Dominican Republic

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC hot right now

Image: Old - Phobymo/Universal Pictures © 2021 Universal Studios.

The Dominican Republic became one of the hottest destinations in the caribbean in 2020. Well set up for international productions in terms of locations, studios and incentives, the destination saw a huge increase in the scale of productions choosing to shoot there.

he Dominican Republic is one of the most established production hubs in the Caribbean. As one of the largest and leading economies in the region, the country is ready to welcome incoming productions with a base of crew, leading facilities and a solid tax credit.

In 2020 the size of productions increased exponentially. “To give you an idea, we would usually average between USD25 million and USD35 million (at most) in foreign budgets. In contrast from July 2020 to July 2021, we’ve hosted foreign productions with aggregate budgets exceeding USD200 million,” says film commissioner Marianna Vargas Gurilieva. This increase was down to the conditions in the locations, and the fact the country was able to provide a safe environment for shooting during Covid-19.

These productions included M. Night Shylaman’s Old (pictured above) for Universal, which utilised the island’s beaches for the story of a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach is causing them to age rapidly. Other large shoots included Mark Wahlberg’s

“as one of The largesT and leading economies in The region, The counTry is well seT up To welcome incoming producTions wiTh a base of crew, leading faciliTies and a solid Tax crediT.” Arthur the King and Jennifer Lopez comedy Shotgun Wedding for Lionsgate and Paramount’s The Lost City of D.

As well as beach settings, the country offers a range of locations including colonial architecture, wildlife and tropical landscapes.

lOcaTiOn HiGHliGHT

Basilica of La Altagracia, Higuey

The city of Higuey is 40 minutes from the resort town of Punta Cana. Mostly famed for the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia, or La Altagracia Cathedral, visitors can also visit the nearby markets and streets of the less touristic cities.

The basilica was built in 1956 to house a religious icon, and was visited by Pope John IV who declared it a Minor Basilica in 1970. Its distinctive arch and contemporary appearance has made the Basilica a tourist destination. Interested visitors can see the art inside, while filmmakers may be captured by the shadows cast by the unique arch and bell tower.

1977 thriller feature Sorcerer from William Friedkin used the basilica. Based on George Arnaud’s novel Le Salaire de la Peur the film follows four outcasts of different origins who meet in a South American village where they must transport cargoes of unstable dynamite.

ESSEnTial FacTS

TaX incEnTiVES 25%

Feature films, documentaries, TV series and mini-series, music videos and short films qualify for A 25% Transferable Tax Credit (TTC). The minimum spend is USD500,000.

TRaVEl

There are nine airports in the Dominican Republic, six of which are international. As a result there is often an international airport nearby, no matter where you plan to travel within the country. Producers can fly to the islands from the US, the UK & other European countries with ease.

aTa caRnET NO

BEST TiME TO SHOOT

The country has a tropical maritime climate, & tends to be hot throughout the year with a rainy season from April to October & a dry season in winter. The period from November to April would offer prime opportunities to shoot.

REcEnT PRODUcTiOnS

The Lost City of D, Finding Ohana, Caribe All Inclusive, Pulso, Old & Survivor.

TiME ZOnE

GMT-4

The Dominican Republic is the largest Caribbean country to offer an incentive, with only Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands offering alternatives. The Dominican Republic has a 25% transferable tax credit for feature films, documentaries, TV series and mini-series, music videos and short films qualifying. Productions spending over USD500,000 can apply and there is no per project cap on support. Smaller projects can be accumulated to reach the expenditure level if they are produced by the same entity during the same fiscal period. Both resident and non-resident labour is eligible spending.

The film commission is experienced with working with international productions and is committed to processing permit applications within ten days. The commission has recently expanded to accommodate the increasing level of production. “The Dominican government acknowledges the importance of its film industry and is committed to support its growth with inter-institutional collaborations and the creation of policies that ensure the objective of making the Dominican Republic a film production hub,” says Gurilieva. “Such is the case of the expeditious creation of a branch of the Film Commission in the municipality of Samaná, which served as the filming location for five productions during the month of April 2021. This enabled the commission to facilitate processes and swiftly respond to production needs.”

The island has facilities that are well set up to satisfy the demands of the types of productions that are looking to shoot in the Caribbean. Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios is a purpose-built, state of the art studio comprising of eight acres of water effects facilities including the biggest horizon water tank in the region as well as three traditional soundstages.

In May 2021 Vin Diesel’s One Race Films announced a new state of the art studio facility will be developed on Bergantin Beach in Puerto Plata. President Luis Abinader welcomed the opportunities for talent, investment and tourism it would provide and noted it would be supported with government policies for the development of talent and investment.

Incoming productions should take note of the tropical seasons that can impact filming. The rainy monsoon season starts in May and lasts until October. Although it can affect filming, most rainfall generally occurs in the evening, and productions can benefit from lower costs of travel and accommodation. Like much of the Caribbean, hurricanes are common and typically occur from June to November.

The Dominican Republic is particularly well situated to welcome US shoots. The fastest flights from LA are around eight hours, three and a half hours from New York while it takes between 10 and 11 hours from Europe. in may 2021 vin diesel’s one race films announced a new sTaTe of The arT sTudio faciliTy will be developed on berganTin beach in puerTo plaTa.

SOMETHinG ElSE

The Dominican Republic was named the Best Golf Destination in the Caribbean by the World Golf Awards 2020, and was nominated again for the 2021 awards. It is projected that the Dominican Republic could see a 11% increase in golf tourism compared to 2019. 2019 itself saw a 14% increase on previous year, with 268,000 golfers playing over 335,000 rounds and contributing USD419 million to the economy.

There are nearly 30 golf courses in the country but the World Golf Awards 2021 highlighted the Puntacana Resort & Club and Casa de Campo as the country’s best Golf Course and Golf Hotel respectively. Casa de Campo is famed for its Teeth of the Dog course, while Puntacana hosts the Impact Corales Puntacana Championship, now in its fourth year.