Filming in South Africa
a.k.a. Media opened its Cape Town office in 2026. It is our newest territory, run with producer Pieter Oosthuizen, and it gives productions a second shooting season when the Gulf is at its hottest.
Office
Cape Town
Opened in 2026
Incentive
25%
Of qualifying spend for foreign productions. Stalled since 2024
Main season
October to April
Long daylight hours and dry weather
Time zone
UTC+2
South Africa Standard Time, no daylight saving
Why productions come to South Africa
Opposite seasons. South Africa's summer runs through the northern winter, so summer scenes can be shot between November and March.
Locations that stand in for elsewhere. Cape Town and its surroundings regularly double for European, American and Mediterranean settings.
An established film industry, with experienced English-speaking crews and a long record of international commercials and features.
National incentives. South Africa's incentive for foreign productions is 25% of qualifying spend, up to R25 million per project. Be aware that it has been stalled since 2024: the adjudication committee stopped meeting and approvals halted. Government and industry agreed in August 2026 to restart it and revise its terms. Until approvals resume, we advise budgeting a South African shoot without the rebate.
Locations
Cape Town
City streets, Table Mountain, the Atlantic beaches and the harbour.
The Winelands
Vineyards, farmhouses and mountain valleys around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, about an hour from the city.
The Karoo
Open semi-desert plains and long empty roads.
The Garden Route
Forest, lagoons and coastline along the south coast.
Johannesburg
A dense modern skyline and urban settings.
Our producer in South Africa
Pieter Oosthuizen, Producer / Director / Screenwriter.
Pieter has worked in South African film since 2012. Prior to a.k.a. Media he was executive producer of the feature Eintlik Nogal Baie (2016) and producer of the short films Kolskoot (2016) and Runner (2018). With a.k.a. Media he was line producer on the Kinopoisk series Hostage (Zalojnik, 2026).
Pieter has worked in South African film since 2012. Prior to a.k.a. Media he was executive producer of the feature Eintlik Nogal Baie (2016) and producer of the short films Kolskoot (2016) and Runner (2018). With a.k.a. Media he was line producer on the Kinopoisk series Hostage (Zalojnik, 2026).
When to shoot
Cape Town's main season runs from October to April, with long daylight hours and dry weather. Its winter, from June to August, is the rainy season in the Cape.
Questions about filming in South Africa
Has a.k.a. Media produced in South Africa before?
Our Cape Town office opened in 2026. Our track record since 2011 is in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and our South African work is led by a producer with his own credits in the country.
What is the time zone?
South Africa Standard Time, two hours ahead of UTC, with no daylight saving.
Can a shoot be split between the Gulf and South Africa?
Yes. One a.k.a. Media team can budget and run both legs, which suits productions that need desert and city in the UAE and green or coastal settings in the Cape.