Argentina
Argentina offers a wealth of unique looks as well as many locations that double for other countries. It is a popular destination for productions looking to shoot opposite season looks such as city summer looks in January or snow-covered mountains in July.
Argentina offers modern and old world city looks, stunning car commercial roads and bridges, coastal towns, colonial architecture, US suburban looks, glaciers, mountains, forests, valleys, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, jungles, deserts and salt plains.
Cost & Rebates
Currently no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Argentina. However, Foreign companies are not charged the 21% national tax on production services. Also regarding accommodation, foreign companies are not charged the 17% national tax on rooms. There is an unavoidable 5% tax over the hotel’s rate. Argentina offers many opportunities for film and TV co-productions.
When To Shoot
The Argentine climate varies considerably depending on the time of year, latitude, proximity to the sea and the altitude. The principal climates are warm, temperate, arid and cold. In Buenos Aires summer runs from December to March, fall runs from March to May, winter runs from May to August, and spring runs from August to November.
Visa Information
Western crews entering as tourist / business travellers can visit visa-free for stays of up to 90 days.
Although some crews choose to enter as tourists, to be safe, work visas are recommended, especially if you will be working on a larger film shoot, or filming in national parks, or staying over the 90 day period.
Work visas are applied for at your local Argentine consulate with an invitation letter from an Argentine Production Company that is registered with the ReNURE. The original letter needs to be sent with all the required stamps granted by local notaries. Once the letter is received it can take up to a month to process.
Cast, Crew & Equipment
Argentina has a good pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers.
Crews are union and the rules are strictly enforced. Argentina has a good depth of world-class crews that speak fluent English. Most crews are based in Buenos Aires but there are smaller pools of crew in some of the smaller cities too. Talent is only union and the rules are strictly enforced by the Argentine Actors Association. Talent works to a 12 hour shoot day and then overtime applies. The union must be informed 48 hours prior to shooting with talent. Please contact us for day rates and buyouts.
Argentina has a very good and diverse pool of talent. As far as multicultural looks go there is a good depth of Caucasian, African and Asian talent. East Indian looks as less readily available. Argentina has several companies supplying camera, grip and lighting equipment. Most camera equipment is Arri and there is a wide range of HD cameras available. There is a wide selection of cranes, dollies and remote heads. Stabilized heads, camera-cars and shot-makers are of the highest standard. Panavision equipment, Russian Arms, Motion Control must be brought from abroad. Argentina is not an ATA carnet country. If you are bringing in professional film, video or audio equipment this requires advance customs clearance through a local production service company / customs broker.