Film and Video Production Services in Democratic Republic of Congo

In reality filming in the Democratic Republic of Congo or the Republic of Congo isn’t exactly a walk through the park. This is one of the most challenging destinations to film in and it comes with both geographical challenges and political and administrative challenges.  To start with, filming in Congo is more like a trek through a rainforest, exhilarating, stunning visuals and full of unexpected turns at every point you take. Be it you’re chasing a documentary lead in the Kivu areas, mountains or shooting a high-end commercial in the neon pulse city of Kinshasa, the logistics can be a beast to navigate. That’s where Africa Fixers comes in to bridge this gap as your boots on ground to do all the pre-shoot work needed. Having a film fixer company like us is how you ensure that everything is properly arranged for your shoot and no unexpected turns. Our role is not just to get for you the filming permits or just to rent out the production gear to you, we clear the path so that you are only focusing on the shooting aspects and getting the frames right for your shoot.

Why choose the Democratic Republic of Congo?

This question can be only answered by saying “the visuals payoff”, the majority od the country is located along the Congo Basin, which offers a raw, cinematic range that you can’t simply replicate on a stage or green screen. Filming in Congo will offer you new angles that have not yet been explored before. What to expect:

• The World’s Most Dramatic Landscapes: Congo offers variations from the volcanic peaks of Virunga to the sweeping majesty of the Congo River and then the bustling city of Kinshasa.
• Authentic Urban Energy: Kinshasa, sprawling with life, a rhythmic metropolis that offers a unique “Afro-futurism” aesthetic, very colorful and lively.
• Unrivaled Wildlife: The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the few places left on earth to capture truly wild, untouched nature with the majority of the country still unexplored. The tropical rainforests are home to some of the rarest wildlife on earth.

What does Africa Fixers do for you.

We know that you have a vision that needs realization and all we do is support you on ground to ensure that this vision and dream are realized. Our role is to ensure that all the ground aspects align with your dream as a film producer. Congo is a French-speaking country and the first thing we do is provide a film fixer that will offer you the services of a translator, this is the very first barrier that we remove, then we offer you our full production service that covers the big three.

1. Red Tape and film Permits acquisition.

Navigating the filming permits and Government paperwork in the DRC can feel like looking for stones in grains of rice. But we have handled the filming permits, media accreditation from the Ministry of Communication and specific local permissions needed so many times it now feels easy to us and we have the right connections to get us and put us in the right direction. Even through the shoot requires for drone operations to be done or is in sensitive areas, we know how to handle this and we can advise you accordingly on how to proceed about it. We know who to call to ensure your crew doesn’t get sidelined by delays or a missing stamp. Planning a shoot in the DRC? Contact Africa Fixers today to secure your filming permits and local accreditation.

2. Logistics and Security

To work in the Democratic Republic of Congo needs your to have figured out transport and security issues beforehand. It’s a very volatile country that requires proper planning and management. Moving high-end gear like Reds or Arri kits across rugged terrain requires more than a standard SUV; you will need a custom filming vehicle.

• Specialized Transport: 4x4s that can actually handle the roads. Congo still have many roads that are in a very bad state and need real SUVs. Vehicles with AC and built for filming are very rear but we provide you the best that there is to offer and surely meet your standards.
• Security Personnel: We provide discreet, professional teams who understand the local nuances and have experience working with film crews. Working in DRC requires you to have security for you and your gear, our security doesn’t only stop here but we also ensure that the locations you are going to film in are secure as well and give you constant updates on security levels in the country.
• Reliable Power: Because working in DRC is a challenge more so with power. The power grid only accessible in the city and not reliable as well, we offer solutions by providing you with generators to keep a constant power supply to you on your shoot. We do have silent generators that are an added advantage to your shoot.

3. Local Filming Casting and Film Production Crew

Most film productions require to have local cast and crew secured for shoots but why travel with a big team and spend big on them when you can now hire all the crew and cast in-country. Gone are the days when getting an experienced crew in DRC was an issue, now the industry has grown and we have all crew available in the country. Level of experience varies as well as rates. Depending on what you need for the shoot, we have camera operators, drone operators, gaffers, busboys, DIT, producers, sound operators and more available.  For casting we have some incredible, talented team in the country that will support your shoot. We have casting agencies that we work with and help in sourcing and vetting the right team to work with as well as securing the image rights for the cast.

Why choose Africa Fixers for your Production in DR Congo?

While filming in the Democratic Republic of Congo, most of the time is spent on solving problems rather than filming, like roads, permits, language, bureaucratic logistics like flights getting delayed, monsoon hits, insecurity in a certain region of interest or a local official wants a “chat”, our team will handle this so that you don’t have to. Africa Fixers will solve the issues for you and remove problems in your way so that your main focus goes to the creative bit of the shoot. We will handle permits and arrange everything on ground and you focus on the filming.

At Africa Fixers we don’t just report problems, we present solutions before you even realize there was a hiccup. Our role is to make sure that when you look out, all you see the magic of Congo, not the stress of the journey. Don’t let logistics stand in the way of your vision and production. Whether you need full production crew, secure transport or even just specialized filming permits, Africa Fixers is ready to hit the ground running with you. Speak to a local fixer now.