Location Scout Services
Finding perfect filming locations from the medinas of Marrakech to the Sahara and Atlas Mountains.
Here is how this works in practice. Morocco gives filmmakers an extraordinary range of settings, from the labyrinthine medinas of Marrakech and Fez to the dramatic Atlas Mountains, the vast Sahara Desert, the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, the fortified ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, and the purpose-built Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate. This proximity of varied environments within short distances has made Morocco a favourite for shoots including Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Kingdom of Heaven.
Here is the short of it. Through NeedAFixer, we connect you with location scouts who keep an extensive database of verified Moroccan locations. Our pros hold set up relationships with the Centre Cinématographique Marocain (CCM), Marrakech Film Commission, Ouarzazate Film Commission, and heritage authorities, enabling efficient permitting and access to ancient kasbahs, desert landscapes, mountain passes, and Atlas Studios' massive backlots.
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Capabilities
Location Scouting Expertise
We connect you with experienced location scouts who find, document, and secure the perfect locations for your production—from iconic landmarks to hidden gems across France.
01
Location Research
- Brief analysis
- Database search
- Site identification
- Visual matching
- Alternative options
Research Excellence
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Site Surveys
- Photo documentation
- Video walkthroughs
- Technical assessment
- Access evaluation
- Logistical review
Detailed Surveys
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Permit Coordination
- Permission requests
- Authority liaison
- Fee negotiation
- Contract preparation
- Compliance guidance
Permit Expertise
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Local Knowledge
- Hidden gems
- Insider access
- Regional expertise
- Seasonal awareness
- Alternative routing
Local Insight
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Why Us
Why Choose Our Location Scouts
01.
Moroccan Terrain Experts
Scouts with deep knowledge of Moroccan landscapes, from Ouarzazate desert plateaus and the High Atlas to Essaouira's Atlantic coast, Ifrane's cedar forests, and Saharan dune seas.
02.
Heritage Site Access
Set up relationships with heritage authorities for filming at the Medina of Fez, Medina of Marrakech, Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, Historic Meknes, and Rabat's modern capital district.
03.
Permit Navigation
Pro planning with CCM for production sign-off, DACM for drone operations, city authorities, and awareness that mosque interiors are mostly off-limits for filming.
04.
Comprehensive Location Library
Curated database spanning ancient medinas, kasbahs, Saharan dunes, Atlas mountain passes, argan groves, and Atlas Studios' 30-hectare backlots in Ouarzazate.
On Location
We place location scouts for Moroccan productions, finding the desert, mountain, medina and coastal settings that have made the country a destination for sixty years.
Here is how this works in practice. Our team supplies location scouts who find the places a Moroccan production needs and document them for the director and production designer. We brief scouts on the country's range and on the practical questions a scout must answer: access and travel time, sun direction and the quality of light through the day, power and unit-base options, and what authorisations a given site will need.
Here is the layout. On the ground, Location scouts we place travel the country. The list covers the Sahara at Merzouga, the Atlas Mountains, the kasbahs around Ouarzazate, the medinas of Marrakech and Fez, the Atlantic coast at Essaouira. Photographing and reporting on options. They set up with the location manager and fixer on feasibility, flag heritage and access constraints early, and communicate fluently in Arabic, French and English. Their local knowledge turns a creative brief into a shortlist of places that will actually work for the shoot.
Here is the short of it. Morocco's reputation rests on a compact range of terrain that few countries match: desert, mountain, oasis, medieval city and ocean coast, all within reach, under more than 300 sunny days a year. Scouts have used that range for sixty years to double Morocco for Tibet ('Kundun'), for ancient Rome ('Gladiator'), for Somalia ('Black Hawk Down') and for the fantasy world of 'Game of Thrones'.
Here is how the work shapes up. On the ground, the country's UNESCO sites — the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, the medinas of Marrakech, Fez and Essaouira, and Volubilis — are part of that visual wealth. All scouting and filming runs within the CCM framework. The location scouts we place know which sites need which authorisations, setting up early with the CCM-licensed production-services firm so a promising location is also a deliverable one.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of filming locations are available in Morocco?
Here is the breakdown. Morocco gives extraordinary wide locations within compact distances. You can shoot in the labyrinthine medinas of Marrakech and Fez, at the fortified Aït-Ben-Haddou ksar, across the Sahara Desert's sweeping dune seas, through the dramatic High Atlas mountain passes, along the Atlantic coast at Essaouira, and at Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, one of the world's largest film studios with over 30 hectares of backlots and year-round sunshine.
What permits are required for location filming in Morocco?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. All shoots need CCM (Centre Cinématographique Marocain) sign-off, which also facilitates customs and immigration for crew. Filming in medinas needs both CCM and city permits. Aït-Ben-Haddou has specific heritage protection protocols. Drone operations need DACM sign-off with 21+ business days lead time. Mosque interiors are mostly off-limits. CCM sets up across all relevant authorities.
How much do filming locations cost in Morocco?
Here is how the picture comes together. Morocco gives highly competitive production costs with skilled crews. CCM-coordinated permits are mostly affordable. Atlas Studios charges per-day rates for backlots and stages. The Morocco Film Production Incentive gives up to 20% cash rebates with extra support for Ouarzazate shoots. Year-round sunshine and varied landscapes within short distances minimise weather delays and travel costs.
How do you match a location scout to my production?
Here is what we have to work with. We check your visual needs, the types of locations you need, and your shooting schedule, then recommend scouts with deep knowledge of the relevant areas. We prioritize scouts who have set up relationships with property owners and local permitting authorities.
Can a location scout also manage locations during the shoot?
Location scouting and location management are related but distinct roles. A scout finds and presents options, while a location manager handles permits, contracts, logistics, and on-set planning. Some pros do both. We can advise on whether your project needs one or both roles filled.
Related Services
Related Support Roles
ACT 04 — On Set
Need a Location Scout?
Let's find the perfect locations for your production.