WHAT OUR FILM FIXERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT FILM LOCATIONS IN ANGOLA,
Angola offers an impressive array of film locations. Bustling city streets, colonial architecture, Art Deco cinemas, tropical beaches, deserts, national parks, rivers and waterfall.
Agricultural film locations include plantations of coffee, cassava, bananas, corn, sweet potato, pineapples, sugarcane and peanuts. Oil and gas extraction are the major industries in Angola. The country is also known for its diamond mines.
Luanda is a busy, chaotic modern city with urban slums, shipping ports, multi-coloured housing development built by the Chinese and the Memorial Dr Antonio Agostinho Neto. Just outside Luanda to the south is the Quiçama National Park, known for its coastal savannah, baobab trees and big wildlife including elephants, giraffes and zebras.
Miradouro da Lua offers a spectacular lunar landscape by the Atlantic ocean. It is one of Angola’s most impressive film locations. Cangandala National Park is home to the giant sable antelope. Impressive waterfalls in this region include Kalandula Waterfalls and Tazua Waterfalls.
The Benguela railway runs from the east of Angola to the port of Lobito, a city known for its well preserved Art Deco buildings.
The city of Benguela is known for its Portuguese colonial architecture.
Baia dos Elefantes, Praia Morena and Praia da Baia Azul are fantastic beach film locations.
Serra da Leba has a beautiful green mountain pass road with 56 curves, an ideal location for a car commercial.
Tunda-Vala volcanic fissure is a magnificent lookout.
Bicauri National Park is home to buffalos, antelopes, and elephants.
Iona National Park wildlife of note includes the springbok, kudu, ostrich, oryx and cheetah. The park is home to indigenous peoples such as the Mucubal and Himba.
Mupa National Park is known for its wild dogs, lions, leopards and hyenas.
The Ruacana Falls are one of Africa’s largest waterfalls both by volume and width and Dala waterfalls are a beautiful film location.
WEATHER WHEN FILMING IN ANGOLA
Angola has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons: a wet season from October to April and a dry season from May to September. The wet season can bring heavy rains and flooding. The dry season is more suitable for filming. The coastal areas of Angola are cooler than the interior regions
ANGOLA FILM LOCATION PERMITS
Permits are required for all filming in Angola, unauthorised filming near government buildings, military installations, and key infrastructure is prohibited.
TAX INCENTIVES & CREDITS
At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Angola. However, the government is working to attract more foreign investment in the countries film industry, so this may change in the future. Luanda is an expensive city. Since little to no filming infrastructure exists all key crew and equipment need to be brought in from abroad.
WHAT OUR LOCAL FILM FIXERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT VISAS, WORK PERMITS & FILM EQUIPMENT
Visas
Foreigners filming in Angola need to obtain a visa from the Angolan embassy or consulate in their country of origin. You will need to present the project synopsis, gear list, passport details and other relevant information for visa approval. Allow up to a month lead time for processing.
Film Permits
Obtaining film permits begins with applying to the Ministry of Culture, which can take several weeks to process. You must include a detailed description of the project, the shooting locations, and the equipment to be used. The Ministry may also require a script, storyboard, and shooting schedule. Filmmakers must provide proof of insurance and pay a fee for the permit.
Film Equipment
There are limited options for renting film equipment in Angola, so it’s advisable to bring your own equipment.
CULTURAL FACTS
Shake hands when greeting new people, ask about family and other matters. Greet the eldest first. Tap water is not safe to drink.
DRONE LAWS IN ANGOLA
All drones must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and be operated in accordance with the regulations established by the Ministry of Transport. Drone Operations in Angola are currently not regulated.