AUDIOVISUAL SECTOR
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
Mendoza is well-connected to the rest of Argentina and
the world by 139 flights per week, and by land routes
stretching across the country to connect the city to the
rest of the Argentine provinces.
MENDOZA
Distance from Mendoza to other cities (flying
hours): Buenos Aires: 1:20 hrs, Santiago de Chile:
30 mins, Miami: 8 hrs, New York: 10 hrs, São Paulo:
3 hrs, London: 16 hrs, Madrid: 16 hrs, Cape Town:
10 hrs, Los Angeles: 12 hrs, Tokyo: 21 hrs.
MENDOZA
PRODUCING IN MENDOZA
ADVANTAGES
From the perspective of a producer or a film or
photography director, the province of Mendoza offers
countless suitable locations for all types of audiovisual
productions. It is a privileged place as far as natural
beauty and infrastructure are concerned.
Mendoza offers a number of comparative advantages
for audiovisual production in relation to other parts of
the world. The scenery changes dramatically from
season to season. With over 300 annual days of
sunshine and very little rainfall, it is possible to have
film and photography shootings at any time of year.
In regard to production costs, Mendoza is competitive
with respect to other locations, especially when it
comes to aspects such as food and accommodation,
rentals, transport, specialized local talent, extras, or
equipment rental.
UNEXPLORED LOCATIONS
The province of Mendoza offers a wide variety of scenic
locations that have not been used for large or medium-sized
audiovisual productions yet.
Rivers, high mountain landscapes, hills, lakes, lagoons,
deserts, crop fields, groves, parks, roads and highways,
urban and country sites which make ideal settings for both
film and photographic productions. Some places to note down
are the Andes Mountains, Cordón del Plata, Villavicencio,
Payunia, Cañón del Atuel, Laguna de Llancanelo, Laguna del
Diamante, Puente del Inca, Valle de las Leñas, Caverna de
las Brujas, Potrerillos, Uspallata, Valle de Uco, mountain
roads, vineyards and croplands, the Lavalle desert, the San
Rafael sand dunes, among many beautiful places.
Cultivated Areas
Mendoza also presents different types of cultivated soils,
including vineyards, fruit orchards and vegetable fields, which
make a varied display of landscapes at different times of the
year.
Mountain Scenery
The Andes mountain range, located between 11° north
latitude and 55° south latitude, stretches along Argentina,
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and part of
Venezuela. Its height averages around 4000 m and its
highest point is Mount Aconcagua, which is located in
Mendoza and is, with its 6960 m, the highest mountain in
the world out of the Himalayan range. Some areas in
Mendoza have snow all year round, even in summer.
The Towns
Town squares and churches, large colonial houses, street
markets and cobbled streets. Mendoza can offer the hotel
facilities as well as the communication services and the
infrastructure necessary to host large film, photography,
television and commercial production teams.
The tree-lined avenues are one of the most distinctive
characteristics of the General San Martín Park, with superb
plane-trees and sycamores, palm trees and pepper trees.
Vast lawn yards called prados stretch alongside the park
streets. They are much used for playing soccer and meeting
family and friends over a picnic. These beautiful spaces host
more than 300 vegetative species from around the world and
make up a spectacular habitat.
Sculptures and Monuments
There are dozens of artistic works all over the park, but the
finest are the Marly Horses (a replica of those found in the
Champs-Élysées in Paris) and La Fontaine de
L'Observatoire or Fountain of the Continents (wrongly known
as Fountain of the Americas), a piece by the renowned
sculptress Lola Mora.
The City of Mendoza
Located a 30-minute drive from the International Airport, the
city of Mendoza constitutes an important cultural, industrial and
business center featuring tall buildings, museums, art galleries,
squares, markets, both traditional and modern neighborhoods,
and big parks, among other locations. The majestic General
San Martín Park is worth describing in detail for its unique
identity and beauty.
General San Martín Park
The oldest and most important park in Mendoza, comprising
307 cultivated hectares (760 acres) and 86 hectares (213
acres) in expansion, San Martín Park is located within the city.
The lake, bordered at one side by the rosedal (rose garden)
and framed by a background view of the mountains, is the
heart of the park.
The rosedal is a walking area ornamented with rose bushes
and pergolas and furnished with pathways and benches from
where to enjoy beautiful views of the lake. Its pergolas are
attractive any time of year.
Rivers, Lakes and Dams
Among Mendoza's most important rivers are the Desaguadero,
Mendoza, Tunuyán, Diamante and Atuel. All of them, except
the Desaguadero river, have their origin in the Andes and run
downhill across the province from west to east. They are used
for irrigation and for the generation of hydroelectric power by
means of dams. Additionally, they are among Mendoza's most
important tourist sites as they constitute attractive destinations
for eco-tourism and fishing.
Among Mendoza's bodies of water, the most outstanding are
the Diamante and Llancanelo lakes, which are surrounded by
majestic natural scenery and have been declared protected
areas to safeguard their native plant and animal species.
