Cuba Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
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Filming in Cuba
For an introduction to shooting in Cuba 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.
Cuba Film Locations
Cuba’s rich cultural and architectural heritage, pristine beaches, verdant hills, lush rainforests, and rural locations have seen visiting productions choosing Cuba since the earliest days of filming.
Agricultural film locations include coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, and tobacco plantations. Cuba is also known for its nickel mines.
Pre-revolution, Cuba hosted films including Our Man in Havana (1958). Since the revolution, talented international and local directors shot films such as Buena Vista Social Club (1999), and Strawberry and Chocolate (1994). More recent US films shot in Cuba include Nyad (2023), The Fate of the Furious (2017), and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017).
From west to east, film locations can be divided into the following provinces:
La Habana
Dilapidation and debauchery… Famed for its run down colonial looks, Cuba’s capital Havana is one of the most vibrant and visually arresting cities in the world.
One of Havana’s best locations is the Malecon, an esplanade stretching along the Havana coast where you can stop to watch 1950′s American Buicks and old Soviet Ladas racing by, or listen to a local musician practice their art.
Havana offers many unique locations.
Colonial locations of note include the Capitolio Nacional, Neo-classical Hotel Inglaterra, Havana Stock Exchange, Great Theatre of Havana, Fine Arts Museum, Revolution Museum, University of Havana, crumbling mansions, and beautiful town squares such as Plaza de la Catedral and Plaza de Armas.
1950’s American gangster era buildings of interest include the Melia Cohiba, Hotel Riviera, Habana Libre, and Fosca building.
Post-Revolution locations of interest include Revolution Square and the National Theater of Cuba.
As well as unique locations Cuba also attracts many productions that double Cuba for a range of international looks. Havana has an interesting Chinatown and a new Russian Orthodox Cathedral.
Just outside of Havana you can find tropical forests, rivers, rural roads, plantations, and white sand beaches with turquoise water such as can be found at Playa del Este, a 30min drive from Havana.
Pinar del Río
The most western province of Pinar del Rio is home to Viñales which is known for lush green tobacco fields, limestone cliffs and caves. Viñales could double for the north of Thailand.
Pinar del Rio national parks of note include Punta Frances Marine National Park, Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra del Rosario, and Parque Nacional La Güira.
Artemisa
Artemisa province is located just west of Havana.
Film locations of note include Pan de Guajaibón, and Playa del Salado.
Mayabeque
Mayabeque province is located just to east of Havana.
Film locations of note include Playa de Jibacoa and Playa Arroyo Bermejo.
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