Guyana 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 Guyana? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Guyana
For an introduction to shooting in Guyana 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.
Guyana Film Locations
Guyana is located on South America’s North Atlantic coast. The country is known for its rich biodiversity, unexplored virgin rainforests, rivers, waterfalls, savannahs, mountains and beaches.
Agricultural film locations include sugarcane plantations, rice fields, shrimp farms, and rum distilleries. Guyana is known for its gold mines, as well as its considerable offshore oil and gas resources.
Culturally speaking, Guyana is more like a Caribbean country than a South American one.
Film locations can be divided into the following regions: Barima Waini, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Demerara-Mahaica, Mahaica-Berbice. East Berbice – Corentyne, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, and Upper Demerara-Berbice.
Georgetown is the capital, the largest city, and main entry point by air. Locations of interest to filmmakers and photographers include wooden stilt houses, old Dutch canals that line the roads, and British colonial architecture such as St George’s Cathedral, Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, City Hall, Victoria Law Courts, State House, Georgetown Cricket Club, and Guyana National Stadium. Stabroek Market and Bourda Market are colourful film locations. Demerara Distillers have a long tradition of rum making. The Botanical Gardens are a beautiful location. Demerara Harbour Bridge is a floating bridge leading into and out of the city.
Guyana means ‘Land of Many Waters’ in native Amerindian. Rivers are the lifeblood of Guyana and one of the best ways to get around the country. Important rivers include the Essequibo River, Rupununi River, Potaro River, and Mazaruni River.
Guyana boasts more than 300 impressive waterfalls. The Kaieteur Falls are one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls. Other waterfalls of note include Orinduik Falls, Oshi Falls, Amaila Falls, Aruwai Falls, Kamarang Great Falls, King Edward VIII Falls, and Kumerau Falls.
The Rupununi is one of the world’s largest untouched open ranges of savannah. The Iwokrama Forest is one of the four last pristine tropical forests in the world.
Deep in the jungle the village of Rewa is a good base to go film giant armadillos, jaguars, and various monkey species.
Located in the South Rupununi savannahs, Dadanawa Ranch is one of the most remote ranches in the world.
Mountain areas of interest include the spectacular Mount Roraima located on the Brazil / Venezuela border, the Kanuku Mountains are one of the world’s last pristine Amazon habitats, and the Pakaraima Mountains are also rich with biodiversity.
Beaches of interest include Shell Beach (turtle nesting area), Saxacalli Beach, Almond Beach, No 63 Beach, Bartica Beach and Hamburg Beach.
The settlement of Jonestown, home of the Jonestown Massacre, was located in Barima-Waini.
Guyana Film Location Permits
The Film Permit from the Guyana Tourism Authority serves a blanket permit for filming at all public locations. With this permit, small footprint shoots in public locations do not incur location fees. Larger footprint shoots on public land such as those involving traffic control and large setups may also be free to film in. Contact us for location specific information. Note, for larger shoots, permission may be required from multiple government agencies. Police are hired to enforce traffic control. Allow at least 4 weeks to process permits for larger, more complicated shoots. Permission to film in private locations is negotiated directly with the owners of the location.
When To Shoot?
Guyana has a year-round warm, tropical climate with high humidity and rainfall. Coastal areas are tempered by sea breezes. The two wet seasons are from May to July, and November to January. Guyana sits outside of the hurricane belt. The best months to film for weather are the dry seasons from January to April, and August to November. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• Mashramani carnival takes place in February / March.
• Phagwah (or the Hindu festival of Holi as it is commonly known) is held in March.
Christianity and Hinduism are the largest religions, so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Guyana.
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. The favorable exchange rate means that your currency goes far in Guyana. Locations, local talent and support crew are inexpensive. Since local key crew and equipment are limited, one of the major costs is bringing those in. Imported goods purchased in Guyana can also be also expensive. Our Guyanese fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support and safety precautions to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. At present there are no dedicated tax incentives designed to attract foreign commercials or films shooting in Guyana. Visiting crews are not subject to local taxes on certain goods.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Guyana has a small pool of local directors, videographers and stills photographers. Key crew must 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 Guyana.
Talent day rates are very reasonable and buyouts are negotiated on a personal basis. Casting facilities are rather undeveloped in Guyana so street casting is often required.
English is the official language. Guyana is the only English speaking country in South America. Amerindians speak languages such as Macushi, Akawaio and Wai Wai, Arawak, and Wapishana.
Most Guyanese are of East Indian and Afro-Caribbean decent. Some mixed and Amerindian looks also exists. Main Amerindian ethnic groups include the Arawaks, Wai Wai, Caribs, Akawaio, Arecuna, Patamona, Wapixana, Macushi and the Warao. All other looks need to be brought in from abroad.
Guyana Film Equipment
Equipment. Guyana has a good pool of standard camera, grip, lighting, and drone equipment owing to the many TV shows, sporting and political events that are filmed in the country. Most specialised equipment needs to be brought in from abroad. If your shoot involves dangerous adventure activities, Guyana has an impressive infrastructure of both professional crews and gear that work to UK safety standards.
The Film Permit from the Guyana Tourism Authority serves as the document for temporary import your gear, fee-free. Once you confirm the project, our Guyanese fixer will take your completed film permit application, copies of visiting crew passport information pages, flight information, and your gear import list, submitting this on your behalf to the appropriate authority. Assuming everything is in order, the process of Film Permit approval usually only takes a couple of days. When you land, our fixer will meet you on the inside of the airport with the Film Permit to get you and your gear fast-tracked through customs and immigration.
Communication. Internet access is available in Georgetown. There are no landline or cell connections in the interior of the country. Satellite internet communications are the preferred method of communication.
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 limited in Guyana. Bring in key crew with you. Annual Mashramani carnival celebrations have created a pool of very capable local costume designers, if that’s what your shoot is looking for.
Studios and backlots. None exist at present. TV studios only. Unused warehouse spaces can be converted for us as studios too.
Post Production. No post production facilities exist at present.
Visas & Work Permits
To bring your crew and equipment into Guyana, you will first need a Film Permit from the Guyana Tourism Authority. Once you confirm the project, our Guyanese fixer will take your completed film permit application, copies of visiting crew passport information pages, flight information, and your gear import list, submitting this on your behalf to the appropriate authority. Assuming everything is in order, the process of Film Permit approval usually only takes a couple of days. When you land, our fixer will meet you on the inside of the airport with the Film Permit to get you and your gear fast-tracked through customs and immigration. Western passport holders are able to enter Guyana visa-free for up to 30 days.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation. Georgetown is serviced by several international airlines with direct flights available from the US and Europe. The local road system is undeveloped beyond coastal areas. Shoots taking place in the interior can only be accessed by plane or helicopter. Interior roads are very poor and subject to flooding. Our local fixer will arrange safe and reliable 4WD transport. Given Guyana’s extensive network of rivers, some travel may be better done by boat.
Accommodation. Georgetown has several film-friendly hotels at the 3 to 4 star level. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Final Notes
Safety. See here for up to date travel advice. See here for vaccinations required for Guyana.
Down Time. Guyana is home to many undiscovered locations. Take an adventure trip to a part of the world no other person has been.
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 Guyana, please see below:
Hire Guyana Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Guyana, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Guyana, 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.
