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Why ABSA Films?

Production in Chile is beautiful, rewarding, and unforgiving. The locations are world-class, but the logistics can be a minefield.

ABSA Films provides fixer and service production in Chile for international clients filming commercials, documentaries, television, branded content, and photography.

We secure permits, scout locations, vet crews, coordinate equipment, manage logistics, and lock down the details before you land.

No “mañana.” No surprises. Just execution.

Customs & ATA Carnets

ATA Carnet support, customs coordination, and equipment entry help to keep your gear moving and your production on schedule.

Vetted Bilingual Crews

Native English and Spanish coordination for international productions. We source reliable local crew and keep communications clear from prep to wrap.

Air, Land & Sea

Helicopters, boats, 4x4s, vans, trucks, and local transport coordination for productions moving across cities, coastlines, mountains, islands, and remote terrain.

Permits & Access

From national parks and private locations to streets, drones, and sensitive sites, we help navigate permits, permissions, and local access before your crew arrives.

Scouting & Recon

Chile gives you deserts, cities, coast, mountains, forests, and remote terrain. We scout practical, cinematic locations that fit the brief, budget, access, and schedule.

Risk Management

Safety isn't optional, it's embedded in every project. Remote locations, access, safety, insurance needs, and contingency planning handled by experts.

Transparent Budgeting

No mystery markups. No hidden surprises. We build clear, line-item production budgets that stand up to agency, brand, network, and client specifications.

Equipment & Comms

ARRI, RED, and Sony camera packages, plus lighting, grip, sound, drone, production supplies, and specialty equipment sourced through trusted vendors across Chile.

Basecamp & Comms

Civilization, delivered. We bring infrastructure to the wild: basecamp planning, power, internet, radios, catering, restrooms, parking, holding areas, and field support for remote locations.

Why Chile?

Cash Rebate

Chile offers up to 40% cash rebates on qualified audiovisual spend (IFI Audiovisual). We navigate the application process so you get the maximum ROI on every frame.

Chase the Sun

When it’s winter in New York or London, it’s summer in Chile. Shoot warm-weather campaigns, outdoor stories, and sunlit production days while the north goes gray.

Santiago Plays Anyone

Need a Parisian street? A minimalist LA office? A gritty Brooklyn alley? Santiago is a master of disguise. We double for Europe or North America at a fraction of the permit cost.

Snow to Sand in 120 minutes

Chile is thin. You can shoot high-altitude ski scenes in the Andes in the morning and catch the sunset on the Pacific Coast in the afternoon. No flights, just a drive.

Crisp Air, Hard Light

There’s a reason the world’s biggest telescopes are built here. The air is dry, the pollution is low, and the "Golden Hour" hits with a clarity you can’t fake in post.

Chile Works

Chile combines reliable infrastructure, experienced crews, modern equipment, and access to extraordinary remote locations. You get international standards with South American character.

International Production Case Studies

From broadcast commercials to international documentaries, ABSA Films has coordinated complex film and TV productions throughout Chile. Explore how we solve real-world production challenges for global agencies and teams:

  • Permits & Access: Navigating local regulations, parks, and urban spaces seamlessly.

  • Crew Sourcing: Assembling elite, bilingual local crews tailored to your workflow.

  • Equipment Infrastructure: Sourcing current, industry-standard gear packages.

  • Remote Logistics: Managing basecamps and transport in Chile’s most extreme environments.

Project: Nissan Pole to Pole Expedition
Client: Fifty One Films (UK) | NISSAN
Project Details: 4-day rolling shoot | Atacama Desert & Andes | 8-person international team | High-altitude service

Challenge: Fifty One Films needed rapid local infrastructure for a fast-paced, rolling production tracking the Nissan Ariya across northern Chile. Operating at extreme altitudes between 2,400m (7,874 ft) and 4,600m (15,091 ft) created challenging hurdles, including strict environmental permitting, intense physical demands on the UK/US teams, and remote gear reliability.

