FAQs
Work Visas
For short fiction films: Cast and crew must enter Cuba with work visas and obtain film permits with State authorization to shoot in the locations selected. Almendares Productions will ensure that cast and crew, regardless of their country of origin, obtain the necessary visas and permits before their arrival. American citizens shall apply for a tourist visa and a work visa per each staff member. Visa applications must be submitted no less than two months before the intended date of travel.
Best months to shoot in Cuba
Cuba is a tropical country, “the land of the eternal summer”, with temperatures rising above 26 degrees Celsius for the most part of the year. In the months from June to November, the whole of the Caribbean region is at a high risk of being affected by tropical storms or hurricanes. The best months for shooting in Cuba are those from December to May. The cool crisp breeze and blue skies during those months make Cuba a filmmakers’ paradise.
Locations
Cuba is a land with many beautiful landscapes and a great architectural variety. Directors from all over the world have found locations in Havana in which to recreate settings from London, New York, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Pulse aquí y podrá ver algunas locaciones con las que contamos.
Safety
Cuba is a safe country. Cubans are a caring and hospitable people. These proverbial Cuban characteristics can be perceived when, right from the beginning of the shooting, the locally-engaged film crew develops close relationships with the foreign cast and crew, and local residents are willing to contribute to the making of the film or help newcomers get around the island totally for free.
Staff
Cuba has a filmmaking tradition that spans over more than 60 years. Our technical team is highly qualified and excels in their respective specialties in the film industry. Our technical and creative team will guarantee that your film production is finished on time and to your complete satisfaction.
Cash and currency in Cuba
Not all credit cards are accepted in Cuba. Credit cards issued by U.S. banks or by banks with U.S. interests will be rejected at ATMs. American citizens requiring more information should contact the Stone Bank in Miami, the only U.S. bank with correspondent banking relations with Cuba. That is why we always recommend bringing cash.
Communications
Trying to use your foreign cell phone in Cuba will prove to be difficult and expensive. Almendares Productions can help you get information on the local cell phone plan that is right for you and contract as many lines as you need during your stay.
With Almendares Productions you can also have professional walkie-talkies for hire, so as to increase your communication flexibility on the set.
The Internet in Cuba is expensive and has a limited bandwidth. There is a public Wi-Fi spots network in capital cities throughout the country. Almendares Productions can provide you with a map of this network and will help you buy Wi-Fi access cards.
AP has the resources to receive your assignments via internet and send them back for your review at home.
How we make it so easy?
Our trick is the oldest in the book: we have an established network of contacts in every field of filmmaking in Cuba. To facilitate every stage of your trip, AP offers you a film production fixer service and experienced translators who will help you solve any problem that you may encounter along the way.
Insurance
Most international travel health insurance plans are accepted in Cuba.
Equipment rental houses in Cuba offer insurance as a surcharge from 7% to 10% on the value of the equipment.
Transportation
Getting about Cuba on public transportation, as most locals do, can be inexpensive but quite slow and difficult. Cuba’s dependency on imported fuels is one of its many economic problems. American old timers used as taxis are not hard to find, and can be hired with a driver for sightseeing tours in and out of the city. However, private transportation is costly. Through Producciones Almendares you can rent vans, trucks, modern cars, old timers, bicycle taxis, cocotaxis, bikes, or any other means of transportation you require for your stay or project in Cuba.
Cuban gastronomy
Cuban cuisine has a strong Spanish component, its main food staples being rice and beans. Spanish soups and desserts are very popular, as are any dishes made with corn, such as “tamales”, a flavorful corn mix or porridge served on corn husks or in a pot.
Cubans have a marked tendency to eat fried foods and thus most main courses are garnished with fried green plantains (“tostones” or “chicharritas”), fried ripe plantains (“platanitos fritos”), malanga (a tropical root vegetable) or corn fritters.
For clients wishing their crews to keep a balanced and healthy diet, Producciones Almendares offers a spectacular catering service combining international dishes with a wide range of tropical fruits and vegetables.
Lodging in Cuba
There are many comfortable and affordable hotels throughout the island, offering full board, half board or just accommodation in a friendly and safe environment at rates similar to those of other countries in the region. There are also private hostels, pensions and guest houses, at lower rates but with a more personalized service provided by a Cuban family. This modality enables tourists to learn more about Cuba and the way of life, culture, traditions and idiosyncrasies of its people.
