Photo and film shoots at Villa Dinari
Kasbah fashion catalogue photographed in Morocco
Marrakech has been a cinema location for the exotic almost since film was invented. It has played itself onplenty of occasions, but also stood in for other destinations including the kasbahs and bazaars of Cairo in 1925 in The Mummy, (unfortunately not the Boris Karloff one), and Abu Dhabi,where Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis all pretended they were in Sex and the City. When Martin Scorsese needed a location for Kundun that could double for the Himalayas for his scenes of the Dali Lama escaping from Tibet on his long journey to freedom, he chose the High Atlas Mountains, only a forty-minute drive from Marrakech.
Villa Dinari hasn’t hit the big screen – yet! – but we are getting known as a beautiful location for fashion shoots, with both Box 2 and Kasbah using us as the backdrop to shoot their new catalogues. We’ve also appeared in Wish you were here – now and then, and Moroccan TV channel 2m has recorded here.
The Villa is totally self-contained, and only thirty minutes from Marrakech airport, twenty minutes from the city, so we are perfectly situated for photo and film shoots, either in our own beautiful gardens or to provide a restful place after a hectic day in the souks. We work with a number of English-speaking photographers, guides and fixers who have lived in Morocco for many years, so know all the ins and outs of location management, equipment hire and documentation.
The story of Box 2, filmed on location at Villa Dinari
I first visited Villa Dinari in 2010 to shoot my Spring catalogue. The place is just fantastic!
Marrakesh has the best climate, you can shoot Spring or Summer in November, and it is still sunny and dry. There are so many fabulous places to shoot – the Palmeraie, with its palm trees, mud walls, camels and dusty atmosphere; the Souks with their bustling traffic and shops – but the best place is Villa Dinari itself. The gardens are stunning, and the buildings just perfect for outside shots.
The accommodation is first class and the food delicious. The staff are always happy to provide coffees and pastries just when you need them, with a picnic if you are shooting on location. Heather and Abdul couldn’t be more helpful, from arranging pick-ups from the airport, to taxis to take you anywhere you wish. Through them I met our photographer, Alan Keohane, who has become a must for our shoots!
I highly recommend Villa Dinari.
Nicky Allen, owner of Box 2 Ladies Fashion
Nicky came back to shoot the latest designs for her new catalogue at Villa Dinari and in the Medina.
If we can help you with more information or put you in contact with location management specialists,please write to us at reservations@villadinari.com