The dams found in the province are: Presently, its surface is
around
Agua del Toro Dam: Located at 34º35'S, 69º05'W, 1240 masl,
and 200 km south of the city of Mendoza.
Los Reyunos Dam: Located in the proximity of the city of 25
de mayo, San Rafael, it has given origin to a lake under the
same name.
El Nihuil Dam: Located at 35º04'S, 68º45'W, 1325 masl, and
south of Agua del Toro Dam, near the city of San Rafael.
Valle Grande Dam: Located on Provincial Route No. 173, in
the vicinity of the city of San Rafael.
Potrerillos Dam: Located on the Mendoza river, in the
province of Mendoza, it is 69 km (43 miles) from the city and
right on the Bioceanic Corridor. The reservoir presently has
an area of around 1500 hectares (3707 acres) with 14 km (9
miles) of length and almost 3 km (2 miles) of maximum width.
El Carrizal Dam: Located in the upper middle course of the
Tunuyán river, in the central north of the province of
Mendoza, at 33º180’0’’S and 68º43’15’’W upstream from the
city of Rivadavia.
Flora and Fauna of Mendoza
Mendoza's climate is characterized by an extreme aridity due
to the scarcity of rains, and by wide daily and seasonal
temperature ranges. The oases of the Cuyo region developed
by virtue of the irrigation of the rivers flowing from the Andes
glaciers and host human activity in the area.LOCATIONS
Native xeric plants and the absence of trees are typical traits
of the Mendocinian landscape.
On the other hand, the oases boast profuse artificially-planted
vegetation, mainly fruit trees, poplars, mulberries, ashes,
plane-trees, sycamores, maples and vines. Trees and crops
in Mendoza are watered by means of irrigation canals and
ditches with meltwater from the mountains.
The Flora: Different kinds of vegetation exist depending on
the region. In the Andean region, extending parallel to the
Andes, there are gramineous plants and shrubs such as
ortiga de la sierra, a kind of stinging rock nettle, maihuenias
or yerbas del guanaco and tree tobacco or palán.
The Sub-Andean or scrubland region, east of the Andean
region, is very vast and comprises the foothills, the plains and
the huayquerías area (low elevations cut through by dry
riverbeds).
This area is characterized by shrubby vegetation, including
different jarilla varieties, piquillín, espinillos, garabatos and
milk thistles or pencas. Toward the east, there are pepper
trees (molles), ravennas and chañares or Chilean palos
verdes, and toward the northeast, carob trees and caldenes.
In the ravines along which the rivers flow, the vegetation is
much more varied and richer than in the scrubland region.
In the south of Mendoza, encompassing the whole Payunia
area, the shrubsteppe is predominant and reeds and
gramineous plants are observed, as well as chilcas and
jumes, among others. Further south, the typical grasses and
shrubs of steppe areas are found, as well as espinales (areas
of low thorny deciduous shrubland forests).
Further east toward the plateau, trees up to 20 m tall are
found, with scrub as the predominant type of vegetation.
ARCHITECTURE
Mendoza has for a long time boasted a rich architectural
heritage, as reflected in works of national and international
significance erected by prominent architects.
Hipotecario Bank
Location: España and Gutiérrez Streets - Mendoza City.
Playas Serranas Building
Location: Prado Español and Las Tipas Avenue, Mendoza City.
General San Martín Park.
Pasaje San Martín (San Martín Arcade)
Location: San Martín Avenue and Paseo Sarmiento (the city's
pedestrian area).
Agustín Álvarez National High School
Location: 1050 Chile Street, Mendoza City.
National Historical Site.
School of Architecture of the University of MendozaLocation: 750 Paseo Dr. Emilio Descotte, Mendoza.
Gómez Building
Location: 7 Garibaldi Street, Mendoza City.
Killka Espacio Salentein
Location: Tupungato Valley.
Malvinas Argentinas World Cup Stadium
Location: General San Martín Park.
Emilio Civit Avenue
Location: It constitutes the extension of Sarmiento Avenue,
stretching from Belgrano Street to the gates of General San
Martín Park. This traditional and prestigious thoroughfare
concentrates some of the city's most imposing houses, many
of which date from the beginning of the past century and have
been declared part of the city's Cultural Heritage by the local
government.
CLIMATE AND SEASONS
Mendoza has a semiarid climate. There are broad
temperature variations across the year and rains are scarce.
Summer: the summer, from December 21 to March 21, is
hot, with average temperatures above 28 °C (82.4 ºF).
Sudden summer storms with abundant rain and occasional
hail fall are common.
Winter: the winter, from June 21 to September 21, is cold
and drier than other seasons, with average temperatures
below 8 °C (46.4 ºF). Night frosts periodically occur and
rainfall is scarce. Snowfall is rare in the city, but may happen
about once a winter.
Autumn: the autumn, from March 21 to June 21, is relatively
warm, with mild temperatures below 26 ºc (78.8 ºF). It is one
of the most eagerly awaited seasons in Mendoza for its
pleasant weather and the beautiful foliage colors.
