Madagascar 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 Madagascar? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Madagascar

For an introduction to shooting in Madagascar 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.

Madagascar Film Locations

Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located in East Africa. Rich in bio-diversity, Madagascar is home to 5% of the world’s plant and animal species including the iconic Baobab tree and several species of chameleon and lemur such as indri and sifaka lemurs. Madagascar is a natural wonderland for filmmakers and photographers offering unique national parks, tropical rainforests, tropical dry forests, thorn forests, deserts, xeric shrublands, white sand beaches, tropical islands, coral reefs, volcanic regions, mountains, and limestone formations.

Agricultural film locations include plantations of rice, sugarcane, corn, coconuts, mangos, pineapples, bananas, coffee, cacao, cloves, cashews, and vanilla. Madagascan factories produce textiles and apparel. The country mines chromium, cobalt, ilmenite, nickel, gold, and precious gems.

Madagascar has hosted productions such as Naked and Afraid (2014), Island of Lemurs: Madagascar (2014), Life (2009), and The Amazing Race 10 (2006).

Film locations can be divided by the following provinces:

Antananarivo

The centrally located province of Antananarivo includes the regions of Analamanga, Bongolava, Itasy, and Vakinankaratra.

Known locally as Tana, Antananarivo is the capital and largest city. Film locations of note include the ruins of the Rova Palace Complex, Ambohimanga traditional fortified royal settlement, Andafiavaratra Palace, Ambohitsorohitra Palace, Monument aux morts, Analakely Market, Parc de Tsarasaotra, and the French colonial architecture of the old Haute-Ville district.

Antsiranana

The northern province of Antsiranana includes the regions of Diana and Sava.

Masoala National Park is a rainforest and marine park home to unique wildlife such as the aye-aye lemur, Madagascar day gecko, day-flying sunset moth, tomato frog, red owl, and the Madagascan serpent eagle.

Montagne d’Ambre National Park is known for its waterfalls, crater lakes, rivers, forests, orchids, lemurs, chameleons, and a diversity of birdlife.

Marojejy National Park is known for its rainforests and the high cliffs of Marojejy Massif.

Tsingy Rouge is a unique red rock formation.

Maromokotro, in the Tsaratanana Reserve, is the country’s highest peak.

Lokobe Strict Reserve is known for its black lemurs and the panther chameleon.

Nosy Be, Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Sakatia, Nosy Anko, Nosy Fanihy, Nosy Antsoha, and Tsarabanjina are paradise island locations.

Toamasina is the second largest city and the nation’s main container port.

Fianarantsoa

The southeastern province of Fianarantsoa includes the regions of Atsimo-Atsinanana, Amoron’i Mania, Ihorombe, Haute Matsiatra, and Vatovavy-Fitovinany.

Ranomafana National Park is known for its tropical rainforests. Wildlife of note include the golden bamboo lemur, Milne-Edwards’s sifaka, and a diversity of frogs and birdlife.

Midongy du sud National Park is known for its rainforests and medical plants.

Isalo National Park is known for its dry deciduous forests, canyons, and rocky landscapes.

Andringitra National Park is known for its granite massif. The eastern flank of the massif is covered with humid forest, and humid grassland and scrub in the higher areas. On the western flank there is relatively dry forest. The park is home to a diversity of lemurs.

Kirindy Mitea National Park is known for its deciduous forest, tropical dry forest, spiny forest, beaches and sand-dunes, mangroves and coral reefs.

Tsimanampetsotsa National Park is known for its spiny forests.

Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park is known for its forests, woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands.

Ilakaka is known for its sapphire mines.

Mananjary hosts the Sambatra festival every 7 years.

Mahajanga

The northwestern province of Mahajanga includes the regions of Betsiboka, Boeny, Melaky and Sofia.

Tsingy De Bemaraha National Park is known for its spectacular sharp limestone formations.

Ankarafantsika National Park is known for its dry tropical forest, savannah, lakes, and rocky landscapes. Wildlife of note includes the greater big-footed mouse, rhinoceros chameleon, and a diversity of lemur and birdlife.

Ambalabongo Canyon is located in Marovoay.

Toamasina

The eastern province of Toamasina includes the regions of Alaotra-Mangoro, Analanjirofo and Atsinanana.

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is home to a diversity of lemurs.

Zahamena National Park is known for its birdlife.

The paradise island of Île Sainte-Marie is home to a pirate cemetery. Île aux Nattes is a nearby small paradise island.

Toliara

The southern province of Toliara includes the regions of Androy, Atsimo-Andrefana, Anosy, and Menabe.

The Avenue of the Baobabs in an iconic location of centuries old baobab trees lining both sides of a dirt road.

Andohahela National Park is known for its lemurs.

Aven Cave in Tsimanampetsotsa Nature Reserve is home a fossil graveyard.

Ifaty is a fishing village location.

Madagascar Film Location Permits

A National Film Permit is required to film in Madagascar. It’s quite expensive but required to film in the country and to clear gear through customs. We highly advise you hire a fixer to lodge the application from within the country. Once all the documentation is submitted, you can even get the permit processed same day. Filming in national parks requires additional fees. Larger shoots requiring exclusive use of property can be quickly set up. In that respect, Madagascar has very little bureaucracy. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Madagascar has two seasons. November to April is hot, rainy and subject to cyclones. May to October is cool and dry. In terms of best time to film, the rainy season is better for animal activity but the dry season is better for weather. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Madagascar has vibrant festivals throughout the year including:

• Santabari Festival in April / May.
• Fisemana Festival in June.
• Famadihana from June – September.
• Donia Music Festival on Nosy Be Island in September.
• Sambatra Festival takes place in Mananjary every 7 years.
• Zebu bull rodeos.
• Sakalava trance ceremonies.

Christianity and traditional faiths are widely observed. The practise of Famadihana can be seen in the highlands throughout the year.

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 Malagasy fixer / service producer 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 feature films shooting in Madagascar.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. Madagascar has a very small pool of local 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 Madagascar.

Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable.

Malagasy and French are the official languages.

Malagasy are a mix of Malayo-Indonesian, African and Arab ancestry. The largest ethnic groups include the Merina, Betsimisaraka, Betsileo, Tsimihety, Sakalava, and Antaisaka. There are also minorities of French, Indian, Creole, Comorian, Chinese people. All other talent looks are best cast abroad.

Madagascar Film Equipment

Equipment. Some very basic camera, grip and lighting gear is available locally. We advise you bring in your preferred equipment from abroad. A National Film Permit is required to bring gear in on a carnet.

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.

Studios and backlots. None exist at present.

Post Production. Post abroad.

Visas & Work Permits

All visitors to Madagascar are required to have a visa. Visiting film crews are required to have authorisation from the Madagascan Ministry of Information, Culture and Communication. Entry visas can be obtained on arrival but to save time on arrival, you can also obtain a visa prior to departure from your closest Malagasy embassy. US passport holders see here for more information.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure. Several international airlines service flights to Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo. Considering the large size of the island and poor state of most roads, taking a local flight can save quite a lot of time. Our Malagasy fixer also organises safe and reliable 4WD transportation.

Accommodation. Film friendly hotels in Madagascar:

Tana Hotel
Hotel Tamboho
Hotel Carlton

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.

Final Notes. Respect local traditions. Known as fady, Madagascar has a wide range of cultural taboos which vary by region.

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 Madagascar, please see below:

Hire Madagascar Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Madagascar, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Madagascar, 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.