The Islands of The Bahamas: A Cut Above

Cue The Blues

The Bahamas Film & Television Commission, a department of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, is your one-stop shop for location recommendations, scouting, local coordination, and talent searches across The Bahamas’ 16 major islands. The BFTC is committed to making the process of filming in The Bahamas seamless and stress-free, while showcasing the country’s extraordinary beauty and biodiversity.

Why Choose The Bahamas?

  • bahamasfilmandtelevisioncommision homepage whychoosebahamas nofeefilm

    No-fee film permits in as few as seven days

  • bahamasfilmandtelevisioncommision homepage whychoosebahamas beautifulbeaches

    2,000+ beautiful beaches

  • bahamasfilmandtelevisioncommision homepage whychoosebahamas film locations

    Hundreds of off-the-radar film locations

  • bahamasfilmandtelevisioncommision homepage whychoosebahamas direct airlift

    Direct airlift from major U.S. cities

  • bahamasfilmandtelevisioncommision homepage whychoosebahamas technicalcrews

    Experienced technical crews and talent

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Where The Movie Magic Happens

Thunderball (1965)

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Jaws: The Revenge (1987)

The Big Blue (1988)

Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The Crew (1994)

Where The Movie Magic Happens

Duplicity (2009)

Fresh (2009)

Crazy Love (2010)

Children of God (2010)

Why Did I Get Married Too (2010)

Windjammers (2011)

Where The Movie Magic Happens

Crazy Love (2010)

Children of God (2010)

Beneath the Blue (2010)

Why Did I Get Married Too (2010)

The Other Woman (2014)

Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

All is Lost (2013)

Nicknamed “sleeping beauty,” Rum Cay is an oasis of historical ruins, coral reefs, white-sand beaches, and turquoise surf. 

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    An island of monuments, ruins, and rich history, San Salvador is where Columbus made landfall in the New World in 1492.

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The gateway to The Bahamas, Nassau & Paradise Island offer the best of all worlds: big city sophistication, stylish mega-resorts, and all the modern-day essentials.

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Rumored to have once been a pirate safe house, Ragged Island is a haven for fishermen, boaters, beach lovers, and less than 100 sea-loving islanders.

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From a colourful summer regatta featuring Bahamian-made boats to the romance of the country’s oldest church, Long Island has more than its fair share of stunning settings. 

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Once a pirate stronghold, this tranquil, off-the-radar island is a natural habitat for land crabs, rock iguanas, and wild goats.

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Grand Bahama Island pairs its tropical playground vibe with dozens of ecological and cultural wonders.

f

Pristine and mostly uninhabited, the southernmost island is a birder’s paradise complete with three national parks and more than 80,000 flamingos.

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These two Bahamian beauties offer uniquely picturesque settings, ranging from New England-style architecture to inland blue holes.

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Exuma’s world-famous swimming pigs get top billing in this 365-island chain featuring film-friendly sites like Thunderball Grotto.

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The inspiration for Hemingway’s “Islands in the Stream,” Bimini captivates creative spirits drawn to its storied history as a Prohibition-era speakeasy and home of the legendary Lost City of Atlantis. 

b

The boyhood home of Academy Award-winning actor Sidney Poitier, tiny Cat Island is camera-ready with rolling hills, nature trails, and a pink sand beach. 

c

The Bahamas' largest island has over 180 blue holes, five national parks, and the world's third-largest barrier reef.

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Thirty (mostly uninhabited) cays make the Berries a favourite for billfishing, boating, and beach combing – with easy commercial flights in and out of Great Harbour Cay Airport. 

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Colonial towns, fishing boats, and a candy-stripe lighthouse are among the Abacos' scene-stealing backdrops.

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Peaceful and pristine, Acklins & Crooked Island frame a 500-square-mile lagoon. On land, undisturbed beaches and cotton plantation ruins beckon. 

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Inspiration, Island-by-Island

With 16 major islands and countless cays spanning 100,000 square miles of the world's clearest ocean, The Bahamas makes it easy to find a picture-perfect backdrop for every frame.

  • DESTINATION LOGISTICS
  • PERMITS
  • PRODUCTION GUIDE
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a lighthouse on a beach

Get expert assistance with flight and on-island logistics from pros with 30+ years of experience – and one goal: to make it easy to film in The Bahamas.
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a beach with blue water

Apply for your film permit online and receive approval in about one week. We’ll help you arrange helicopter and drone permits, too.

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a body of water with land in the background

From casting and catering to lighting and location management, find local crews for your next production in our easy-to-use online guide.

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In The Spotlight

Get to know the Bahamas-based specialists and companies that work behind the scenes to ensure your production runs smoothly from start to finish. 

This is Paradise

An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who….

