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 3040inversiones@mendoza.gov.ar

www.mendozainvest.com