Brazil opens up even further for filming during the pandemic

This weekend's Grand Prix in Interlagos was the first major international event to be hosted at full capacity in São Paulo since the start of the pandemic. A race track of fully vaccinated and masked spectators watched Lewis Hamilton come through from 10th place to cross the finish line first. It was a victory for Hamilton, and also for the city, which earned around R$1 billion this weekend, local media reported. 

Aside from ongoing mask use, restrictions have been all but lifted in São Paulo and other parts of Brazil as vaccination numbers continue to grow: in the city of São Paulo, 94 per cent of adults has been fully vaccinated; in Rio de Janeiro, 62 per cent; the indigenous population, 81 per cent; Brazil as a whole, 72 per cent.

As Brazil relaxes pandemic restrictions*, the country's film and audiovisual agency ANCINE has noted a sharp increase in foreign film productions across the country. From film to TV, news, documentaries and corporate shoots, international shoots are back in Brazil, which is great news for the sector after a slow 20 months. Besides the easing of restrictions, there are a number of other factors contributing to this production boom in Brazil.

The Brazilian real is in a continued slump, making the exchange rate favourable to production budgets spending their dollars, euros and sterling on productions in Brazil. The country is also a target for the likes of Netflix, HBO Max and other streaming platforms which are all investing in local production in Brazil. In addition, there are currently no restrictions on the entry of foreigners into Brazil, though basic safety measures still apply. Travel to and from Brazil from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany is now much easier than it was a few weeks ago, both in terms of entering Brazil and returning back home. As a result, it's much easier for foreign crews to come and be part of the filming process. While Story Productions offers fully remote film production/direction services, we also welcome the opportunity to work with our clients face to face. For up-to-date information on travel requirements for a specific country, visit the IATA website or consult your local government for details.

This uptake in Brazil's audiovisual production sector is not without its problems, however. Production companies (like Story Productions) that offer multilingual crews with full Safe Sets International certification, and experience working under the Brazilian safety protocols for the audiovisual sector are in high demand. This can make it more difficult to book crew and talent. Special effects experts in particular are in limited supply but high demand.

Covid-19 has had a broad impact on other sectors, too, in particular supply chains. In some cases, there’s a 5-month backlog for basic construction items in Brazil, which can affect set building. All of these pressures can make the cost of a production difficult to estimate, with the price of goods and services changing drastically from one day to the next.

In short, Brazil is back in its stride and an attractive location for foreign productions, but planning ahead is essential. Story Productions can help your next filming project navigate this constantly-changing landscape. For a recent client, our team helped coordinate everything from set materials to local talent and crew to help our client meet their deadlines. Get in touch with us today to get your next project started.

* Note: Covid-19 data and protocols were correct at the time of publication. For the latest information on filming in Brazil during Covid, check our page.

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