The São Paulo State Film Commission positions itself as the gateway to one of Brazil’s richest and most multifaceted states—a true mosaic of landscapes and cultures offering a wide array of possibilities for audiovisual productions. Geographically, São Paulo reveals remarkable diversity: from the long beaches and dunes of the Atlantic coast to the vast stretches of the Atlantic Forest. Inland, the terrain features extensive low vegetation and farmland with a wide variety of crops, and its expansive geography even includes desert-like formations. The natural landscape is further complemented by mountains, cave systems, coastal islands, winding rivers, and mountain ranges.

However, São Paulo’s wealth extends far beyond its geographical features. Its social fabric is made up of one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world. The state is home to the largest community of Japanese descent outside Japan, Italians outside Italy, and Lebanese outside Lebanon—communities that, even after generations of immigration, have preserved their cultural traditions and often continue to speak their native languages in everyday life. Furthermore, São Paulo’s demographic makeup reflects the major influence of African heritage, a legacy dating back to the era of slavery, along with contributions from many other groups who have made the state their home, all of which deeply enrich its multicultural identity. Germans, Slavs, Scandinavians, Asians, Jews, and Arabs also have a strong presence in the state, making it possible to cast extras who speak a wide variety of languages.

This cultural wealth is also visible in the state’s architecture, which retains traces of various historical periods. Towns founded as far back as the 16th century feature pre-colonial, colonial, baroque, and neoclassical buildings, offering authentic and historically rich locations. At the center of it all is the city of São Paulo—one of South America’s most vibrant metropolises, a hub for technology and innovation, and home to nearly twelve million people. The state also has smaller towns with a more relaxed rhythm, where tranquility and hospitality provide a different yet equally inviting setting for productions seeking a range of ambiences and atmospheres.

Today, São Paulo accounts for over 60 percent of all audiovisual production in Brazil—a clear indicator of the industry’s strength and the high caliber of professional talent available. The state boasts a comprehensive infrastructure to support productions of any scale: experienced crews across all departments, top-tier equipment rental companies, state-of-the-art sound and image labs, and cutting-edge recording and postproduction studios, complemented by a wide array of hotels, a rich and varied culinary landscape, and excellent logistics, with major airports and a well-developed highway system.

To assist producers in navigating the state’s extensive array of locations, the São Paulo State Film Commission has undertaken an initial survey of ten micro-regions, the details of which are provided in this publication. This initiative also resulted in the creation of a user-friendly and informative website offering in-depth information on local infrastructure and service networks, along with essential data to support planning and ensure greater predictability for audiovisual productions.

Therefore, the São Paulo State Film Commission serves as a direct point of contact for accessing all that the state has to offer. One should note, however, that this is only the first stage of the project—in the coming months, additional micro-regions will be included in the survey, further expanding the creative and logistical possibilities for the audiovisual industry.