Filming on Catalina

Thank you for considering Avalon and Catalina Island as locations for your film or photo shoot project.

Please note: No film permits will be issued for the period of June 30 to July 6 due to peak period of visitation

**No permits will be issued for the City of Avalon or Catalina Island Conservancy for filming or photography between December 16, 2024 and January 1, 2025.

Our unique island location makes for a very special location and presents some unique challenges. To assist you in meeting these unique challenges, Film Catalina has produced a Film and Photo Shoot Handbook to help you identify and locate those businesses and entities with whom you will have to interface in order to have a successful shoot. Film Catalina is also available to assist you in processing your permits, answering your questions, and assisting you in finding the products and services you might require from local businesses.

Catalina Island Landownership Map

Download the Catalina Island Film & Photo Shoot Handbook (Updated 7-1-24)
(The City of Avalon Film Permit application includging the required City of Avalon Business License application are included within.)

California Production Incentive – Tax Credits

For further information or assistance, please contact Jim Luttjohann, Film Liaison/CEO, at 310-510-7643 or jim@lovecatalina.com.

City of Avalon Permit and Fees

Love Catalina facilitates the permits for the City. The City of Avalon requires a business license, a film permit location fee for use of its streets, beaches and piers, and requires permits for all vehicles brought into the City of Avalon. The City also requires $1,000,000 additionally-named liability insurance coverage, unless aircraft are used, in which case the requirement is $5,000,000 additionally-named insurance.

Updated July 1, 2024.

City of Avalon Film Permit	$150 Application Fee (non-refundable) $274/day – 10 or fewer employees at film location $367/day – Over 10 employees at film location
City of Avalon Business License	$134.75 good for calendar year
Still Photography Permits	$128 per day
Vehicle fees (one time fees)	$36 per day OR $379 per month
Drone Questionaire	Click for Drone Questionaire

Catalina Island is 76 square miles in size. The City of Avalon is 2.7 square miles total. The remainder of the island is owned and operated by the Catalina Island Company and/or the Catalina Island Conservancy. Location fees for use of either organization’s property must be negotiated with that company.

Catalina Island Conservancy Permit and Fees

Catalina Island Conservancy Filming Permit Fees (as of July 1, 2024)
Catalina Island Conservancy Film Permit	$325 Application Fee (non-refundable) $1,500 per day - 10 or fewer employees at film location $2,500 per day - 11-20 employess at film location $5,000 per day - 21 and over employees at film location
Security Deposit	$2,500
Ranger	$100 per hour, plus travel time from Avalon, 4 hr minimum (billed after conclusion of filming)
Car and Driver	$225 per day, up to 8 hours
Site Representative (billed after filming)	$85/hr plus travel time to Avalon
Processing Fee	4%
Drone Questionaire	Click for Drone Qurestionaire

Initial Contacts

City of Avalon filming information for commercial or news/documentary filming & still photo shoot:

Jim Luttjohann, CEO, Film Liaison
Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority
P.O. Box 217, Avalon, CA 90704
310-510-7643 fax 310-510-7607
Email: jim@lovecatalina.com

Catalina Island Conservancy Filming Information

Commercial Shoots, News/Documentary Shoots

Jim Luttjohann, CEO, Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority
P.O. Box 217, Avalon, CA 90704
310-510-7643 fax 310-510-7607
Email: jim@lovecatalina.com

Catalina Island Company Filming Information

Rudy Alvarez, Director of Sales
Catalina Island Company
P.O. Box 737, 150 Metropole Ave, Avalon, CA 90704
4 Park Plaza Suite 420, Irvine, CA 92614
310-510-7430
Email: ralvarez@scico.com

Affiliations:

Celebrate Film On Catalina Island

Avalon is home to the annual Catalina Film Festival, which takes place each September. The Catalina Film Festival is a celebration of film in Southern California with coastal screenings and events in Long Beach and on Hollywood’s Island. Each year the Catalina Film Institute is recognized for selecting 100+ award-winning films.

The Catalina Museum for Art & History celebrates film on Catalina with the Catalina Classic Film Club. The club meets quarterly to bring together enthusiasts looking for an opportunity to enjoy films of yesteryear in an intimate setting, in the 24-seat theater within the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building.

The Avalon Silent Film Showcase, now in its 37th year, is recognized as one of the world’s longest running annual celebrations of Silent Film. The event takes place in May at the historic Avalon Casino Theatre, William Wrigley Jr.’s 1929 Art Deco Movie Palace.

Catalina film logo