How can I shoot a documentary or movie in Merzouga? (for professional purposes)

Shoot a documentary or movie in Morocco

Morocco offers landscapes unmatched by any other country. Not only do landscapes allow filmmakers to shoot in unique natural light, but they can also be used as an analogy for many countries. The weather in Morocco is another strong point to mention as a popular shooting destination. Some of the best filming locations in Morocco, such as Marrakesh, Casablanca, Essaouira, Erfoud and Merzouga, get ample hours of daylight every year. This allows filmmakers to shoot uninterrupted at any time of the year. The Moroccan government supports the film industry and stimulates tourism. There are minimum licensing and legal requirements for filmmakers and their crews.

Movie Making in Morocco

Some of the more famous movies you may be familiar with feature desert scenes and have a good chance of being filmed in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Moroccan cities and desert areas have always been magical locations for filming movies, especially when the movie is partly based on certain ancient sites and the desert. Thanks to the support of the Moroccan government and the local population, who have years of experience in the film industry, filmmakers can do their work smoothly and without loss of time. Natural light plays a major role here!

Most movies with desert scenes were probably shot in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Filming a movie in Morocco

Morocco is known as a popular movie destination among filmmakers and many famous movies and commercials have been shot in this beautiful country. Some directors visit Morocco again and again in search of inspiration and the best location to shoot their film projects.

The Council of the Moroccan government decided to significantly increase financial support for audiovisual production in the country, which ultimately led to an increase in applications for film licenses for series and films that seem to have found the right place.

In the Ouarzazate region, also known as the "Hollywood of Africa", production teams present beautiful outdoor environments such as oases, kasbahs, valleys, and deserts, all in an exceptional climate where the sun shines for long days. Thanks to the many films shot in the Ouarzazate region, they have shown an interest in the film industry for the multi-ethnic local population. World-class Atlas and CLA studios in the city offer a range of collections in styles including Roman, Egyptian, Biblical or Asian, etc.

Record number of film shoots in Morocco

The film industry in Morocco is as old as the film industry itself. The country has been one of the top films preferred by directors for many years. From Lawrence of Arabia to James Bond, the list of films made in Morocco is growing with blockbusters.

The following is a list of some outstanding films shot in whole or in part in Morocco:

1951: Othello, directed by Orson Welles

1953: Flight to Tangier, directed by Charles Marquis Warren

1956: The Man Who Knew Too Much

1962: Lawrence of Arabia, starred Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif

1967: The Burning, directed by Stephen Frears, starring Mark Baillie and Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies

1967: Oedipus Rex, directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, starred Franco Citti

1970: Patton, directed by Franklin Schaffner

1975: The Man Who Would Be King, directed by John Huston

1976: Emanuelle in Bangkok, directed by Joe D'Amato

1977: Jesus of Nazareth, directed by Franco Zeffirelli

1977: The Arms of Venus, directed by Mircea Drăgan[1]

1981: Rollover, directed by Alan Pakula, starred Jane Fonda

1985: Harem, directed by Arthur Joffé, starred Nastassja Kinski

1985: The Jewel of the Nile, directed by Lewis Teague, starred Michael Douglas

1987: The Living Daylights, directed by John Glen, starred Timothy Dalton and Maryam d'Abo

1988: The Last Temptation of Christ, directed by Martin Scorsese, starred Willem Dafoe

1989: Marrakech Express, directed by Gabriele Salvatores

1990: The Sheltering Sky, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, starred John Malkovich and Debra Winger

1994: Highlander III: The Sorcerer, directed by Andrew Morahan, starred Christopher Lambert

1997: Kundun, directed by Martin Scorsese

1998: Hamilton, directed by Harald Zwart

1998: Hideous Kinky (Marrakech Express)

1999: The Mummy, directed by Stephen Sommers, starred Brendan Fraser

2000: Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, starred Russell Crowe

2000: Rules of Engagement, directed by William Friedkin, starred Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson and Guy Pearce

2001: Black Hawk Down, directed by Ridley Scott

2001: The Mummy Returns, directed by Stephen Sommers, starred Brendan Fraser

2001: Spy Game, directed by Tony Scott, starred Robert Redford and Brad Pitt

2002: Astérix et Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre (France), directed by Alain Chabat, starred Gérard Depardieu and Jamel Debbouze

2002: Live from Baghdad, directed by Mick Jackson, starred Michael Keaton

2004: Alexander, directed by Oliver Stone

2004: Exorcist: The Beginning, directed by Renny Harlin, starred Stellan Skarsgård

2004: Hidalgo, directed by Joe Johnston

2004: Les temps qui changent, directed by André Téchiné

2005: Kingdom of Heaven, directed by Ridley Scott

2005: Sahara, directed by Breck Eisner, starred Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penélope Cruz and William H. Macy

2006: Babel, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu

2006: The Hills Have Eyes, directed by Alexandre Aja

2007: Arn – The Knight Templar, directed by Peter Flinth

2007: The Bourne Ultimatum, directed by Paul Greengrass

2007: The Hills Have Eyes 2, directed by Martin Weisz

2008: Arn – The Kingdom at Road's End, directed by Peter Flinth

2008: Body of Lies, directed by Ridley Scott, starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe

2009: Pope Joan, directed by Sönke Wortmann, starring John Goodman and Johanna Wokalek

2010: Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan

2010: Of Gods and Men, directed by Xavier Beauvois

2010: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, directed by Mike Newell

2010: Sex and the City 2, directed by Michael Patrick King

2011: Captain Phillips, directed by Paul Greengrass

2011: Hanna, directed by Joe Wright

2011: The Source, directed by Radu Mihăileanu

2013: The Bible, produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

2013: Only Lovers Left Alive, directed by Jim Jarmusch

2014: American Sniper, directed by Clint Eastwood

2014: Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, directed by Christopher McQuarrie

2014: Son of God, produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

2015: A.D. The Bible Continues, produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, starring Juan Pablo di Pace, Babou Ceesay, Richard Coyle and Vincent Regan

2015: Spectre, directed by Sam Mendes

2016: The Yellow Birds

2016: Damascus Cover

2016: Watch Them Fall

2016: War Dogs

2016: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

2016: 13 Hours

2016: A Hologram for the King

2016: Our Kind of Traitor

2017: Raees

2017: Tiger Zinda Hai[2]

2019: John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

2019: Men in Black: International

2021: Redemption Day, directed by Hicham Hajji

2022: Inventing Anna

2022: Dirty Angels