Guinea 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 Guinea? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Guinea
For an introduction to shooting in Guinea 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.
Guinea Film Locations
Guinea is located in West Africa. The country is known for its lush mountains, verdant jungle, savannah, mangroves, beaches, rivers, and waterfalls. Guinea’s mountains are the source of West Africa’s three great rivers; the Gambia, the Senegal and the Niger.
Agricultural film locations include plantations of rice, coffee, sugarcane, pineapples, peaches, nectarines, mangoes, oranges, bananas, and coconuts. Traditional fishing boats are available for filming. Guinea mines bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, and uranium. Energy locations include hydroelectric dams, and thermal fired power stations.
Life (2009) filmed in part in Guinea.
Film locations can be divided into the following regions: Boké, Conakry, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labé, Mamou, and Nzérékoré.
Located on the coast, Conakry is the capital and largest city. Film locations of note include the Grand Mosque, St Mary’s Cathedral, National Museum, botanical gardens, Sekhoutoureah Presidential Palace, and Port du Boulbinet. Conakry has several colourful markets including Marché Madina, and Marché du Niger.
Just offshore, Îles de Los are a group of islands known for their beaches, and dense palm forests. Tamara, Kassa, and Roume are the main islands. The smaller islands include Île de Corail, Île Blanche, Île Cabris, Île Poulet, Îlot Cabri, and Îlot de la Bouteille.
Fouta Djallon is a highland region in the centre of the country offering a beautiful landscape of rocky cliffs, jungle-covered valleys, and spectacular waterfalls such as Kambadaga Falls.
Nearby Labé is the second largest city in the country.
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, located in the far southeast of the country, is known for its verdant highland meadows. The area is home to rare wildlife such as viviparous toads, horseshoe bats, and pygmy hippos. Mount Nimba is the country’s highest peak.
Le Voile de la Mariée waterfall is a beautiful location that cascades in the shape of a bridal veil.
The National Park of Upper Niger, located in eastern Guinea, is a good place to film to hippos, chimpanzees, elephants, buffaloes, and West African manatees.
Badiar National Park is located in the northwest of the country. Wildlife of note includes monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, pythons, elephants, leopards, and hyenas.
Guinea Film Location Permits
Permission to film can vary greatly depending on the place, the officials, and the security situation. A good fixer is essential. Photography is strictly and regularly policed, so for a project to run smoothly you need to have the visible support of senior authority figures at all times. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Guinea generally has a hot, humid climate. The dry season runs from December to March. The rainy season runs from April to November when the landscape becomes green and waterfalls are spectacular. November and December are the best months to film for weather; just after the rainy season but before the dusty harmattan winds strike and blur the views. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Guinea is a predominately Muslim country. Ramadan is widely observed with some services closed during this time.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Guinea.
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 Guinean fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Guinea.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Guinea has a very small local pool of 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 Guinea.
Talent day rates are very reasonable and buyouts are negotiated on a personal basis.
French is the official language.
Guinea is home to about 24 different ethnic groups. The Fulbhe, Susu, and Mandinka are the largest groups. All other talent needs to be brought in from abroad.
Guinea Film Equipment
Equipment. Bring in all camera, grip and lighting equipment from abroad.
Communication. Limited internet access is available in Conakry and Souleyman.
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
Western passport holders require a visa to enter and film in Guinea. Evidence of yellow-fever vaccination is also required for entry into Guinea. A project synopsis may also be asked for. US passport holders see here for more information on applying for a visa.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure is quite basic. Only major roads are paved. Travel by road during the rainy season is slow going or not possible. Avoid travelling by night. Our Guinean fixer organises safe and reliable 4WD transportation. Several international airlines service flights to Guinea.
Accommodation. Film friendly hotels in Conakry:
Please contact us for corporate rates.
For those looking to stay with local communities our fixer also organises hosted accommodation.
Final Notes
Safety. See here for up to date travel advice. Our fixer organises security depending on the areas you plan to enter. See here for vaccinations required for Guinea.
Down Time. Explore the unique biodiversity of the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve.
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 Guinea, please see below:
Hire Guinea Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Guinea, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Guinea, 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.
