Togo 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 Togo? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Togo
For an introduction to shooting in Togo 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.
Togo Film Locations
Togo is a narrow country in West Africa, sandwiched between Benin and Ghana. The landscape is one of beaches, lagoons, marshes, savannah, and hills. It is known for its voodoo markets, traditional villages, and national parks.
Agricultural film locations include coffee, cocoa, cotton, peanuts, palm oil, and corn fields. Industrial locations include phosphate mines, as well as limestone and marble quarries. Energy locations include thermal power plants, and hydroelectric dams.
Togo has hosted visiting productions including: Break Free: Two People. Two Years. One Dream (2019), and In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven (2018).
Film locations can be divided into the following regions, from south to north, including: Maritime, Plateaux, Centrale, Kara, and Savanes.
Maritime
Togo’s Atlantic coast is known for its beaches, sleepy fishing villages, and annual whale migration.
Lomé is the capital, largest city, and main entry point by air. Locations of note include the Akodessewa fetish market (one of Africa’s largest voodoo markets), Palace of the Governors, Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, Togo National Museum, International Museum of the Gulf of Guinea, Grand Market, Port Lomé, and Stade de Kégué. The West African Development Bank is headquartered in Lomé.
Beaches of note include Le Ramatou and Robinson Plage.
Lake Togo is a popular destination with filmmakers and photographers.
The Mono river is the country’s longest river.
Vogan voodoo market is another film location of interest in the region.
Plateaux
The town of Kpalime is surrounded by coffee and cocoa plantations.
The Togo Mountains offer more wild locations.
Nangbeto Dam is located in this part of the country.
Centrale
Sokodé is the second largest city in Togo.
Fazao Malfakassa National Park is known for its African elephants.
Kara
Koutammakou is a region of the Batammariba people who live in traditional villages built from mud walls and thatched roofs.
Savanes
The Sahel region is dominated by savannah.
Nok and Mamproug Cave Dwellings are located in the Tandjouaré Prefecture.
Kéran National Park is known for its African elephants, bushbuck and antelopes.
Togo Film Location Permits
Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Togo has a humid, tropical climate. November to February is warm with little rainfall. This is the best time to film for weather. March to April is hot and humid. May to October is the rainy season. For monthly weather statistics please see here
Festivals and events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• Gadao held in Sokodé in March.
• Fire Dance Ceremony is practised by the Tem people near Sokodé in March.
• Evala held in Kabye in July.
• Gbagba held in Kpalime in August.
• Agbogbo-Za held in Notsé in September.
• Epe Epke Voodoo Festival held in Glidji in September.
• Humpback whale migration in the Gulf of Benin in October.
Voodoo is a widely practised, as is Christianity and Islam.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Togo.
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 Togolese fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
The West African CFA franc (XOF) is the official currency.
Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Togo.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Togo has a very small local pool of 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 Togo.
Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable.
French is the official language. Ewé and Kabiyé are the most widely spoken languages between locals.
Togo is home to 40 different ethnic groups. The largest groups are the Ewe, Kotokoli, Tchamba, Kabyé and the Ouatchis. All other talent looks need to be brought in from abroad.
Togo Film Equipment
Equipment. Best to bring in all camera, grip and equipment from abroad.
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
Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Nationals of all countries can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 7 days. To avoid long waits at immigration it’s recommended to apply for entry visas ahead of time. US passport holders see here for more information. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Togo. Contact your local Togo embassy or representative for more information.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure is quite basic. Only major roads are paved. It’s best to avoid road travel by night. Many roads are impassable during the rainy season. Our Togolese fixer organises safe and reliable 4WD transportation. Several international airlines service regular flights to Lomé.
Accommodation. See here for film friendly hotels in Togo:
Mercure Lome Sarakawa
Hotel Ibis Lome Centre
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. See here for vaccinations required for Togo.
Down Time. Visit a voodoo market. Try local cuisine such as fufu, akume, goat meat stew, palm nut soup, gboma dessi, gombo, aklui zogbon, botokoin, and ayi molou. For drinks try palm liquor.
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 Togo, please see below:
Hire Togo Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Togo, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Togo, 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.
