Azerbaijan
Locations. White sand beaches, Caspian sea, mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls, mud volcanoes, Old Baku quarter, mansions, shiny glass towers next to old Soviet apartment blocks, unique villages.
Permits. Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. Filming oil facilities is not allowed.
When to shoot? Generally summers are hot and winters mild and wet, with snow in the mountains. The best time to travel for warm and dry weather is between April and October, but mountainous areas are best visited in the summer months of July and August. Baku in the summer is very hot and humid.
For monthly weather statistics please see: http://www.gaisma.com/en/dir/az-country.html
Please contact us for more specific weather and sun path information.
Costs. Since little to no filming infrastructure exists all key crew, equipment and talent are best brought in from abroad adding considerably to the cost of shooting.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable. Azerbaijan offers mainly Caucus looks (Dark skinned European / Mid East mix). All other non-regional talent needs to be brought in from abroad.
Azerbaijan has no pool of directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. It's close proximity to Europe and the Middle East allows easy access to those pools of creative talent should you ever need to look further.
Please contact us for recommended directors, DoP's and photographers for your project.
Crews are non-union. Key crew should be brought in from abroad.
Fringes. No hidden extras.
Premiums. No fixed premiums apply. We package deals for local crew / talent.
Equipment. Some very basic equipment is available locally. You will need to bring in most equipment from abroad.
Art department and set construction is very basic.
Studios and backlots. None exist at present.
Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign
commercials or films shooting in Azerbaijan.
Film Stock. Must bring from abroad.
Post Production. No labs exist locally. We post abroad.
Visas and Work Permits. Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Contact your local Azerbaijani embassy or representative for more information.
Transportation Infrastructure. Main roads are up to international standards. Some international airlines service flights to Azerbaijan.
Accommodation. Best options in Azerbaijan include:
Excelsior Hotel Baku - http://www.excelsiorhotelbaku.az/
Ramada Baku - http://www.ramadabaku.com/en/index.html
Sultan Inn Boutique Hotel - http://www.sultaninn.com/
The Boutique Palace Hotel - http://www.boutique-palace.com/
Park Hyatt Baku - http://baku.park.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
Please contact us for corporate rates.
For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Communication. Web posted casting and scouting. Some websites are censored.
Safety. Azerbaijan is relatively safe for foreigners to visit. At present Azerbaijan's border area with Armenia is a dangerous places for foreigners. If you must shoot in these areas appropriate personal security protection measures are recommended.
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer in Azerbaijan, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
