Filming In Tunisia

LOGO NEEDAFIXER  Tunisia

With vast areas of unspoilt desert, traditional towns with Berber and Moorish style architecture and colourful, lively medinas, Tunisia offers a wide choice of filming locations. The country has some spectacular coastline, with long sandy beaches and clear seas, and the capital of Tunis has a traditional feel, with grand, whitewashed buildings and palm tree-lined streets.

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Filming in Tunisia

Arranging to film in Tunisia is relatively easy, and you’ll just need one permit to cover the entire shoot. This can take up to a week to obtain from the Ministry of Culture. Any cast or crew coming who are US or EU citizens won’t need a work visa. NEEDaFIXER TUNISIA will be able to help by chasing up permits and advising on visa requirements for citizens of any other countries.

It’s worth keeping in mind that citizens of certain countries such as the UK have been advised not to travel to Tunisia. If you’re planning a shoot in the country, then we would need to keep an eye on the situation and decide whether to proceed. NEEDaFIXER can help you find alternative locations in neighbouring countries if required.

Tunisia doesn’t have much in the way of film equipment, but NEEDaFIXER can help by ensuring everything you need is imported, ready to shoot. We can provide state of the art equipment, including drone cameras, and can have someone on hand to operate them. We can also help secure a crew, whether you need a director, camera operator, hair and makeup assistants or any other film professionals. We’ve built up an excellent list of contacts in Tunisia, and if you need help with casting then we can put together some showreels to send via e-mail.

Some huge Hollywood movies have been filmed in Tunisia over the years. Monty Python’s Life of Brian was filmed in Tunisia, with the country standing in for the Holy Land. Both The English Patient and Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Ark were set in Cairo, but actually filmed in Tunisia, as certain parts of the country look very similar. Perhaps the most famous production to be filmed in Tunisia was the original Star Wars movie, A New Hope, which used the traditional cave homes in Tataouine and the surrounding desert to create the look of a distant planet.

Fixers in Tunisia

Tunisia has a wide variety of potential filming locations that could suit all sorts of productions. Many of its towns have a traditional look, with well-preserved architecture that would be ideal for a historic piece.

For example, Tunis was used while filming The English Patient to represent Cairo during WW2. The town of Monastir is often used for biblical productions, especially around the perfectly preserved Ribat, which was used in Monty Python’s Life of Brian and miniseries Jesus of Nazareth. The south of the country around Tataouine is famous for being featured in the original Star Wars movie, and in 1999 was also used for filming prequel The Phantom Menace. The country has three major studios including Empire Studios, which has a huge ancient Rome set, and some other large backlots.

What can our fixers in Tunisia do for you?

Our fixers in Tunisia can help with a wide range of pre-production and production services. While Tunisia is generally a welcoming place to foreign film crews, it’s important to keep up to date with the political situation, and NEEDaFIXER TUNISIA will be able to offer alternatives if needed.

The weather in Tunisia can be extremely hot, with occasional rain in the winter months, and filming in the desert at certain times of year can be a challenge. We can sort out accommodation and transport in even the most remote locations and ensure you have all the crew and equipment needed at your chosen spot. If you’d like to find out more about what our Tunisia fixers can do for you, drop us a line today at [email protected].

Popular Tunisian Filming Locations

  • Tunis – The grand, white buildings of Tunis are beautifully preserved, with interesting features such as bright blue doors and mosaics. It has been used in historic productions such as The English Patient.
  • Kairouan – With vast mosques and a lively medina, Kairouan has stood in for Cairo in movies such as Raiders of the Lost Ark.
  • Tataouine—With Berber cave homes and vast areas of desert landscape, it’s no wonder Tataouine was chosen as a filming location for two Star Wars movies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How easy is it to get permits?

All requests are submitted to the Ministry of Culture and usually take 3-7 days to approve. You’ll be granted one single permit for the whole duration of filming.

Do I need a visa or work permit?

It’s extremely relaxed in Tunisia and if you’re a US or EU traveller, you will not need a work visa. Please contact us or a local embassy if you require more info.

Can I hire equipment once there?

It’s best to import equipment from abroad, as Tunisia’s stock is extremely limited and only available locally.

What is the climate like?

Whilst it’s predominately hot and sunny, Tunisia actually can get rainy weather during their winter months during January particularly. In the south of the country, there’s a desert climate.

Testimonials

’You guys were amazing! You delivered perfectly at short notice in a foreign country, introduced us to lovely crew in both and really went the extra mile in making sure it was all taken care of and confirmed properly. I can’t thank you enough and look forward to working together again.’

Davo McConville

Free Lance Producer - Black Dog / RSA

 

’I have met NEEDaFIXER in Greece! It was LOVE from the first sight. Since then, I cannot imagine my production without them! They are like Family! Always helpful. Always happy. Always with loads of energy… & always with PASSION for what they do!’

Katarzyna Chmielarz

Producer / GPD

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