Kazakhstan
Film Locations. Ancient caravan routes. Archaeological sites such as the ruins of Mangyshlak and Ustyurt. Caspian Sea and beaches. Snowy mountains and ski resorts. Unique Karkarala mountain forest oasis. Altai Mountain range and its foothill forest regions. Karagiye Depression. Rocky cliffs chalk cliffs, and picturesque Charyn Canyon. Volga and Ural rivers. Lake Balkhash - one of the the world's largest lakes. Mosques, Orthodox Churches and Synagogues. Necropolises and underground Mosques. Soviet architecture and industry. Baikonur Cosmodrome. Modern architecture and new subway.
Almaty is a regional economic centre for Central Asia and main place to base your production.
Permits. Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. Filming oil facilities is not allowed.
When to shoot? The climate is continental with warm summers, cold winters and low rainfall all year round. Spring (April to June) and Autumn (September to October) have the mildest temperatures. In Spring the desert comes into flower and Autumn is harvest time. Snow starts to fall around November until April. The hottest month is July.
For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Please contact us for more specific weather and sun path information.
Costs. Since only some filming infrastructure exists some key crew, equipment and talent are best brought in from abroad. This can add considerably to the cost of shooting.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable. Kazakhstan offers mainly ethnic Kazakh and Slavic looks. All other talent looks need to be brought in from abroad. Casting facilities are basic and street casting is often required.
Kazakhstan has no pool of directors, directors of photography and stills photographers.
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 and Premiums. No hidden extras. No fixed premiums apply. We package deals for local crew / talent.
Equipment. Some very basic equipment is available locally. Several production houses own equipment and share the resources amongst each other when need be. More specialized equipment needs to be brought in 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 Kazakhstan.
Film Stock. Must bring from abroad.
Post Production. Basic facilities exist but it is advised to post abroad.
Visas and Work Permits. Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Contact your local Kazakh embassy or representative for more information.
Transportation Infrastructure. Main roads are up to international standards. Several international airlines service flights to Kazakhstan.
Accommodation. Recommended options in Almaty include:
InterContinental
Rixos Almaty
Holiday Inn
Please contact us for corporate rates.
For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Communication. Web posted casting, scouting and videoconferencing.
Safety. Kazakhstan is relatively safe for foreigners to visit.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, online advertising, corporate videos, stills campaigns, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Kazakhstan, please see below:
Our production service companies, line producers and fixers have serviced TV commercials, online advertising, corporate videos, stills campaigns, feature films, TV series and documentaries for:
AXA Belgium, BBC UK, Canon Singapore, Coca Cola Indonesia, Concord Canada, Dove Malaysia, Deutche Bank Germany, Dressman Sweden, Evian France, HBO USA, Heineken Ireland, Hyundai Korea, Intercontinental Hotels Global, ITC India, Kirin Japan, Kraft USA, Landrover UK, LG Korea, Meunil China, McDonalds Australia, MUFG Japan, Nikon Hong Kong, Nokia China, Orange Moblie Slovakia, Philips Netherlands, Proctor & Gamble USA, Chery Riich China, Rimowa Germany, Samsung Korea, Sinoland Hong Kong, Skipper Italy, Smirnoff USA, Sony United Arab Emirates, Stella Russia, Telefonica Spain, Vidal Sassoon China, Virgin Media UK, and much more.
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer in Kazakhstan, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
