Locations Galore, Building Local Talent Base

After Paramount’s 2023 “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” featured Peru extensively, interest in the South American country spiked, particularly in the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, the colonial city of Cusco and the Peruvian Amazon, which formed key backdrops to the latest in the franchise. But Peru is keen to show off its lesser known and much underrated sites.  

“Machu Picchu is one of our flagship attractions, but it is not the only one. We have many other outstanding destinations: Arequipa, of course, but also Kuélap and Ayacucho, among others. What we are seeking is diversification, and promoting Peru as a filming destination plays a key role in helping us diversify and showcase the richness of our country beyond a single site,” says Maria del Sol Velasquez, director of Peru’s tourism body, PromPeru, which remains the country’s de facto film commission.

The filming of “Transformers” here had a significant impact, as it led— for the first time— to the creation of a multisectoral working group aimed at analyzing and proposing state-led measures to encourage foreign investment in film production within Peruvian territory,” says Erika Chavez, head of the culture ministry’s audiovisual directorate, DAFO.

“This initiative was convened by the Ministry of Economy and Finance itself, thereby placing—for the first time—public dialogue on the agenda to strengthen policies that promote the film industry. As a result of this executive working group, various strategies were proposed, such as the creation of a Film Commission and a tax incentive law,” she adds.

The most immediate result of having “Transformers” shoot in Peru was the introduction of ATA, a new visa aimed at facilitating the entry of talent and crew.

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