A Filmmaker’s Guide
to Shooting in Morocco
Our company works with local professionals to make sure you
are getting the right help throughout media production.
Permits in Morocco: What You Need to Know
Everyone intent on making any kind of commercial video in Morocco will need to have the right film permits in place. These permits, and specifically the accompanying fees, will depend on your film locations and also your video’s genre. For instance, a brand commercial will incur different permit fees than a TV reality show. Your local production partner must apply for the permits on your behalf from the Centre Cinematographique Maroccain (CCM), and the application typically takes 2-4 weeks to be evaluated.
Timing Your Morocco Film Production around the Weather
No matter when you schedule your film project in Morocco, the weather is likely to be good. Our country has year-round sunshine. That being said, the summer months of July and August tend to be excessively hot, and this might bring some discomfort to your shoot. If these are the only dates available to you, make sure you take the necessary precautions to protect your crew and film kits from the very high temperatures.
Planning Filming Equipment Rental & Local Crew Logistics
If you have your own complete filming equipment, then it will be cheaper to travel to Morocco with your gear, getting an ATA Carnet to move it easily through customs. However, if you don’t own your equipment, renting cameras, lights, and sound supplies here will be cheap. Morocco is not an expensive country when compared to Western Europe and America, so organising to hire everything on site, as long as you don’t need highly specialised gear, will not be a problem.
Alongside hiring good-quality camera kits, you will also be able to hire experienced, English-speaking crew members. Fluent speakers tend to charge more for their service, but the cost is worth it if it means a smooth and quick turnaround.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it an ATA carnet country?
Yes.
Is it safe for me and my team to film there?
Yes, it is. As your film fixer, however, we may arrange police on set if you’re filming in a very busy public space such as a souk. This is only an added precaution to enable you to focus fully on filming while your security detail ensures complete safety for your crew/cast and equipment.
Do I need a visa or a work visa to film there?
This usually depends on the country you come from. Mostly, it is possible to film on an ordinary tourist visa.
Do I need a local company to film or get visas there?
Yes, you’ll need a local company to arrange your permits.
Do I need a permit for drones?
Absolutely. It’s best to use licensed local drone operators, and you must also let the authorities know the GPS coordinates of the locations you wish to film.
Is there a cash rebate/tax exemption or any other fiscal advantage?
Not yet.
Can I shoot in a national park and, if so, under what circumstances?
Yes, but the exact park and your reason for wanting to shoot there must be noted as part of your overall permit application.
Working with Morocco Fixer
At Morocco Fixer, we pride ourselves on providing a comprehensive service to assist your production in everything it needs, including research, location scouting, securing permits and other paperwork, translation services, kit management, field production, transportation, and all other logistics.
As a member of Storytailors, we’ve not just attracted projects with big-named clients in Morocco, but have supported other filmign events across the continent of Africa. Clients across the region have included Google, the BBC, the African Climate Reality Project, and the Smurfit Kappa Group, who trusted us as the local producer to film the details of their first Moroccan plant.