Panama 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 Panama? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Panama
For an introduction to shooting in Panama 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.
Panama Film Locations
Panama is a country on the isthmus linking Central and South America. Film locations include a modern city skyline, Spanish colonial buildings, shipping container ports, forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, islands, beaches, and turquoise seas.
Agricultural film locations include cattle ranches, and plantations of bananas, pineapples, coffee, sugarcane, rice, plantains, corn, and oranges. Shrimp and lobster boats are available for filming. The Panama Canal and financial services are the economic mainstay. Energy locations include hydroelectric dams, and thermal-fired power plants.
Panama has played host to productions such as Money Heist (2017-), Amazing Race 29 (2017), The Amazing Race 19 (2011), Fast & Furious (2009), Quantum of Solace (2008), The Amazing Race 8 (2005), Survivor: Panama (2006), Survivor: Pearl Islands (2003), and Herbie Goes Bananas (1980).
Film locations can be divided into the following provinces: Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Coclé, Colón, Darién, Herrera, Los Santos, Panamá, Panamá Oeste, and Veraguas. It also includes the indigenous regions of Emberá, Guna Yala, Ngäbe-Buglé, and Naso Tjër Di, as well as the indigenous municipalities of Madungandí, and Wargandí.
Panama City is the capital and largest city. The city is known for its modern skyscraper skyline. Casco Viejo is known for its Spanish colonial architecture such as the Instituto Nacional de Cultura. Biomuseo, Frank Gehry’s first work in Latin America, adds a splash of colour to the city. Other film locations include the Cathedral Basilica of Santa María la Antigua, Metropolitan Natural Park, Camino de Cruces National Park, Palacio de las Garzas, a new subway system, and a modern container port. Ancon Hill offers shots of the city skyline. Ocean Sun Casino has a rooftop pool with city views. Panama City doubled for Bolivia in Quantum of Solace (2008).
Travelling from Panama City you can reach the Panama Canal within a few minutes, rainforests within 30 minutes, rivers and mountains within 45 minutes, beaches within 1 hour, and volcanoes with 2 hours.
The Panama Canal is an artificial 82km (51mi) waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. Canal locks at each end lift ships up to Gatun Lake and then lower the ships at the other end. Balboa Port sits at the Pacific end, and Colon Port is located at the Atlantic end. The Panama Canal railway runs the length of the canal.
Paradise islands on the Pacific Ocean side include the following: Coiba island, Cébaco island, and the Pearl Islands which are a group of 200 islands and islets that hosted Survivor: Panama (2006), and Survivor: Pearl Islands (2003). Isla Palenque is a private island resort. The Gulf of Chiriqui National Marine Park protects coral reef, mangroves, and around two dozen islands with wildlife including green iguanas, humpback whales, sea turtles, and sharks.
Paradise islands on the Caribbean Sea include the following: Bocas del Toro archipelago is known for Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, and the beautiful Isla Escudo de Veraguas, which is home to the pygmy sloth. The San Blas Islands is an archipelago of 365 islands and cays.
Darien National Park is known for its mangrove forests, rocky coastlines, and tropical jungles. Wildlife includes include harpy eagles, macaws, parrots, and tapirs.
The Darién Gap is a break in the Pan-American Highway consisting of a large swath of undeveloped swampland and forest.
The Chucunaque River, the country’s longest river, flows into the forests of the Darién Gap.
Soberania National Park is home to sloths, monkeys, iguanas, and a diversity of birdlife.
Altos de Campana National Park is known for its rich biodiversity including the white-tipped sicklebill.
Santa Fe National Park a highland evergreen forest known for its orchids, hundreds of birds species, jaguars, pumas, tapirs, and rare amphibians like the spiny cochran frog.
Volcán Barú is the highest mountain. Other volcanos include El Valle, and La Yeguada.
Boquete is a town in the highlands of Panama that is known for its coffee.
Santa Catalina is a fishing village known for its surf breaks.