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An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who has been a prolific writer, director, and producer for years. His list of credits include feature films, Cargo, and Children of God. Julia Woolley Chatwin joins Mortimer as an executive producer. Rounding out the creative team are Henrietta Edgecombe, Nicole Sylvester, and Michael Olodeye, who serve as producers. The series stars Dana Deveaux and Julia Woolley Chatwin and was filmed on location in Eleuthera. Crackle can be accessed through Roku, Samsung televisions, and various other devices.

JL Filmworks

This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas.

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This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas. JL Filmworks’ production services expertise includes music videos, commercials, TV shows, documentaries, and feature films. Past projects include Casino Royale, Universal Pictures’ All My Life, and Twentieth Century Fox’s The Other Woman. 

JL Filmworks principal, Julian Lord, returned to The Bahamas after many years working on film sets in Los Angeles. His return has allowed him to train many more Bahamians in film production. “No other Bahamian has worked on as many projects as I have,” says Lord. “The good thing about working with me is when you get JL Filmworks, you get a wealth of technical knowledge. We know all the gear, inside and out. And we know how to create whatever look a director wants. Not everyone can do that.”

Goombay Kids Goes International

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several….

Learn More

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several prestigious film festivals around the world, the show’s first three seasons landed on the HappyKids platform, streaming throughout North America. New episodes are in production. The HappyKids app is available for Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. 

This is Paradise

An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who….

Learn More

An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who has been a prolific writer, director, and producer for years. His list of credits include feature films, Cargo, and Children of God. Julia Woolley Chatwin joins Mortimer as an executive producer. Rounding out the creative team are Henrietta Edgecombe, Nicole Sylvester, and Michael Olodeye, who serve as producers. The series stars Dana Deveaux and Julia Woolley Chatwin and was filmed on location in Eleuthera. Crackle can be accessed through Roku, Samsung televisions, and various other devices.

JL Filmworks

This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas.

Learn More

This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas. JL Filmworks’ production services expertise includes music videos, commercials, TV shows, documentaries, and feature films. Past projects include Casino Royale, Universal Pictures’ All My Life, and Twentieth Century Fox’s The Other Woman. 

JL Filmworks principal, Julian Lord, returned to The Bahamas after many years working on film sets in Los Angeles. His return has allowed him to train many more Bahamians in film production. “No other Bahamian has worked on as many projects as I have,” says Lord. “The good thing about working with me is when you get JL Filmworks, you get a wealth of technical knowledge. We know all the gear, inside and out. And we know how to create whatever look a director wants. Not everyone can do that.”

Goombay Kids Goes International

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several….

Learn More

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several prestigious film festivals around the world, the show’s first three seasons landed on the HappyKids platform, streaming throughout North America. New episodes are in production. The HappyKids app is available for Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. 

This is Paradise

An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who….

Learn More

An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who has been a prolific writer, director, and producer for years. His list of credits include feature films, Cargo, and Children of God. Julia Woolley Chatwin joins Mortimer as an executive producer. Rounding out the creative team are Henrietta Edgecombe, Nicole Sylvester, and Michael Olodeye, who serve as producers. The series stars Dana Deveaux and Julia Woolley Chatwin and was filmed on location in Eleuthera. Crackle can be accessed through Roku, Samsung televisions, and various other devices.

JL Filmworks

This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas.

Learn More

This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas. JL Filmworks’ production services expertise includes music videos, commercials, TV shows, documentaries, and feature films. Past projects include Casino Royale, Universal Pictures’ All My Life, and Twentieth Century Fox’s The Other Woman. 

JL Filmworks principal, Julian Lord, returned to The Bahamas after many years working on film sets in Los Angeles. His return has allowed him to train many more Bahamians in film production. “No other Bahamian has worked on as many projects as I have,” says Lord. “The good thing about working with me is when you get JL Filmworks, you get a wealth of technical knowledge. We know all the gear, inside and out. And we know how to create whatever look a director wants. Not everyone can do that.”

Goombay Kids Goes International

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several….

Learn More

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several prestigious film festivals around the world, the show’s first three seasons landed on the HappyKids platform, streaming throughout North America. New episodes are in production. The HappyKids app is available for Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. 

This is Paradise

An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who….

Learn More

An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who has been a prolific writer, director, and producer for years. His list of credits include feature films, Cargo, and Children of God. Julia Woolley Chatwin joins Mortimer as an executive producer. Rounding out the creative team are Henrietta Edgecombe, Nicole Sylvester, and Michael Olodeye, who serve as producers. The series stars Dana Deveaux and Julia Woolley Chatwin and was filmed on location in Eleuthera. Crackle can be accessed through Roku, Samsung televisions, and various other devices.

JL Filmworks

This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas.

