Burkina Faso 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 Burkina Faso? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Burkina Faso
For an introduction to shooting in Burkina Faso 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.
Burkina Faso Film Locations
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in West Africa. It is crossed by three rivers; the Black Volta, White Volta, and Red Volta. Burkina Faso is known for its savannah landscapes, rivers, waterfalls, rugged outcrops, national parks, and colourful markets.
Agricultural film locations include cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, peanut, sesame seed, and cashew nuts plantations. Burkina Faso is known for its gold mines.
Burkina Faso has hosted productions including Human (2015), The Dead (2011), Amazing Race 12 (2007), and Sarraounia (1986).
Film locations can be divided into the following regions: Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Plateau-Central, Sahel, and Sud-Ouest.
Ouagadougou is the capital, the largest city, and main entry point by air. Locations of note include the Monument des Héros Nationaux, Parliament Building, Ouagadougou Grande Mosque, Ouagadougou Cathedral, Musée Nationale, Musée de la Musique, National Museum of Music, Ouagadougou Main Railway Station, and Thomas Sankara International Airport Ouagadougou.
Parc Bangr Weogo is available for filming African wildlife inside the city.
Bobo-Dioulasso is the country’s second largest city. Film locations include the Grande Mosque, Bobo-Dioulasso Grand Marché, Stade Général Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana, and Bobo-Dioulasso Railway Station.
The Kassena village of Tiébélé is known for its elaborately painted walls.
“W” National Park in the east of the country crosses over into Benin and Niger. The park is home to wildlife including baboons, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, lions, and a variety of birds.
Kaboré Tambi National Park is home to a diversity of birdlife.
Arli National Park is home to elephants, hippos, lions, buffaloes, baboons, and monkeys.
Nazinga Game Reserve is known for its elephants.
Ziniare Wildlife Park is home to hyenas, lions, tigers, elephants and a single giraffe.
Sindou Peaks is known for its interesting rock structures.
Lake Tengrela is a great location to photograph hippos.
Cascades de Karfiguéla is a beautiful waterfall location.
Sabou is known for its sacred crocodiles.
Karaba Brick Quarry is a photogenic film location.
Burkina Faso Film Location Permits
Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Burkina Faso has two distinct seasons. The hot, dry season runs from November to April and becomes very dusty by the end of the season. The earlier part of the dry season is the best time to film for visibility, weather and the savanna in bloom. The end of the dry season is the best time to film wildlife with animals congregating around limited water sources. The rainy season runs from May to October. This is the best time to film birdlife. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
FESTIMA, The Diedogou Mask Festival is a colourful event taking place in March / April, every two years. Burkinabés observe Muslim holidays (mainly in the north, west and east) and Christian holidays (mainly in central areas).
Burkina Faso is a predominately Muslim country. There is also a significant community of Christians.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Burkina Faso.
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. 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 Burkinabe fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
The West African CFA franc (XOF) is the official currency.
Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Burkina Faso.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Burkina Faso has a very small local pool of directors, directors of photography 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 Burkina Faso.
Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable.
French is the official language although Moore is the most commonly spoken language.
Burkina Faso has over 60 ethnic groups. The Mossi are the largest group. Other groups of note include the Fula, Lobi, Bobo, Dioula, Senufo, Gurunsi, Gurma, and Tuareg. All other talent needs to be brought in from abroad.
Burkina Faso Film Equipment
Equipment. You will need to bring in all camera, grip and lighting equipment from abroad.
Communications. Internet is slow and unreliable.
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 and backlots. None exist at present.
Post Production. Post abroad.
Visas & Work Permits
To be safe, most travellers opt to apply for a visa before they travel to Burkina Faso. These take about 3 days to process and are valid for up to 1 year. Visas on arrival are also available for most Western passport holders, although they are more expensive and travellers are required to leave their passports at the airport for a few days. Make sure to arrive with proof of yellow fever vaccination. Contact your local Burkina Faso embassy or representative for more information.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure is basic and very few roads are paved. Many roads become impassable during the wet season. Avoid road travel by night. Our Burkinabe fixer organises safe and reliable 4WD transportation. Several international airlines service flights to Burkina Faso.
Accommodation. Recommended film friendly hotels in Ouagadougou:
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. See here for vaccinations required for Burkina Faso.
Down Time. Witness the FESTIMA Mask Festival.
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 Burkina Faso, please see below:
Hire Burkina Faso Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Burkina Faso, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Burkina Faso, 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.
