Filming in Uzbekistan — A Local Production Partner for International Teams
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Uzbekistan is becoming one of Central Asia’s most rewarding places to film: Silk Road architecture in Samarkand and Bukhara, untamed desert and mountain landscapes, and a government that actively encourages foreign productions. The hard part isn’t the country — it’s coordinating crew, equipment, permits and logistics from the outside. That’s what Paramedia does. We’re a Tashkent-based production company that has supported 20+ international clients since 2023, and our founder, Khoorshid Alimardanov, brings London production experience to a local team that delivers to international standards.
Why International Productions Choose Uzbekistan
Visual range in one country
Registan's tiled domes, the walled city of Khiva, the Kyzylkum desert, and modern Tashkent — diverse looks within short internal travel.
Cost efficiency
Skilled local crew and equipment cost a fraction of Western Europe (see what a production costs).
A supportive permit regime
Uzbekistan wants foreign cinematographers here. The Cinematography Agency processes general filming permits through a government e-portal, and the country currently offers a filming rebate incentive of up to 20% on qualifying local spend.
A real local partner
Most equipment and senior crew are concentrated in Tashkent and Samarkand. Knowing where to source what — and what to import — is half the job.
What You Actually Need to Film Here
A general filming permit
A general filming permit. Foreign companies apply through the Cinematography Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In our experience this takes about 5 working days (our fastest was 3 days). The single most common mistake foreign applicants make is omitting the required script/synopsis — we prepare the application so it clears the first time.
Location agreements
Location agreements. The general permit covers filming in the country; specific sites (a particular building, market, or heritage location) may need their own agreement or fee.
Crew and kit
Crew and kit. You can bring key creative personnel and hire the rest locally. We field cinematographers, operators, sound, gaffers, and coordinators who already work to international standards in English.
Equipment import
Equipment import (if you bring your own). Note that ATA Carnet, while referenced, is not practised in Uzbekistan — temporary import is handled through customs with a declarant. Prepared correctly, clearance runs from 2 to 48 hours. We cover this in detail on our filming permits page.
How Paramedia Supports Your Shoot
We act as your local production arm end to end: permit filing, location scouting (we’ve catalogued ~50 locations), crew assembly in 1–2 days, equipment, transport, and post-production in our own studio. Our philosophy is simple — we own the technical and logistical risk so you can focus on your story. In practice that means two things competitors here rarely offer together: we solve problems live on set (re-rigging a failing HDMI plan to SDI mid-event), and we source the kit others can’t (securing a LiveU unit to put Samarkand live on CNBC).
Proof
In May 2026 the CNBC London team partnered with us at the 59th ADB Annual Meeting in Samarkand. With a 12-person crew, we sourced a LiveU transmission unit — the hard part — and delivered a live hit into CNBC’s Singapore morning show and London, plus a separately mixed exclusive panel feature. More on our film production services.
Keep in Touch!
30 Navoi Street,
Tashkent 100011, Uzbekistan
Office: +998 55 510 50 60 Mobile: +998 97 850 60 00
produciton@pm.me
