Filming in Egypt

Filming in Egypt

Filming in Egypt guarantees a few things: The weather will be hot and dry, the cities and roads will be extremely busy, and there will be excellent desert locations to shoot.

Egypt is an Arab country located in north-west Africa, and neighbors Libya and Sudan. The country hugs the Mediterranean Sea on the north coast, as well as the Red Sea on its eastern coast. Egyptian Arabic is the main language spoken, and the majority of the population identifies as Sunni Muslim. The main currency used is the Egyptian pound, which is denoted as EGP or LE.

Egyptian history has a fascinating relationship with it’s landscape. These two attractions often come hand-in-hand as the history is embedded in the landscape itself. This nation has a plethora of filmable content, from exotic oases, to beautiful desert landscapes, to bustling cities exploding with culture. Egypt has a lot to offer, so let Film Fixers help your crew realize your shoot.

Customs and Equipment

The country is unfortunately not a member of the ATA Carnet system, meaning that crews will need additional permits to bring in film equipment from abroad. Egypt fortunately has a sophisticated film industry, meaning that if importing equipment is not an option, the country can rent a wide variety of rentable equipment. Equipment can also be imported from nearby hubs such as Dubai, making outsourcing easier than other places in Africa.

Access and Affordability

Cairo International Airport is the primary international terminal in Egypt, and other noteworthy international airports are Luxor International Airport, Hurghada International Airport, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport and Alexandria International Airport.

Egyptian roads are notoriously difficult to navigate with some of the highest road fatality rates in the world. The bustling cities and markets create a lot of traffic, however the roads are in relatively good condition. Crews should be aware of busy streets, pedestrians and animals on the roads and lack of traffic lights.

Film Fixers highly recommends crews to let us organize drivers who have experience navigating the many notorious roads of the African continent, as this ensures a smooth and safe experience for everyone involved.

Weather

The weather in Egypt is predictable, and if you have ever been on set before you will know that predictable is always welcome.

Egypt is hot and dry, as the country is dominated by a desert landscape that is characterized by a hot summer season and a mild winter season. The summer season runs from May to October, and the winter season runs from November to April. Due to hot windstorms that sweep sand across northern Africa during the summer, inland temperatures vary. These khamsin storms are known to  increase temperatures extremely quickly, with areas experiencing an increase of 20 degrees Celsius. Besides this phenomenon, inland temperatures are around 7 degrees Celsius at night and around 40 degrees Celsius during daytime. In the winter, inland regions can experience temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius during the day. Winter nights often see temperatures go as low as 0 degrees Celsius, and the coastal regions are  slightly cooler as they receive more rainfall as well.

Rainfall in Egypt is not exceptionally common, and precipitation occurs mostly on the coast. Flashfloods are known to suddenly invite extreme rainfall in some inland regions despite the minimal rainfall.

Why film in Egypt?

  • World class desert and oasis locations.

  • Predictable weather that helps ensure a smooth production.

  • Bustling, busy urban environments that display the rich Egyptian culture.

  • Wonderous historical sites dot the entire country.

Top Film Locations

Cairo– The capital city of Egypt, as well as the biggest in the Arab world. In Cairo, you can find a plethora of filmable locations that include mosques, churches, museums, palace complexes and many more-and it is of course located right next to the Giza complex of ancient pyramids. The bustle of busy bazaars and streets are bursting with culture and make for good locations as well.

Salah Al-Din Al-Ayoubi Castle– An Islamic medieval-era castle that has withstood the tests of time.

Dahshur Pyramids– Predating the Pyramids of Giza, the Dahshur Pyramids are no less intriguing. Because they are less commercially sought after than their Giza counterparts, often crews find the Dahshur Pyramids easier to film. The Red Pyramid, Bent Pyramid and Black Pyramid can all be found at this site.

Alexandria– The ancient city founded by Alexander the Great has a lot to offer in terms of beauty and history. Located in northern Egypt, Alexandria is a port city that hugs the Mediterranean coast. It has a picturesque beachfront and coastline and boasts many historical sites and artefacts that include Greco-Roman era influences. Museums, the Alexandria Opera House, Alexandria Unknown Naval Soldier Memorial and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina are some of the many attractions in Alexandria.

Siwa Oasis– Home to the Temple of Amun and the Temple of Umm Ubayd (which Alexander the Great allegedly sought for confirmation that he was the son of Zeus), the Siwa Oasis is also host to natural attractions such as the Siwa Salt Lake. Other attractions in this region includes the Cleopatra Spring and Shali Fortress.

More so than almost any country in Africa, Egypt is full of highly filmable locations in terms of history, culture and natural beauty. The problem with this is that many of these locations are highly commercial with thousands of tourists visiting these sites daily. At Film Fixers, we are dedicated to not only working our hardest to ensure our crews get unprecedented access, but to also use our expert knowledge to provide crews with lesser known, hidden gems in the country that are more easily filmable. Either way, Film Fixers has your back.

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