The plastic bottle village is an interesting location in Bocas del Toro.
The Fort San Lorenzo ruins are located in Colón.
Panama Film Location Permits
Film friendly government agencies. Most public locations are free but require a permit that usually takes up to 48 hours to process. Permits for filming in national parks can be quite expensive depending on the type of production. Please contact us for more location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Panama has a tropical climate. Temperatures in mountain areas and on the Pacific side tend to be lower than on the Caribbean. The dry season runs from December to May. This is the best time to film for weather. The rest of the year is rainy, with the greatest intensity of rain during the months of October and November. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Festivals and events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• Chiriqui Highlands Flower and Coffee Festival in January.
• Panamanian carnival in February.
• Semana Santa in March / April.
• Festival de Diablos y Congos takes place in Colon in April.
• Bocas Del Toro Sea Fair in September.
• Humpback whales can be viewed from August to October.
Panama is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Panama.
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. Panama uses the USD as legal tender. The greatest cost is the need to bring in your specialized equipment and possibly your key crew but that is offset by the relatively low cost of locations, talent, supporting crew, transportation, accommodation and meals. Panama is generally slightly more expensive than other Central American countries, but less expensive than Costa Rica. Our Panamanian service producer / fixer packages will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Panama offers a 15% cash rebate on local production spend. The full rebate can be escrowed upfront with the bond company to cashflow the production. Requirements include a minimum $3 million spend. The incentive program covers feature films, television pilots, television series (broadcast and cable), television commercials, music videos, industrials, documentaries, video game design and creation, and other forms of content.
Panama also offers tax incentives such as tax-free temporary importation of all film equipment with no deposit required, as well as no payroll tax.
For more information on financial incentives visit the Panama Film Commission.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Panama has a very small pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Panama also has a small depth of good, fast working crews most of which speak English. Since it is still a small, developing production centre it may be necessary to bring in key crew depending on the availability of local crews.
Contact us if you are looking for a Panama City based 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 Panama.
Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable. Day rates are very reasonable and negotiated on a personal basis.
Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken.
Most Panamanians are mestizo, a mix of European and Amerindian ancestry. There is also a large Afro-Caribbean minority. Panama has one of the largest percentage of indigenous peoples in the Americas. Indigenous groups of note include the include the Ngäbe, Buglé, Guna, and Emberá people. With the existence of the Panama Canal there is also a sizable community of US and European citizens. Panama’s close proximity to major US production centres allows easy access to those pools of multicultural talent should you need cast abroad.
Panama Film Equipment
Equipment. Standard camera, lighting and grip equipment is available locally. Local production companies have their own equipment and share when necessary. The overall stock of equipment is quite small. All specialized equipment and operators are required to be brought in from abroad. Miami is the closest major production centre. Mexico and Colombia also have a range of equipment and are cheaper alternatives than bringing equipment from the US.
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 impressive in Panama. Local crews have built sets for Survivor: Panama (2005), and Quantum of Solace (2008).
Studios. Only basic facilities belonging to local TV stations exist.
Backlots. At present no backlots exist in Panama.
Post Production. Best to post abroad.
Visas & Work Permits
Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Western passport holders can enter Panama visa-free for stays of up to 180 days. Visiting productions receive free work permits and reduced costs on multiple entry visas. Contact your local Panamanian embassy or representative for more information.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation. Roads are in an excellent condition. Beaches and mountains have good paved highway access. Rural roads are slower going with some becoming impassable during the rainy season. Several international airlines service Panama on a daily basis.
Accommodation. Recommended film friendly hotels in Panama City include:
Finisterre Suites
Radisson Decapolis Hotel
Sheraton
Please contact us for corporate rates.
For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Final Notes
Safety. Panama is one of the safest countries in the region. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Try local cuisine such as bollo, carimañola, ropa vieja, bienmesabe, saus, and sancocho.
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 Panama, please see below:
Hire Panama Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Panama, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Panama, 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.