Spring: the spring, from September 21 to December 21,
brings warmer days, and it is the miraculous time when
crops become ready for bud break.
SEASONS
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
Accommodation
Mendoza offers the right kind of accommodation for every
need at the best value-for-money. The options available
include 5-star hotels, boutique and apart hotels, hostels,
apartments, and also detached country villas. Overall, 835
tourist accommodation establishments are operating in the
province.
Cuisine
Mendoza features a variety of restaurants and bars, as well as
gourmet shops, offering both local and international dishes for
the delight of the senses. Included in the gastronomic offer are
Italian trattorias, Spanish restaurants, French cuisine,
Japanese sushi bars, Mexican food and signature cuisine, as
well as bakeries and gourmet shops. More than 150 wineries
are open for tourists and the great majority have restaurants
where visitors can enjoy lunch or taste wines and delicatessen.
Argentine beef, especially in the form of one of the country's
most popular dishes, the asado criollo (mixed meats
barbecue), has earned the country its well-deserved
gastronomic reputation. It is a must try dish for visitors during
their stay in Mendoza.
Mendoza is also internationally renowned for the quality of its
wine industry. A great variety of red, white and rosé wines are
produced in the province, including varietals of increasing
sophistication, such as Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Bonarda, Merlot, Tempranillo, Torrontés,
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Malbec,
Argentina's flagship wine variety, found an ideal terroir in
Mendoza. Argentine Malbecs boast international recognition
and win prizes in the most prestigious wine competitions. In
addition to wine, Mendoza produces beer, bottled water and
fruit juice. Mate, a hot tea-like infusion, is one of the most
traditional beverages in Argentine culture and it can also be
enjoyed in Mendoza.
AIR CONNECTIVITY
Gobernador Francisco Gabrielli International Airport, located in
the department of Las Heras, 11 km from the city of Mendoza,
offers direct connections with the main Argentine cities as well
as with Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires and with
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez Airport in Santiago de Chile.
Connections with most of the world's main capitals are then
available from these airports. Jorge Newbery domestic flight
airport is located in the city of Buenos Aires and is also
connected with Mendoza.
LAND CONNECTIVITY
Routes and Accesses
Mendoza has modern means of transport to reach diverse local
and international destinations. Due to the availability of a vast
network of national and provincial routes, land transport is one
of the most convenient options for medium to long distance
traveling to the rest of the national territory.
Means of Transport
Long distance buses are an excellent option, given the quality of
service offered, which may include sleeper services and even
catering on board, as with an international airline.
Also, a wide range of car rental services is available. Within the
city area and the Greater Mendoza area, buses are the most
used means of transport. In addition, there is always the
possibility to use the wide fleet of urban taxis and hire cars or
remises, which charge their services based on the distance
traveled and time taken.
THE FEDERAL CORRIDOR
The Federal Corridor is an air route
linking five cities within the Argentine
Republic without the need for
stopovers in Buenos Aires: a system
that offers travelers more and better
connections.
ETHNIC DIVERSITY
Mendoza's current population is mostly descended from the
great immigration waves arriving in Argentina from Europe,
mainly from Italy and Spain, between 1850 and 1955. These
immigrants intermingled with the population who had already
settled in the area before the declaration of Argentine
independence, which was basically made up of Natives and
Africans. These peoples had inhabited this territory since the
times of the Spanish conquest. At present, Argentina also hosts
a large number of immigrants coming from bordering countries
such as Chile, Peru, Paraguay and Bolivia, and a considerable
number of ethnic minorities of German, Arabic, Armenian,
Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Afroamerican origin, among
others. All of them potential actors and extras.
LANGUAGE
The language spoken in Mendoza is (Castilian) Spanish, but
many places offering tourist services such as hotels, restaurants
and wineries have Spanish/English bilingual staff and drivers.
The Spanish spoken in Argentina differs from that spoken in
other Spanish speaking countries mainly because the pronoun
"vos" is used in Argentina instead of "tú".
Also, many local words are used, especially for naming
everyday things, and the speaking pace is much faster. The
Spanish of people from Argentina has something of the
intonation of Italian, and the unrestrained gestures and body
language Argentines use recall those of the Spanish and
Italian people.
RECENT FILM PRODUCTIONS
The film industry of Mendoza has recently seen some
promising success, and it has a long history in producing
feature films, documentaries, animation, advertising spots
and fiction series.
TRAINING CENTERS
In the city of Mendoza, there is a number of training centers
related to the audiovisual industry which offer a variety of
educational opportunities. Among these are:
Regional Cuyo Film and Television School
ESCAAD – School of Animation and Digital Arts
Juan Agustín Maza University
Champagnat University
National University of Cuyo
Congreso University
Mendoza University
Aconcagua University
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Equipment rental.
Talent agencies (for models and actors).
Film, video and photography training centers.
Specialized transport for audiovisual productions.
Content development enterprises.
Animation enterprises.
Production services.
Investment Promotion AgencyGovernment of Mendoza
Telephone: +54 (261) 449 [email protected]
www.mendozainvest.com
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