African Fixer provides full film, video and stills production services across Guinea-Bissau – from the pristine Bijagós Archipelago, where hippos wander onto Atlantic beaches, to the faded Portuguese-colonial architecture of Bissau and Bolama and the mangrove channels of the coast. Remote and richly cultural, we manage producers, fixers, crew, permits, island logistics and crew accommodation throughout.
African Fixer connects international production companies, agencies, brands, broadcasters and photographers with trusted local producers, fixers and crew across Guinea-Bissau.
We support TV commercials, documentaries, feature films, branded content, corporate videos, music videos and still photography campaigns with experienced local teams and reliable on-the-ground production support.
Guinea-Bissau is a tiny, deeply under-filmed country whose jewel is the Bijagós Archipelago – a UNESCO biosphere of remote islands, sacred cultures, sea turtles and saltwater hippos – alongside faded colonial towns and mangrove coasts.
Our Guinea-Bissau production services include:
Guinea-Bissau suits documentary, travel and natural-history productions, with local fixers coordinating permits and logistics in a small, remote environment.
The local crew base is very small; local fixers and production assistants support on the ground, while technical crew and specialist equipment are brought in from the region or Portugal.
Productions plan to import camera, drone and specialist packages, and to arrange boats for the islands.
Guinea-Bissau’s most extraordinary locations centre on the remote and richly cultural Bijagós Archipelago.
A biosphere of remote islands.
Famed for saltwater hippos.
Matriarchal traditions and rites.
A major turtle-nesting site.
Faded colonial Bissau Velho.
Crumbling grandeur.
The atmospheric former capital.
Remote northern beaches.
An old slave-trade fort.
Green tidal waterways.
Coastal cultivation.
Stilt and thatch homes.
Nesting beaches and reefs.
Rich estuary birds.
City commerce.
Agricultural countryside.
Island transport.
Empty Atlantic sands.
Living spiritual culture.
Wild, unspoilt shoreline.
Guinea-Bissau’s Bissau hotels and island lodges serve as bases for productions. Access for filming is subject to approval and availability.
Cast and crew accommodation is concentrated in Bissau, with island lodges in the Bijagós reached by boat. We arrange group bookings, boats and logistics.
Accommodation availability and rates vary by season and should be booked well in advance. African Fixer manages crew and cast bookings, transfers and per-location logistics as part of production support.
International cast and crew should confirm visa and work permission requirements before travelling. Typical documents may include a valid passport, flight details, accommodation details, invitation letter, crew list and equipment list.
A valid health insurance policy, along with proof of accommodation, a letter of invitation (if applicable), and a return travel itinerary, are all required for entry.
Approx. $200
3–7 working days
International productions may require local coordination, film permissions and supporting letters depending on the production type, locations and crew nationality, and should work with an in-country fixer or service company.
Passport, Media mission order from employer/local invitation
3–7 working days
Event-specific
Filming permits are arranged through the relevant authorities, with biosphere and protected-area permissions in the Bijagós and respect for the islands’ sacred customs. Work through a local fixer and allow lead time.
Drone filming requires authorisation, with restrictions in protected areas. Permissions should be arranged in advance.
Professional equipment can usually be temporarily imported with the correct customs documentation. An ATA Carnet may be used where applicable, and equipment lists should be prepared in advance.
All equipment must be declared upon arrival. A deposit may be required at airport customs for clearance.
Detailed equipment list with serial numbers, Customs clearance application
Gabonese Customs Authority
3–10 days
Guinea-Bissau is generally calm day to day but has a history of political fragility, so current advice should guide planning. The main practical challenges are remoteness, boat logistics for the islands, modest infrastructure and malaria.
Avoid isolated areas after dark. Military presence can be requested via the Ministry of the Interior for on-ground filming security.
Guinea-Bissau does not currently operate a formal national film cash rebate for international productions, so budgets should not rely on a rebate.
African Fixer will confirm the latest position on permit fees and any incentives during planning, and manage the permissions and island logistics that make the Bijagós accessible.
Yes. Permits are arranged through the relevant authorities, with additional permissions for protected and heritage areas. Work through a local fixer and allow lead time.
The local crew base is very small; fixers support on the ground and crew and equipment are brought in from the region or Portugal.
The Bijagós Archipelago and its saltwater hippos, the sacred islands and the colonial architecture of Bissau and Bolama.
Hotels in Bissau and island lodges in the Bijagós reached by boat.
Yes, with the correct customs paperwork; an ATA Carnet may be used. Plan to import camera, drone and specialist packages.
Yes. Drone filming requires civil-aviation authorisation, with restrictions near sensitive sites and protected areas.
No. Guinea-Bissau does not currently offer a film rebate. We confirm permit fees before you budget.
Yes, especially for documentary, travel and natural-history work needing remote islands and unique cultures.
Yes. We provide full production support from planning through to wrap, including permits and logistics.
On Orango Island in the Bijagós, saltwater hippos swim in the ocean and graze on the beaches – one of only a couple of places on Earth where these normally freshwater giants have adapted to the sea.
PRO TIP:
Base island work in the Bijagós with boat logistics and shoot the dry November-to-May window; respect the archipelago’s sacred customs and plan turtle and birdlife shoots around their seasons.
