Filming in Curitiba 

Barigui Park - photo by Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz

Tangua Park - photo by Secretaria Municipal de Comunicação Social

03 Moderate Climate

More than 100 miles south of the Tropic of Capricorn, Curitiba’s climate can feel more akin to Europe than the tropical Brazilian stereotype. Winters (June to August) tend to be mild and dry and summers (December to March) warm with the highest rainfall. In short, it’s a temperate climate and a safe bet for sunshine without it being too hot to film.

Tiradentes Square - photo by Secretaria Municipal de Comunicação Social  

Panoramic Tower - photo by Secretaria Municipal de Comunicação Social  

04 Modern Infraestructure

Curitiba is known as a city where things work and run on time, thanks to its modern and efficient infrastructure. In pre-pandemic times, the city welcomed around 6 million tourists a year on average and is set up to cater to visitors, both leisure and business, with a broad offering of hotels and restaurants. It also has a world-renowned public transport system. Additionally, Curitiba is home to a range of production studios and audiovisual equipment rental companies that provide state-of-the-art audiovisual gear, from cameras to drones and live-streaming equipment.

05 Multicultural Society

Curitiba, like many of Brazil’s capitals, has a population with a mix of heritages, which influence not just the curitibanos’ appearances but also the food, architecture and local customs. European immigrants in particular came to Curitiba during the 19th century. As with the rest of the South of Brazil, Germans were one of the largest groups to cross the Atlantic and establish a home in Curitiba. Italians, too, came in large numbers. Different from other parts of Brazil, however, is the strong presence of Eastern European immigrants, including from Poland and Ukraine, whose cultural influences and language still remain strong. Not far from Curitiba is Prudentópolis, Brazil’s so-called “Little Ukraine”, which has been making the international news for taking in Ukranian refugees following Russia’s recent invasion. In the 20th century, Curitiba also welcomed a significant number of Arab and Japanese immigrants, and is also home to Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous communities. 

06 Scenic and Architectural Diversity

Curitiba’s architecture reflects the old and the new. Some of its buildings date back to the 19th century when the city was growing and becoming a gateway to the South of Brazil. Its historic centre has been completely restored. Colonial gems stand side by side with contemporary residential and commercial buildings. Goods left and immigrants arrived in the city via Paranaguá port – Brazil’s third largest container port, just 55 miles from Curitiba. Near the port are beaches, unspoiled islands, mountains and the largest continuous swathe of Atlantic Forest that remains in Brazil. In the city, greenery is abundant, too, thanks to its many parks and famous Botanical Gardens. 

07 Brazil’s most famous railway line

Between Paranaguá Port and Curitiba lies a vast swathe of Atlantic Forest, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, covering the steep escarpment of the Serra do Mar mountain range. The port and the city are connected by a railway line, built by a Belgian-French company, that is considered an engineering masterpiece of the late 19th century, although some 5,000 people are said to have died during its construction. Vintage steam trains still take tourists along the line (the Serra Verde Express), while cargo trains haul grain down to the port. The track drops nearly 1,000 metres down to sea level, passing beautiful forests and rolling hills, through 14 tunnels and across 30 bridges and viaducts.

08 An environmentally friendly city

Curitiba is a green city. Since the 1970s, it has planted 1.5 million trees and 28 public parks, bringing back an abundance of flora and fauna. It is also hailed as one of the world’s greenest cities thanks to its eco-friendly approach to urban planning, recycling, public transport, bicycle use and education on sustainability. In 2015, it was voted the most sustainable city in Latin America by Siemens and the Economist Intelligence Unit, in the Green Cities Index. As productions become increasingly aware of the need to lower their carbon footprint, cities like Curitiba become attractive filming destinations, especially when local crews shoot with a live link to a remote director, reducing the need for air travel. 

10 Filming in Curitiba offers good value for money

Filming in Brazil offers good value for money when compared with locations in Europe and the USA, thanks in part to lower labour costs as well as a favourable exchange rate. When compared to filming in São Paulo or filming in Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba offers even better value, encouraging plenty of productions from elsewhere to organise shoots there, without having to compromise on access to talented video crews, studios or the latest equipment.