Dominican Republic

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC green filming

As the second largest country of the Antilles, the Dominican Republic is 48,671 square kilometres of sandy beaches and dense tropical forests. Foreign producers have access to idyllic natural landscapes and state of the art studio spaces.

International productions choosing to film in the Dominican Republic are immediately immersed in its lush natural features and unique tropical charms.

“From beaches to jungles, deserts to mountains, even colonial zones – you can replicate anything you want in the Dominican Republic,” commented Mariana Vargas, DGCINE Film Commissioner. With a rapidly developing film industry, and investment into the development of the screen sector, the country is establishing its position as a much sought after production location.

Pinewood Studios’ base in the Dominican Republic helps immensely in this regard. The site offers 43 acres of space and equipment and is only 20 minutes away from the Santo Domingo International airport. In addition, the studio houses an eight acre water facility, a specialty feature for Pinewood. Paramount Pictures’ action comedy The Lost City starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum and directed by Adam Nee, recently used locations across the Republic as well Pinewood stages.

A 25% tax credit is available to foreign productions when filming in the Dominican Republic. Eligibility for this requires a USD500,000 minimum spend.

“INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS THAT ENTER THE COUNTRY ARE IMMEDIATELY IMMERSED IN DIVERSE NATURAL LANDSCAPES AND UNIQUE TROPICAL CHARMS.” This includes tax free import on filming equipment and free permits to shoot in public spaces. The incentive contributes to the influx of international filming projects that make use of the relative cost effectiveness of the country.

Whilst the country’s rental houses are equipped with only basic filming kit, close proximity to neighbouring Puerto Rico and Miami makes it easy for teams seeking specialised equipment. Concerned to continually grow the industry, the government has made it easy for the import of necessary equipment from Puerto Rico, conducting trade three times a week.

A new version of 1989 hit film RoadHouse began filming on location in the Dominican Republic in August. Amazon Prime Video’s new take follows Gyllenhaal's character, a former UFC fighter, who takes a job as a bouncer at a roadhouse in the Florida Keys.

LOCATION HIGHLIGHT The Dominican Republic has made tremendous efforts in encouraging sustainable practices through their tourism ventures. Puntacana is home to many initiatives such as its centre for sustainability and a range of educational opportunities. One popular site is the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park & Reserve. Consisting of 1,500 acres of land, the reserve is known as a transitional subtropical forest due to its mix of flora and fauna from both humid and dry habitats. Donated by Group Puntacana to the Fundacion Grupo Puntacana, the land was intended to serve as a private nature reserve for educational, scientific, and recreational purposes. With origins of Taino culture, the reserve was named the Indigenous Eyes, paying homage to the original settlers. It is formed of 12 freshwater lagoons stemming from Yauya, an underground river. Each lagoon is named with a Taino word.