Solution: ABSA Films provided turnkey service production, managing all high-altitude logistics, specialized transport, lodging, and sensitive clearance permits. We deployed an elite, bilingual local crew (1st AC, 2nd AC, and two drone pilots) to seamlessly operate premium ARRI Alexa LF and DJI Inspire 3 systems under extreme atmospheric pressures.

Result: A flawless, incident-free shoot delivering breathtaking commercial footage. By anchoring all complex local variables, ABSA Films allowed the international crew to focus entirely on creative execution, keeping Nissan’s global marketing campaign on schedule.

Project: HBO Sports: Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
Client: HBO
Project Details: 5-day mountain shoot | Portillo Ski Resort (Andes) | 5-person US network team | Premium sports documentary

Challenge: HBO Sports needed immediate logistical and technical support to shoot a feature episode on Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin at Portillo Ski Resort (164km from Santiago). Capturing network-standard interviews and high-speed alpine B-roll required heavy grip, lighting, and audio gear deployed safely into a rugged mountain environment.

Solution: ABSA Films coordinated all alpine logistics and equipment transport from Santiago. We supplied the complete technical infrastructure—including comprehensive audio, lighting, and grip packages—and embedded a seasoned, bilingual local crew (gaffer, audio mixer, and drone pilot) to seamlessly support the visiting US network team.

Result: A highly efficient, flawless 5-day shoot that delivered pristine broadcast interviews and cinematic action footage. By supplying elite local talent and a robust technical package, ABSA Films ensured the US network team executed their creative vision perfectly while maintaining HBO’s strict premium production standards.

Production Services FAQ

Quick answers to the most common operational and logistical questions regarding filming in Chile with ABSA Films.

What is the typical turnaround time for film permits in Chile?

  • Urban & Public Locations: 5 to 10 business days.

  • National Parks & Protected Landscapes (CONAF): 2 to 4 weeks.

  • ABSA Advantage: We manage all municipal filings, local police notifications, and community clearances directly.

Does Chile accept ATA Carnets for international equipment?

  • Yes. Chile is a full ATA Carnet member country.

  • ABSA Advantage: We coordinate with local clearing agents at Santiago International Airport (SCL) to ensure your camera packages and technical hardware clear customs quickly and duty-free.

Are bilingual crews available for international directors?

  • Yes. Every core crew member deployed by ABSA Films (including 1st ACs, Gaffers, Sound Mixers, and UAV Pilots) is fully fluent in both English and Spanish.

  • This eliminates communication barriers between your visiting creative team and the local technical infrastructure.

How do you manage high-altitude or extreme terrain logistics?

  • We specialize in remote environment coordination—from the sub-zero alpine heights of Portillo to the high-altitude expanses of the Atacama Desert (up to 4,600 meters / 15,000+ feet).

  • Our Infrastructure: We provide specialized tracking vehicles, heavy-duty basecamp arrays, Starlink remote connectivity, and certified wilderness safety medics.

What are your drone and aerial filming protocols?

  • Commercial drone operations are tightly monitored by the DGAC (Chile’s civil aviation authority).

  • Compliance: ABSA Films uses certified, insured local UAV pilots and manages the mandatory SARPAS flight plan submissions for urban, restricted, or night-flight airspace.

How does budgeting and transparency work?

  • We provide transparent, standardized international line-item budgets broken down in USD or local currency.

  • Wrap-ups include fully itemized receipts, clear digital tracking logs, and transparent local crew payroll compliance to match global agency auditing standards.

How do you handle emergency or last-minute production requests?

  • 24-Hour Mobilization: We are structured for extreme agility and can have boots on the ground anywhere in Chile within 24 hours of a project greenlight.

  • Instant Support: We immediately activate our local network to lock down bilingual crew, source emergency gear replacements, and secure transport on a moment’s notice.

Reserve a session or contact us directly

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