Location Spotlight:
Brazil

Location Spotlight Brazil

The immense diversity of Brazil's landscapes and ethnicities make it a rich, flexible and affordable destination for international productions

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Copacabana Beach, Christ the Redeemer, football, samba… Brazil has its stereotypes. But there’s so much more to the world’s fifth largest country. 

As well as the seemingly endless coastline flecked with palm trees, there are snow-topped mountains in the south and year-round tropical weather in the north. There’s desert, canyons, rainforest, and a vastly diverse population. 


It’s long been known as one of the most accommodating countries to shoot commercials in, but the immense diversity of Brazil’s landscape and population make it ideal for documentaries, films, scripted drama and corporate videos. 

Why shoot in Brazil?

Brazil is good at reinforcing its stereotypes, from its iconic beaches to football stadiums and tanned, toned bodies shaking to samba beats. While there is all that, there’s so much more, and it’s that diversity which makes Brazil such a flexible choice for foreign productions. From beaches to rocky coastline, mountains, waterfalls, canyons, rainforests, deserts, gaucho savannah, arid interiors, colonial towns, sprawling metropolises and modernist architecture, the location possibilities are only as limited as your research. 

Casting opportunities are huge, too, with Brazil’s ethnic make-up as diverse as its immigration history, with Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Southern and Eastern European descendants, not to mention its native indigenous and vast Afro-Brazilian population all part of the mix. Get help with casting research

Shooting in a country the size of Brazil has its logistical challenges, but with the right planning in place, our clients love being on location here. Brazilians are famed for their charm and hospitality, and a willingness to lend a helping hand. 

Government incentives have helped set Brazil apart as the place to go for filming in South America. Funding is available for co-productions, which need to be approved by the national film agency, Ancine. Story Productions can help international production companies obtain Ancine authorisation for their shoot.

What are the top locations in Brazil?  

Rio de Janeiro, with its picture postcard scenery, remains a favourite place for foreign shoots. São Paulo is where the advertising industry, and much of the country’s creative talent, is based, not to mention being the country’s financial hub. As for filming on location, the sky’s the limit. 

The Amazon basin covers 2.9 million square miles of forest while the Atlantic forest clings to the eastern seaboard in patches along its 4,600-mile length. Head inland and the landscape ranges from savannah to mountains, pampas and the Pantanal wetlands. Together, these ecosystems boast the largest collection of plant and animal species on the planet. There are countless locations where you can spot iconic species, from capybara to pink dolphins, jaguar, scarlet macaws and sea turtles. Book a location report

What’s Brazil’s climate like?

Brazil has five climate zones – equatorial, tropical, semi-arid, highland tropical and subtropical. In the south, the summers are hot and the winters are cold, with snow in the mountains, whereas the tropical north of Brazil is warm and humid all year round. The Northeast is the driest, and also the hottest, with strong coastal winds making it a favourite for kite-surfers. 

What are the best or worst times to shoot in Brazil?  

The summer months (December to April) are also the wettest, though rain usually falls in short bursts in the afternoon. For shooting, this means that you can find four seasons in one day in Brazil, and it’s our job to help foreign production companies choose the right location for their shoot. We’re also expert in understanding the qualities of light at different times of the year, and can advise on what looks best when for our clients’ needs.

Brazilians joke that the year starts after Carnaval, which falls between late February and March. While the country-wide Carnaval celebrations are a big opportunity to capture the country at its glittery, fun-loving best, it can hinder turnaround times for permits, or make access to interviewees tricky, as most Brazilians are on holiday. 

What work permits / visas are required to shoot in Brazil? 

A prior authorisation by the Brazilian Film Agency (ANCINE) is required for all foreign movie production projects within Brazil, as well as other kinds of audiovisual productions including commercials, documentaries and institutional videos. The only exceptions are news productions, which do not require any prior authorisation.

Under this rule any foreign production is required to partner with a local production company, which will be responsible for obtaining the ANCINE authorisation for the shoot. The foreign and the local production companies must sign a production agreement whereby the local production company agrees to provide a number of services, including obtaining the ANCINE authorisation. With this permit in hand, the international crew is able to obtain a business visa to shoot in the country from the nearest Brazilian Consulate.

Depending on the location, municipal shooting permits may be required, particularly when shooting outside and at landmarks. Story Productions can obtain all necessary permits. 

How is the infrastructure in Brazil for supporting large productions? 

São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are well set-up to support large productions, with hundreds of equipment rental companies and studios, not to mention being international and domestic air transport hubs. In São Paulo in particular it is possible to rent everything from cranes and dollies to specialist stunt cars and underwater equipment. 

Foreign production companies can now bring their own filming and sound recording equipment into the country with an ATA carnet. 

Where should foreign crews stay while they are in Brazil? 

In a country the size of Brazil, it really depends on where the shoot is, though most international flights will come in through either São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. São Paulo, Story Productions’ HQ, is home to 20 million residents and is the city of superlatives. It’s the largest city in South America and a place where you can find almost everything. Its three local airports connect with hundreds of domestic airports around the country, making it a good jumping off point for a visiting crew. 
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