Papua New 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 Papua New 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 Papua New Guinea

For an introduction to shooting in Papua New 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.

Papua New Guinea Film Locations 

Papua New Guinea is a country in the South Pacific located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea that also includes around 600 islands. The country is one of the world’s least explored, both culturally and geographically. Location wise, Papua New Guinea is known for its tribal villages, mountainous terrain, dense rainforests, islands, rivers, lakes, beaches, coral reefs, surf breaks, and hundreds of active volcanoes. The New Guinea rainforest is the third largest rainforest in the world.

Agricultural film locations include plantations of palm oil, bananas, coconuts, yams, sweet potatoes, corn, sugarcane, coffee, tea, cocoa, rubber trees, and timber. Fishing boats are available for filming. Papua New Guinea mines gold, copper, nickel, as well as oil and gas.

Papua New Guinea has hosted productions such as Human (2015), Mr. Pip (2012), Robinson Crusoe (1997), and Attenborough in Paradise (1996).

Film locations can be divided into the following regions:

Southern:

The Southern region is located in the south of the main island. The region is flat, humid and marshy. Provinces include Central, Gulf, Milne Bay, Oro (Northern), and Western (Fly River).

Port Moresby is the capital and the largest city. Film locations of note include the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery, Port Moresby Nature Park, Parliament House, Jacksons International Airport, and a container shipping port. Shots of Port Moresby Harbour can be taken from Paga Hill.

Papua New Guinea has several WWII historic sites including the Kokoda Track.

Varirata National Park is known for its diverse birdlife including birds of paradise.

The Fly River is the largest river in the country. Lake Murray is the largest lake.

Ok Tedi Mine is an open pit gold mine.

The Lusancay islands and Conflict Group atoll are known for white sand beaches and turquoise waters.

Tufi offers a diversity of underwater photography from diving fjords to World War II wrecks.

Highlands:

The Highlands region is located in the centre of the country. Higher elevations have cooler temperatures. Provinces include Chimbu (Simbu), Eastern Highlands, Enga, Hela, Jiwaka, Southern Highlands, and Western Highlands.

Mount Wilhelm is the country’s highest point. This mountainous area is one of the world’s few equatorial locations that experience snowfall.

The Tari Basin, home to rare bird species such as the king of saxony and the blue bird of paradise, was filmed by Attenborough in Paradise (1996).

Lake Kutubu is located in a forested rugged mountain setting.

Momase:

The Momase region is located in the north of the main island. The fertile area is home to much of the country’s agriculture. Provinces include East Sepik, Madang, Morobe, and Sandaun (West Sepik).

Lae is the second-largest city in the country.

Madang has flying foxes that take flight in the evenings. Just offshore is the dive site Planet Rock. Madang lighthouse is a unique location. Madang is also known for its surfing.

Vanimo and Wewak are also known for their surf breaks.

Kadovar is an active volcanic island.

Islands:

The Islands region is located northeast of the mainland. The islands have a tropical climate. Provinces include Bougainville (North Solomons), East New Britain, Manus, New Ireland, and West New Britain.

Bougainville Island is an autonomous region. Mr. Pip (2012) filmed in Bougainville.

New Britain island is home to many of the country’s active volcanos including Rabaul, and Tavurvur.

Kimbe Bay is known for its coral reefs.

Kavieng is known for its surfing.

Papua New Guinea Film Location Permits

Locations in Papua New Guinea are nearly all privately owned. Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. To ensure a smooth shoot, trust must be established with the local elders and community. This can involve a lengthy process of community consultation, permission from and donations to local chiefs and the community as a whole. Allow plenty of lead time. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Papua New Guinea’s equatorial location means long shoot days all year round. Highland areas have cooler temperatures than coastal areas. The rainy season runs from December to March. The dry season runs from June through to September. This is the best time to film for weather. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Highland tribes gather for colourful local rituals called Sing Sings. Festivals and events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:

• Mount Hagen Festival in July.
• Tumbuan Mask Festival in July.
• Crocodile Festival in August.
• Enga Cultural Show in August.
• Goroka Show in September.
• Hiri Moale Festival in September.
• Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival in September.
• Huhu War Canoe Festival in November.
• National Kenu & Kundu Festival in November. National Kenu & Kundu Festival.

Papua New Guinea 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 Papua New 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. Location fees, supporting crew and talent costs are reasonable, especially if you have done the important ground work of setting up local community relationships. That said, given the expeditionary nature of most shoots and the lack of local film infrastructure, Papua New Guinea can be an expensive place to shoot. All crew and equipment must be brought in from abroad. Travelling outside of Port Moresby requires everything to be brought from the city including generators for electricity, food and sometimes even accommodation. In-country travel by 4WD, plane or boat is unpredictable. Excess baggage fees on domestic flights are especially expensive. Port Moresby hotels are very expensive. Additional safety precautions may add to costs. The local currency is also set high against major world currencies, so there are no exchange rate savings available either. Imported goods are expensive. In any case, our Papua New Guinean fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.

Tax Incentives. There are no tax incentives for feature films or commercials shooting in Papua New Guinea.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. Papua New Guinea has a very small pool of local directors, videographers and stills photographers. All other crew also need to be brought in from abroad. Australia and Singapore offer the closest pools of professional technical and creative film crews.

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 Papua New Guinea.

Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable. Day rates are very reasonable and negotiated on a personal basis.

English is the official language and Tok Pisin is most widely spoken between locals.

Broadly classified as a Melanesian people, Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries with a thousand cultural groups speaking a reported 851 indigenous languages. The largest ethnic groups are the Enga, Melpa, Chimbu, and Huli people. Some of the more colourful tribes include the Asaro (mudmen), Huli (wigmen), Chambri (crocodile men), Chimbu (skeleton dancers), Baining (fire dancers), Abelam (yam masks), and Suli Muli tribes (headdresses made of moss). The Anga tribe practises a form of mummification. The Tolai people are known for their blonde hair. Most Papuans live a subsistence existence with only a small percentage living in urban centres.

Papua New Guinea Film Equipment

Equipment. Best to bring in camera, grip and lighting equipment.

Communications. Internet can be 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 basic and restricted to local looks only.

Studios and Backlots don’t exist.

Post Production. None available locally.

Visas & Work Permits

Western passport holders can obtain visas on arrival. US passport holders see here for more information. Contact your local Papua New Guinean embassy / representative for more information.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure. Travel to the interior is heavily limited by the country’s mountainous terrain, dense rainforest, and lack of roads. Off-road vehicles are essential to reach most locations close to Port Moresby. Pirogue boats are the best way to travel by river. Port Moresby is not linked by road to any of the other major towns so many remote villages can only be reached by air. Papua New Guinea has many small airports and airstrips. Travel times vary greatly depending on weather and safety conditions. Several international airlines service flights to Port Moresby.

Accommodation. Film friendly hotels in Port Moresby include:

Airways Hotel
Loloata Island Resort

Please contact us for corporate rates.

For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments. For those looking to stay with local communities our Papua New Guinean fixer also organises hosted accommodation.

Final Notes

Safety. See here for up to date travel advice. Armed guards, police escorts and travelling only during daylight is recommended, especially in Port Moresby and mountain areas.

Down Time. Go birdwatching for rare species such as the black bird of paradise, western parotia, and black sicklebill. For food, try sago.

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 Papua New Guinea, please see below:

Hire Papua New 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 Papua New Guinea, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Papua New 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.