Learn More

This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas. JL Filmworks’ production services expertise includes music videos, commercials, TV shows, documentaries, and feature films. Past projects include Casino Royale, Universal Pictures’ All My Life, and Twentieth Century Fox’s The Other Woman. 

JL Filmworks principal, Julian Lord, returned to The Bahamas after many years working on film sets in Los Angeles. His return has allowed him to train many more Bahamians in film production. “No other Bahamian has worked on as many projects as I have,” says Lord. “The good thing about working with me is when you get JL Filmworks, you get a wealth of technical knowledge. We know all the gear, inside and out. And we know how to create whatever look a director wants. Not everyone can do that.”

Goombay Kids Goes International

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several….

Learn More

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several prestigious film festivals around the world, the show’s first three seasons landed on the HappyKids platform, streaming throughout North America. New episodes are in production. The HappyKids app is available for Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. 

This is Paradise

An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who….

Learn More

An original Bahamian series, This is Paradise, is streaming on Crackle TV. The comedy series comes from creator, Kareem J. Mortimer, who has been a prolific writer, director, and producer for years. His list of credits include feature films, Cargo, and Children of God. Julia Woolley Chatwin joins Mortimer as an executive producer. Rounding out the creative team are Henrietta Edgecombe, Nicole Sylvester, and Michael Olodeye, who serve as producers. The series stars Dana Deveaux and Julia Woolley Chatwin and was filmed on location in Eleuthera. Crackle can be accessed through Roku, Samsung televisions, and various other devices.

JL Filmworks

This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas.

Learn More

This Bahamian-owned lighting and grip operation has been the foundation of countless Bahamian and international productions filmed in The Bahamas. JL Filmworks’ production services expertise includes music videos, commercials, TV shows, documentaries, and feature films. Past projects include Casino Royale, Universal Pictures’ All My Life, and Twentieth Century Fox’s The Other Woman. 

JL Filmworks principal, Julian Lord, returned to The Bahamas after many years working on film sets in Los Angeles. His return has allowed him to train many more Bahamians in film production. “No other Bahamian has worked on as many projects as I have,” says Lord. “The good thing about working with me is when you get JL Filmworks, you get a wealth of technical knowledge. We know all the gear, inside and out. And we know how to create whatever look a director wants. Not everyone can do that.”

Goombay Kids Goes International

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several….

Learn More

Goombay Kids, The Bahamas’ popular television show for children, has gone international. After racking up finalist placements and wins in several prestigious film festivals around the world, the show’s first three seasons landed on the HappyKids platform, streaming throughout North America. New episodes are in production. The HappyKids app is available for Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. 

a woman sitting at a table with a nun on her head a man on a boat with a camera on a river with a city in the background a group of kids posing for a picture a woman sitting at a table with a nun on her head a man on a boat with a camera on a river with a city in the background a group of kids posing for a picture a woman sitting at a table with a nun on her head a man on a boat with a camera on a river with a city in the background a group of kids posing for a picture a woman sitting at a table with a nun on her head a man on a boat with a camera on a river with a city in the background a group of kids posing for a picture a woman sitting at a table with a nun on her head a man on a boat with a camera on a river with a city in the background a group of kids posing for a picture

Words From The Set

“I always have fantastic success with the Bahamas Film Commission. No matter what the job, they have been a valuable resource in helping me get permission to film on the Islands. Not only that, but they have been a valuable resource in locating individual crew to help with the filming and help secure locations to film. The customs and immigration process has always been smooth with their guidance and many times there is someone at the airport to greet us and make sure we have everything we need to showcase the beautiful people and beautiful Islands of The Bahamas. ”
Smithy Sipes—Director and Executive Producer
“We have had such an incredible, seamless experience. From the moment when we needed locations, (the Film Commissioner) was there. His team was there, suggesting locations that were specific to the script, specific to the story, connecting us with resorts, very influential when it comes to that, as well as other aspects. It’s a foreign country. You have to go through Customs. They were very helpful.”
Deji LaRay, Midnight Train Productions
“I had the pleasure to work on many film projects in Nassau, Eleuthera, Abaco, Exuma & Long Island. The endless-breathtaking vistas, and genuine kindness of the Bahamian people always bring me back, but the Ministry of Tourism graciously lends a hand in making every filming experience a smooth and enjoyable one. It is a one-stop experience, from sharing stunning locations, to assisting in all aspects of your filming needs. May everyone be so lucky to visit the Islands of The Bahamas…even for work, it seems like a vacation!”
Kimberly Haggerty, Producer/Production Manager, Miami/Caribbean
“Filmmaking is very challenging when you are on location anywhere, but The Bahamas, in collaboration with The Bahamas Film Commission, offered such a seamless experience that we genuinely relished the process.”
Derek Lee Nixon/ Aristar Films