Colombian Film Production Companies: A Modern History of Working with Foreign Filmmakers
Why Partner With a Colombian Film Production Company?
Foreign directors are increasingly choosing Colombia and partnering with Colombian film production companies to bring their screenplays to life. Colombia’s film production industry has rapidly evolved over the last decade. Thanks to lucrative tax incentives, incredible geographic and architectural diversity, and improved security, the country is challenging Mexico and Argentina as the top offshoring destination in Latin America for international film production companies. From action thrillers and horror flicks to adventures and dramas, foreign directors are increasingly choosing Colombia and partnering with Colombian film production companies to bring their screenplays to life. At WhereNext we often claim that Colombia, and Bogotá in particular, has become the new hot-spot in the Americas for filmmaking. This is a quick look at how that claim came to be.
History and Incentive Development
The Ley de Cine
The history of film production in Colombia goes back more than a century. However, it wasn’t until the government established the Ley de Cine, “Filming Law”, in 2003 to support Colombian film production companies that the country’s movie industry really took off.
The First Feature: ‘Maria Full of Grace’
One of Colombia’s first major features to reach international success was the drama Maria Full of Grace. The movie was written and directed by Joshua Marston starring Colombian actress, Catalina Sandino Moreno. Moreno was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2005.
Rebates for Foreign Film Producers
In 2012, the Government passed a second filming law offering up to 40% cash rebates to foreign companies who shoot in Colombia. To qualify for the rebate, international producers must partner with Colombian film production companies, and invest at least $600,000 while shooting in the country.
The cash back covers expenses paid in the country for production services and logistics such as hotels, food and transportation. The legislation was created to generate jobs and to give Colombian tech / film crews the opportunity to improve their skills by working with international teams.
Maria Full of Grace, one of Colombia's first major films to reach global success
Learn more about producing your next film with WhereNext in Colombia.
Twenty-Seven Foreign Directed Films
Narcos
According to ProColombia, since the Ley de Cine was passed a total of 27 foreign-directed films were shot here between 2013 and 2018 – including the number one most watched TV show in the world, Netflix’s hit drama series, Narcos.
“Colombia has a very good reputation abroad regarding the management of the cinematographic resources, experienced local talent, infrastructure and geographic closeness with some of the most important markets in the world. The foreign enterprises are looking for competitive price markets and flexible labour offers, characteristics the national industry is offering.”
Filmed in Colombia, Netflix’s hit drama series, Narcos was perhaps the most watched TV show in the world.
Drama and Action
A couple of the biggest productions that managed to successfully tap Colombia’s incentive program are Peter Berg’s action thriller Mile 22, Patricia Riggen’s, The 33, and the period adventure movie, The Lost City of Z directed by James Gray. Berg chose the streets of Bogotá, including the Centro Internacional Tequendama and a former U.S Embassy, to film his big-budget blockbuster starring Mark Wahlberg and John Malkovich.
“It really is a gorgeous place, the experience was wonderful… I’m looking forward to bring here my family on vacations”
Mile 22
Peter Berg’s action thriller Mile 22
The 33
Wanting to re-create the 2010 mining disaster when 33 Chilean miners were trapped underground, director Patricia Riggen found the salt mines Nemocón and Zipaquirá, situated just outside Bogotá, the ideal location to dramatize the rescue that captivated the world’s attention. The star-studded cast of The 33 includes Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche, Martin Sheen and James Brolin.
The 33 starring Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche, Martin Sheen and James Brolin.
The Lost City of Z
When British explorer, Percy Fawcett enters the Amazon rainforest in search of The Lost City of Z, the action was filmed in the jungles of Tayrona National Park and Don Diego River on the northern coast of Colombia. Actors Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson and Sienna Miller appear in the motion picture, along with indigenous tribes from the region who swapped their hand woven shoulder bags and white robes for spears and loincloths.
“We did not imagine how good the filming crews were in Bogotá, they are as professional as the crews in the United States, and in Bogotá, we are filming a great action movie as if we were in Los Angeles.”
American Made
American Made with Tom Cruise
Blockbusters and Stars
Other recent movies made in Colombia include American Made with Tom Cruise; Running with the Devil starring Nicolas Cage and Laurence Fishburne; the horror movie, The Belko Experiment written by the talented American director James Gunn; Jungle, a survival story with Daniel Radcliffe that was filmed on Rio Negro in Tobia, one of Colombia’s adventure sport capitals; Blunt Force Trauma by Ken Sanzel starring Mickey Rourke; The Boy by Craig Macneill and filmed in Santa Fe de Antioquia; and The Next Three Days by Paul Haggis with Russell Crowe and Liam Neeson, using Cartagena and Santa Marta as set locations.
Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown
Lastly, we cannot forget the journey across Colombia that the late Anthony Bourdain filmed for one of the first episodes of his emmy award-winning travel and food show, Parts Unknown. Bourdain ate his way from the northernmost tip of Colombia in La Guajira to Cali, the Amazon and Bogotá.
“This is a good place to experience both fantasy and reality”
Colombia Is a World Class Destination for Film Production
As A-list directors, producers, actors and actresses continually flock to the country, Colombia’s reputation as a world-class film destination is soaring – destined to attract a great deal more foreign productions and pair them with Colombian film production companies in the coming years.
Contact Us
WhereNext is a multilingual film production agency with a Bogota-based studio and extensive experience working with international clients. Contact us to learn more.
We’re stoked that Thereabouts Colombia is back online!, Lachlan and Gust Morton explore the difficult riding and the amazing cycling culture of Colombia which has produced some of the finest road cyclists of past and modern eras.