD. Our local fixer / service producer can organise safe and reliable ground transport. Several international airlines service flights to Uzbekistan.
Accommodation. Recommended film friendly hotels in Uzbekistan include:
Tashkent:
Radisson Sas Hotel
InterContinental Hotels
Samarkand:
Hotel Afrosiyob Palace
Hotel Grand Samarkand
Please contact us for corporate rates.
For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Final Notes
Safety. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Try a local version of plov.
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 Uzbekistan, please see below:
Hire Uzbekistan Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Uzbekistan, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Uzbekistan, 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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