Production services · Iraq
Filming in Iraq
Trusted production partner with experience & knowledge.
Baghdad · GMT+3 · English & Arabic
ImmortalsCPH:DOX 2024 · Prix de Soleure 2025
Baghdad MessiIraq's submission to the Oscars
CharbonBif&st 2025 · Belgium / Italy
One Dream, One DestinyWith the Iraqi Football Association
10+Years in production
20+Productions
9Countries served
Why Iraq
The real place your story is about.
Places no one else has
Babylon and Ur. The southern marshes. The Tigris through Baghdad. Abbasid streets, desert, oil fields and the mountains of the north.
The real thing, not a stand-in
For decades Iraq has been rebuilt in Jordan and Morocco. Here you get the faces, the light and the streets themselves.
Stories no one has told
Access to people, places and institutions that rarely open to cameras, through relationships built over years.
Where we film
From Baghdad to Basra & Kurdistan.
BaghdadOld streets, markets, Tahrir
The TigrisBoats, bridges, riverbanks
BabylonThe ancient walls and gates
Heritage sitesRuins and domes across Iraq
The MarshesSouthern wetlands
BasraShatt al-Arab and the port
Oil fieldsRigs and refineries
DesertOpen plains and salt flats
What we do
One local partner for the whole shoot.
01
Line production
One producer on the ground who owns your schedule, budget and problems.
02
Permits & access
Filming permissions and site access letters, prepared and followed up for you.
03
Visas
Invitation letters and the right visa route for every crew member.
04
Locations
Scouting with photos and access notes, across federal Iraq and Kurdistan.
05
Crew & casting
Camera, sound, grip, ADs, drivers and translators. Actors and street casting.
06
Equipment
Local kit hire, and guidance for bringing in your own.
07
Security
A risk assessment for every shoot and liaison with local authorities.
08
Logistics
Transport, hotels, catering, generators and a production office.
09
Remote production
A live video link for clients and directors who cannot travel.
Feature filmsDocumentaries & seriesCommercialsNews & current affairs
Production services
Only need part of it? Book just that.
Many productions bring their own producer and only need hands, access or kit on the ground. Pick the services you need, for a day or for the whole shoot.
Fixer
A bilingual fixer who opens doors, translates and solves problems on the day.
Permits only
We prepare and follow up the filming permissions and site letters for your team.
Camera crew
DoP, camera operator and sound recordist, with or without kit.
Shoot for you
Can't travel? Our crew films to your brief while you direct by live link.
Location scouting
Photo and video recces with access notes, before you book flights.
Casting
Actors, non-actors, children with guardian consent, and extras.
Equipment rental
Cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, sound and generators in Baghdad.
Drone
Licensed operators and the approvals to fly.
Translation & transcription
Iraqi Arabic and Kurdish interviews, transcribed and subtitled in English.
Archive & research
Story research, contributors, and Iraqi footage and photo archives.
Post-production
Editing, colour grading, Arabic subtitles and delivery.
Transport & stays
Vehicles with drivers, hotels, catering and a production office.
For news & current affairs
Crew day
- Fixer and driver
- Camera operator and kit
- Translation on location
For documentaries
Field package
- Research and contributors
- Permits and access letters
- Crew, transport and security
For commercials & features
Service production
- Local line producer
- Crew, casting and locations
- Equipment, logistics and permits
How it works
From brief to wrap.
Brief
Your story, dates, locations and crew size.
Plan & quote
Locations, permit plan, schedule and a written budget.
Paperwork
Permit dossier, access letters, visa support.
Clearances
Ministry, security and site approvals.
Prep
Scouting, casting, local crew and kit.
Shoot
We are on set with you every day.
Wrap
Kit out, payments settled, permits closed.
What we will ask you for
- Crew passports
- Crew list & roles
- Equipment list
- Synopsis or script
- Dates & locations
- Company registration
- Insurance certificate
On set
Our crews on location.
Safety & security
Planned, never improvised.
- Risk assessment for every shoot, with emergency contacts, hospitals and routes.
- Daily check-ins and security liaison where locations need it.
- Travel advice and insurance: we review current advice with you and support your insurer.
- Duty of care for our local crew too: briefing, safety kit, fair pay.
Culture & conduct
Respect opens doors.
- Religious sites need their own permission and modest dress.
- Everyone on camera signs a release, in Arabic and English.
- Checkpoints and official buildings are filmed only with written permission.
- Replica weapons and uniforms need prior approval.
When to shoot
Plan around the light and the heat.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
BestGood, warmVery hot: dawn and dusk shoots
Selected productions
International crews we have serviced.
Immortals
Switzerland · documentary · 2024Baghdad, the October protests, Tahrir SquareCharbon
Belgium / Italy · documentary · 2025Basra, the oil fields and the marshesThe Lost City of Irisagrig
Spain · documentary · 2024Desert archaeological sitesBaghdad Messi
Belgium / Iraq · feature · 2023Casting and production in IraqFAQ
Questions producers ask us.
Is it safe to film in Baghdad?
International film crews work in Baghdad regularly. We assess every location before you travel, review current travel advice with you and plan security for each shooting day.
Which visa does our crew need?
It depends on nationality and on the type of production; news and documentary crews may follow a different route. Send us your crew list and we will advise the right visa route and provide invitation letters.
Do we need separate permits for Kurdistan?
The Kurdistan Region has its own authorities. We coordinate permissions in both federal Iraq and the Region for shoots that move between them.
Can we bring our own camera kit?
Yes. Importing equipment needs advance approval, so send your equipment list with serial numbers early. Much of what you need can also be hired locally.
Can we fly a drone?
Drones need specific approvals. Tell us early and we will apply on your behalf, or work with one of our local drone operators.
Can we film in mosques and shrines?
Yes, with permission from each site's administration, modest dress, and attention to prayer times and religious occasions.
Do people we film need to sign releases?
Yes. Everyone recognisable on camera signs a release, which we prepare in Arabic and English.
How do we pay you?
You receive a written, itemised quote in USD. Payment terms and deposits are agreed in the contract before the shoot.
Start here
Send us your brief.
Tell us what you want to film. We come back with locations, a permit plan and a written quote.
