Written by on Sep 29, 2015. Posted in On Location

Film location agency to open new branches in Istanbul and Dubai

Film location agency All Pictures Media, based in California, plans to open new branches in Istanbul and Dubai to cater for the growing demand for international locations. The agency specialises in providing specific filming locations for the production industry.

“The recent rise of film production companies choosing to film outside of California has created the need for an international film location agency,” said Hanif Surani, owner and CEO of the company.

“Producers are going where the incentives are. These markets require the understanding of the culture and their visually rich, historic elements to bring to life. Production elements also differ in every market.”

California boosted its filming incentive tax credit programme earlier this year but the money is mainly targeted at television. Big-budget feature productions are likely to remain in places like Atlanta, New Orleans and New York in the US, and in the UK, Australia and Eastern Europe internationally.

Dubai is a major growth market in the international production industry, although the city notably does not offer a formal filming incentive programme. The Dubai Film and TV Commission instead organises incentive packages tailored to the specific needs of each production.

Producers have long called for Dubai to introduce more formal support, but the city has still managed to attract international shoots like Star Trek Beyond and Jackie Chan’s new feature Kung Fu Yoga.

Istanbul is known mainly for commercial shoots, but has also attracted TV shows and major feature productions. The Bond movie Skyfall filmed its opening title sequence in Istanbul, boosting the city’s profile.