ARGENTINA

From the sub-tropical jungles of Iguazú to the glaciers of Patagonia, Argentina encompasses an extremely diverse range of locations . Need European-style city streets? Buenos Aires can double for Paris or New York, and it comes with a highly professional crew base with decades of experience . Filming here is refreshingly straightforward – permits in the capital are simple and low-cost , and the country is very film-friendly. Argentina also offers financial perks for filmmakers, including local rebates in Buenos Aires and tax exemptions for foreign productions , making shoots cost-effective. Mission Control leverages Argentina’s blend of stunning scenery, skilled crews, and supportive infrastructure to set your production up for success.

• Travel Times: Non-stop flights from Paris to Buenos Aires take about 14 hours . Major hubs like New York offer ~11-hour flights, while Los Angeles requires a one-stop journey (typically 15+ hours via connections). Despite the distance, Argentina is well-connected with daily flights from Europe and North America.

• Weather: Argentina’s climate is diverse – subtropical in the north and subpolar in the far south. Buenos Aires has a mild, Mediterranean-like climate with hot summers and cool winters. Seasons are opposite to Europe, so Argentina offers warm summer conditions during the European winter (great for winter escape shoots) . In Patagonia, expect cold, windy conditions and short days in winter, but long daylight in summer. Plan shoots around the region: the southern summer (Dec–Feb) is ideal for Patagonia, while the northwest deserts are dry year-round but can be very hot in summer.

• Film Industry Considerations: Argentina boasts a century-old film industry with highly experienced, largely bilingual crews . The production community in Buenos Aires is robust; most equipment rental houses and studios are based there , offering everything from cameras to lighting. Film permits are quick, low-cost, and easy to obtain in most locations – Buenos Aires in particular is very film-friendly. Crew speak fluent English (many also speak some French or Italian) and are accustomed to international shoots.

• Recommended Shooting Locations: Argentina offers a stunning range of backdrops . For car commercials, the open roads and dramatic scenery of Patagonia (e.g. Route 40 with mountain and glacial vistas) are spectacular. The Salinas Grandes salt flats and multi-colored hills of Jujuy in the northwest provide otherworldly landscapes ideal for fashion or automotive spots. Iguazú Falls, on the tropical border, delivers lush jungle and waterfall scenes for high-end campaigns. And Buenos Aires can double as a European city with its Parisian-style architecture – perfect for luxury brand shoots in an urban setting .

• Production Incentives: Argentina’s national incentives are evolving. The city of Buenos Aires launched a 20% cash rebate for international productions meeting a minimum spend (~USD 660,000 over at least 4 shooting days in the city) . Some provinces have their own incentives (e.g. Río Negro province in Patagonia introduced the country’s first regional rebate program). While commercial shoots might not always qualify for these high minimum spends, foreign productions benefit from Argentina’s favorable exchange rates and generally lower production costs.

• Logistical Challenges: The vast geography means internal travel logistics must be considered – e.g. a shoot in Patagonia is a 3-hour flight from Buenos Aires, and remote locations may have limited infrastructure. Since crew and gear are concentrated in the capital , filming in far-flung regions requires transporting equipment and key crew, adding to lead time and cost. Also note that Argentina’s economy faces high inflation, so locking in local costs in a stable currency is wise. Overall, with good planning (and perhaps an Argentine production service partner), these challenges are manageable and the stunning pay-off in locations is often worth the effort.