Production Services in Panama
Fixing, line production and local coordination for international film, TV, commercial and photo shoots. We have been producing here since 2014. We make it happen.
A PRODUCER REPLIES WITHIN 24 HOURS · HOLA@CINEANIMAL.COM
PACIFIC COAST · SHOT BY CINE ANIMALWhatever your shoot needs, we source it and run it.
Line production
Budgets, schedules and full production management, end to end.
Fixing & local coordination
Your first call in Panama: access, contacts, problem-solving on the ground.
Locations & permits
Scouting and permits across the country, through the Panama Film Commission one-stop shop.
Crew assembly
We put together bilingual crews with international production experience, for any size of crew.
Equipment coordination
Camera, grip and lighting packages, sourced and managed with the best local suppliers.
Casting coordination
Talent and street casting, run with the casting directors we trust.
Logistics, transport & stay
Moves, accommodation and daily operations, planned and solved.
Post-production coordination
Editorial, color and sound, managed with trusted local and regional partners.
Why Panama
Two oceans, rainforest inside the city, UNESCO colonial quarters, a modern skyline and the Canal, all within one small, dollarized country on U.S. Eastern time. A country of many origins, rich in cultural mixture and in stories that come from very different histories. Panama has hosted major international productions.
- Two oceans, under one hour apartPACIFIC SUNRISE · ATLANTIC SUNSET
- U.S. dollar, U.S. Eastern timeLEGAL TENDER SINCE 1904 · UTC-5 YEAR-ROUND
- 80+ nonstop destinationsCOPA HUB OF THE AMERICAS · MIAMI 3H · NYC 5H
- 12 hours of daylight, year-roundDRY SEASON DEC-APR · OUTSIDE THE HURRICANE BELT
ISLANDS & COAST · SHOT BY CINE ANIMALOne small country, six worlds
Modern city
A high-rise skyline that doubles for Miami or Dubai.
Colonial quarters
Casco Antiguo (UNESCO 1997), Panamá Viejo ruins and Portobelo fortifications.
Rainforest
Tropical forest inside city limits; national parks 30 minutes from downtown.
The Canal
A working interoceanic canal with real filming precedent. We coordinate access.
Islands & coasts
Guna Yala, Bocas del Toro and the Pearl Islands.
Highlands
Coffee country and Volcán Barú at 3,475 m.
ALL SIX SHOT BY CINE ANIMAL, ON LOCATION IN PANAMA.
On the ground, with cameras rolling
We produce in Panama year-round. Our bilingual production team runs the country end to end.
CANAL LOCKS · CASCO ANTIGUO · RAINFOREST · PACIFIC · FROM OUR OWN FOOTAGE
- 2017 · 2023Fondo Cine winnersThe national film fund of Panama, won in more than one edition · DICINE, Ministry of Culture of Panama
- 2025Winner · IDA Documentary Award · Best Original Music ScoreThe Sorcerer: Julio Zachrisson · Los Angeles
- 2025Audience Award · IFF PanamaThe Sorcerer: Julio Zachrisson · World premiere
- 2025Audience Award · Costa Rica IFFThe Sorcerer: Julio Zachrisson · CRFIC
Filming in Panama: the practical answers
Do we need a filming permit in Panama?
Yes, most shoots do. The Film Commission (MICI) runs a one-stop shop for permits, customs and immigration. How long it takes depends on where you shoot: a street in the Casco is not the same as a protected area, and in Guna Yala the permit goes through the Guna General Congress and through the sáhila of each island. That gets planned into the schedule, not on top of it.
Can we film at the Panama Canal?
There is precedent: The Tailor of Panama shot at the Miraflores Locks and in the control centre, and Contraband filmed at Miraflores too. Access runs through the Canal authorities and has to be requested well ahead. We coordinate it.
What about money and payments?
Panama runs on the U.S. dollar, legal tender since 1904. No currency risk, no conversion in your budget.
When is the best time to shoot?
The dry season runs mid-December to mid-April. The rest of the year, mornings are typically clear with afternoon rain. At 9°N you get about 12 hours of daylight year-round, and Panama sits outside the hurricane belt.
What time zone is Panama in?
UTC-5 year-round, with no daylight saving: same clock as New York in winter, same as Chicago in summer.
How do we get there, and can we bring gear?
Copa Airlines' hub connects Panama nonstop to 80+ cities (Miami in 3 hours, New York in 5), plus direct flights to Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam and Istanbul. Temporary import of equipment moves through customs with the Film Commission's one-stop shop; we coordinate it before you fly.
Does the team speak English?
Ours does, and we assemble crews that work in English. Country-wide it is not a given: Panama sits in the low proficiency band of the 2024 EF index. That is why we build the crew person by person instead of assuming it.
How do you quote?
Send the basics (format, dates, scale) and a producer replies within 24 hours. The next step is to meet and go through the project together: every production is different, so each quote is built case by case. We do not publish rate cards.
Tell us about your project
Send the basics and a producer will reply within 24 hours.
CONTACT US AND LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN · HOLA@CINEANIMAL.COM