The Versailles of West Africa
Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) is a visual masterpiece of architectural ambition and tropical grandeur. Its political capital, Yamoussoukro, is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace—the largest church in the world—surrounded by grand, livestock-traversed boulevards that offer a surreal, cinematic scale. In contrast, the economic hub of Abidjan provides a “Manhattan of Africa” skyline with brutalist icons like La Pyramide, while the UNESCO-listed Grand-Bassam offers haunting French colonial ruins reclaimed by nature. For natural spectacle, the Taï National Park preserves one of the last primary rainforests in West Africa, providing a lush, prehistoric backdrop.
While the territory is aesthetic gold, navigating the Ministry of Culture permits requires a sophisticated approach. Our Nairobi-based team brings continent-wide experience to manage the temporary equipment bonds (as a non-Carnet country) and the specialized drone clearances. We bridge the gap between local resourcefulness and international expectations, ensuring your production in the “Ivorian Riviera” is as seamless as it is spectacular.
Contact us directly with details about your next project.
Unilever | Magnum | AWA
Production Service in Ivory Coast
Tasked to kickstart Magnum’s 2025 Cocoa Strategy to empower women in cocoa farming communities of Ivory Coast, LOLA MullenLowe called on PSN to locally execute a comprehensive list of deliverables under remote direction while minimizing environmental impact.
“The cocoa fields located in the rural areas of Ivory Coast are undoubtedly one of the most spectacular but also complex destinations we have ever had to shoot in,” writes Oscar Fernandez-Baca, Account Director for Magnum, Lola MullenLowe.
“We wouldn’t have been able to put this together without PSN’s expertise, on ground and local know how and diligence,” adds Head of Production Lola MullenLowe, Felipe Calviño. “To be able to help support and empower Ivorian women is a reward in itself but the groundwork required to put together the film and assets was just as fulfilling.”
The resulting portraits of more than 100 women farmers provide the invaluable authenticity on which AI was employed to create the very first digital brand ambassador, AWA. Ivorian designer, Rebecca Zoro, dresses her with a limited line of fashion accessories on sale here to generate funds that will be invested 100% into local cocoa farming communities.
“The campaign’s success would not have been possible without PSN’s incredible work,” concludes the Magnum Account Director. “Huge thanks to them and to all the production partners involved. We will definitely count on PSN for future trips.”
Click to watch more about Our Programme, How to Wear, and Q&A with Rebecca Zoro.
Client: Unilever | Magnum
Campaign: AWA
Agency: LOLA MullenLowe
Director: Nana Kofi
Market: Global
DOP: Caleb Odartey
Producer: Nina Bola
Location: Abengourou, Manzanouan, N’djorekro, Yakasse Attobrou, Divo, Lakota, Neko, Yamoussoukro, and Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Michael Moffett
Hundreds of film, television, and commercial productions successfully executed in more than 50 countries are the result of Michael’s leadership at PSN. He likes nothing better than rolling up his sleeves with industry creatives and executives to help determine where their projects can achieve the best creative results for their money. And connecting globetrotting producers with local production expertise to deliver on that promise…
[cont.] A native of Los Angeles, Michael spent two decades producing, directing, and facilitating content for the screen industry from his adopted home in Madrid before co-founding the Network of worldwide shoot support in 2014.
