CHILE

Chile is a land of extremes and stunning backdrops – all within a very producer-friendly environment. In one country, you have the driest desert in the world (Atacama) and snow-capped alpine peaks, futuristic city skylines in Santiago and ancient forests in the south. Thanks to a well-developed infrastructure and stable government, Chile is one of the easiest places to film in Latin America. Most of the country is accessible within a few hours by plane , which allows a production to shoot a variety of landscapes on a tight schedule. The government actively supports filmmakers (Film Commission Chile helps with permits and connections ), and a generous incentive program now offers up to a 30%–40% cash rebate for qualifying productions . Mission Control’s local Chilean contacts and knowledge of regional logistics (from high-altitude desert shoots to coordinating in remote Patagonian areas) help unlock Chile’s incredible locations for your project.

• Travel Times: Air France operates direct flights from Paris to Santiago (~14.5 hours) . There are typically daily non-stops on this route. From the U.S., flights are about 10–11 hours (e.g. New York to Santiago ~10 hours nonstop; from Los Angeles ~11 hours). Regional connections from hubs like São Paulo, Buenos Aires, or Lima are also common for reaching Chile. Keep in mind that Chile’s length (4,300 km) means some domestic flights can be a few hours (Santiago to Punta Arenas in Patagonia is ~3.5 hours), so internal travel planning is important.

• Weather: Because Chile stretches from the tropics down to near Antarctica, climate varies greatly by region. The Atacama Desert in the north is the driest desert on Earth – virtually no rainfall, with warm days and cold nights year-round (great for clear skies and Mars-like landscapes). Central Chile (around Santiago) has a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers (Nov–March) and cool, wet winters (June–Aug). In contrast, Patagonia in the far south has short, mild summers and very cold, windy winters, with weather that can change quickly even in summer. Chile’s seasons are opposite to Europe’s – peak summer is Dec–Feb. For filming, that means you can shoot “summer” scenes during the European winter by coming to Chile. The best window for Patagonia and southern Andes shoots is November through February (long daylight hours, accessible roads); the Atacama and central regions are workable almost any time (just avoid Chile’s winter rains in central Chile for outdoor shoots).

• Film Industry Considerations: Chile is known as one of Latin America’s most stable and efficient countries, and this extends to production. The crew base is smaller than Argentina or Mexico, but highly professional and accustomed to international productions. Many Chilean film crew speak English (especially department heads in Santiago), and the country is generally easy to work in from a logistical standpoint. Chile offers excellent local production services and fixers; Santiago is the hub for equipment rentals, studios, and crew. All standard gear can be obtained in Santiago, though extremely specialized equipment might need to be flown in (the import process is straightforward, especially with local partners and Chile’s open economy). Permitting is centralized through the Chile Film Commission, which assists foreign productions. Shooting on public lands or city locations usually requires permits but the process is clear and not overly time-consuming. Do plan ahead for national park permits (e.g. Torres del Paine or other parks) and any shoots on Easter Island, which has special territorial regulations and limited flights (only from Santiago, 5 hours away). Overall, Chile’s “on-the-ground” production climate is very favorable: a safe environment, good infrastructure (roads, electricity, communications), and a government that actively welcomes film projects.

• Recommended Shooting Locations: Chile is often described as a geographic marvel, packing nearly every landscape into one country . In the north, the Atacama Desert offers surreal vistas – vast salt flats, wind-sculpted dunes, geyser fields, and otherworldly rock formations. Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) in Atacama can convincingly double for Mars , making it ideal for car commercials or sci-fi themed spots. Moving south, the Central Andes near Santiago provide high mountain backdrops, alpine lakes, and even ski resorts – useful for both winter scenes and dramatic road sequences with switchbacks (for example, the road to Portillo ski area). Along the coast, Valparaíso stands out with its colorful hillside neighborhoods and street art, giving a bohemian urban texture for fashion shoots or lifestyle commercials . Farther south, Patagonia delivers truly epic scenery: the granite spires of Torres del Paine, turquoise glacial lakes, sprawling pampas and ice fields. These southern locales are perfect for high-end car ads that want a sense of grandeur or luxury adventure campaigns set against untouched nature. Lastly, Easter Island (Rapa Nui), though remote, is one of the world’s most unique locations with its moai statues and wild Pacific landscapes – an incredible backdrop for an exclusive brand shoot, if logistics allow. In short, Chile can provide desert, mountain, forest, urban and ocean settings all within one country’s borders, which is a huge asset for creative flexibility.

• Production Incentives: Chile recently relaunched an incentive program to attract international productions. The IFI Audiovisual program offers up to a 30% cash rebate on qualified in-country expenses (capped at USD $3 million per project) . Notably, if a production shoots entirely outside the Santiago Metropolitan region, the rebate can increase to 40% – an encouragement to film in Chile’s regions. The minimum spend to qualify is USD $2 million (or $1 million for certain regional projects ), which suits feature films or large campaigns. Additionally, Chile has no VAT on foreign service payments and streamlined temporary importation for equipment, making it financially friendly even for projects that don’t meet the rebate threshold. The combination of a rebate, VAT exemptions, and Chile’s general cost-competitiveness (crew rates and location fees are reasonable) can result in significant savings for foreign productions.

• Logistical Challenges: Chile’s elongated shape means some locations are very remote. A shoot in Patagonia will face limited local infrastructure – only a few small towns exist as bases, so crews often operate from hubs like Punta Arenas. The Patagonian weather is a factor: high winds and sudden storms can delay outdoor shoots, so build in buffer days for weather cover. In the Atacama, altitude (many sites are 2,500–4,000m above sea level) can be a challenge – crews may need time to acclimate and extra hydration/oxygen support for high-altitude scenes. Easter Island requires flying an entire crew 5+ hours offshore, with minimal on-island resources, so only essential crew/equipment should go and everything else must be shipped in advance. Within mainland Chile, internal flights or long drives are often necessary to reach the far north or south; however, the domestic flight network is reliable and roads in central/southern Chile are generally good. One advantage is Chile’s overall reliability: you won’t face major bureaucratic hurdles or safety issues (it’s one of the safest countries in Latin America), which helps offset the geographic challenges. Proper planning and use of local production services will ensure that even Chile’s wildest locations can be accessed and managed effectively.