Réunion 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 Réunion? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Réunion
For an introduction to shooting in Réunion 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.
Réunion Film Locations
Réunion is an island located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Mauritius. It is an overseas department and region of France, which makes it an outermost region of the European Union.
The island is best known for its otherworldly volcanic mountain rainforest interior, valleys, deep canyons, lava cliffs, waterfalls, lagoons, coral reefs, and beaches. Réunion is also known for its French colonial architecture and modern villas.
Agricultural film locations include plantations of sugarcane, coffee, and vanilla.
Film locations can be divided into the following municipalities: Les Avirons, Bras-Panon, Cilaos, Entre-Deux, L’Étang-Salé, La Plaine-des-Palmistes, Petite-Île, La Possession, Le Port, Saint-André, Saint-Benoît, Saint-Denis, Saint-Joseph, Saint-Leu, Saint-Louis, Sainte-Marie, Saint-Paul, Saint-Philippe, Saint-Pierre, Sainte-Suzanne, Sainte-Rose, Salazie, Trois-Bassins, and Le Tampon.
Saint-Denis is the capital and main population centre. Film locations of note include Cité des Arts, Ancien Hôtel de Ville, Musée Léon-Dierx, Muséum d’histoire, Villa du Département, Jardin de l’État, Grand Market, Church of Our Lady of Deliverance, and the Temple Hindou Kalikambal. Nearby Roland-Garros Airport is available for filming.
Piton des Neiges is a volcano and the highest point on the island. The location is popular for paragliding. The volcano is surrounded by the crater valleys of Cirque de Mafat, Cirque de Salazie, and Cirque de Cilaos.
Plaine des Sables is a lunar landscape that leads up to Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
Trou de Fer is a deep chasm ringed by tall waterfalls.
Beautiful waterfalls of note include Bassin des Aigrettes, Voile de la Mariée, Niagara Fall, and Cascade de Grand Galet.
Réunion has some excellent beaches and surf breaks on the west coast of the island. Beaches of note include Plage De L’Ermitage, Plage De La Salines, Grande-Anse beach, Brisants beach, Plage De Boucan Canot, L’Étang-Salé, Saint-Leu beach, Plage de Trou d’Eau, Plage des Roches Noires, and Plage de Saint Pierre.
Saint-Leu is said to have the world’s most consistent year-round waves for surfing.
Plage De L’Ermitage has the most extensive and best-preserved lagoon.
Protected natural areas of note include Réunion National Park, Réunion Marine Nature Reserve, and The Etang Saint-Paul Reserve.
Musée Stella Matutina is an interesting location built in an old sugar factory.
Musée de Villèle is a French colonial building.
Réunion Film Location Permits
Réunion film location permits are quickly processed with public locations free of charge. Permits are not required for small-footprint shoots that do not require exclusive use of public space. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Réunion has a tropical climate. Summer (December to April) is hot and can experience heavy rainfalls. Winter (April to October) is cool and dry. This is the best time of year to shoot for weather. The mountainous interior can get very cold and has even reported snow. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
The Leu Tempo Festival (May) is the largest arts event in Réunion. Bastille Day (July) and Diwali (November) are celebrated. The Grand Raid is a gruelling 67km race across the mountainous interior of the island (October).
Réunion is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed. There is also a Hindu minority.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Réunion.
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 local currency is the Euro. Since little to no filming infrastructure exists all key crew and equipment must be brought in from abroad. Our Réunionnais fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Réunion is a department of France so setting up a co-production with a French partner may allow you to qualify for France’s Tax Rebate for International Production. Réunion Regional TV and Cinema Fund also offers incentives covering up to 35% of your local expenses.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Réunion has a very small pool of local directors, videographers and stills photographers. Local supporting crews are non-union. It’s best to bring in key crew from abroad. Johannesburg is the closest major production centre.
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 Réunion.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable.
French is the official language.
Most locals are a Creole mix of Black / White / South Asian descent. There is also a large local Caucasian, and Tamil population, and a minority of Chinese, East African, Malagasy, and other East Asian looks. Street casting is common. Best to bring in lead talent from abroad.
Réunion Film Equipment
Equipment. Some basic camera, grip and lighting gear is available locally. The rest needs to be brought in from abroad, with Johannesburg being the closest major production centre.
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 is very basic. Anything specific needs to be brought in from abroad.
Studios and backlots. None exist at present.
Post Production. Post abroad.
Visas & Work Permits
There are no special work permits required for visiting film crews. Most western passport holders can enter Réunion visa-free for stays of up to 90 days.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. Main roads are in a good condition. Despite distances being relatively small, traffic can be quite bad. Several international airlines service flights to Réunion.
Accommodation. Contact us for recommended film-friendly hotels and other accommodations.
Final Notes
Safety. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Explore the otherworldly volcanic and jungle landscapes of the island interior.
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 Réunion, please see below:
Hire Réunion Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Réunion, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Réunion, 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.
