Kiwi Aerial Shots

Aerial filming for film productions, from an Amsterdam workshop

Productions that need footage from the air hire this Dutch company, which flies drones and also shoots from helicopters. It reports more than fourteen years of technical and creative experience in the film industry and works worldwide. Its clients are feature films, commercials, sport events, corporate films, nature films, streaming series, music videos, documentaries, attractions and large immersive productions.

Aircraft and cameras

The company flies heavy-lift drones that carry cinema cameras from ARRI and RED, fast FPV drones for close-moving shots, and the DJI Inspire 3, which it says it flew among the first crews in Europe. Its largest machine, the Condor, was designed and built in house and can lift camera setups of up to 25 kilograms, enough for an ARRI Alexa Mini that the company owns. Helicopter filming uses a Cineflex camera system with a dedicated operator.

What it films and flies

• Drone filming for productions of all sizes
• Helicopter filming
• FPV drone shots
• Drone lighting, carrying large LED lamps in the air
• Immersive 180 and 360 degree filming, including setups for flying-theater attractions
• Livestream drone shots and complete corporate film productions, with colour grading
• Custom builds of drones and camera rigs for productions that need something unique

Certification and where it can fly

The company holds an EASA Specific category certificate, which allows heavier drones near buildings, roads and actors. It reports being cleared to fly in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, within the airspace around Schiphol, in the Rotterdam harbour area and at night, and says it applies for exemptions for locations such as offshore flights over the North Sea.

The team and the workshop

Its crew consists of certified drone pilots, camera operators, a Cineflex operator, production managers and colour graders, and it says the core team has worked together for more than twelve years. Technical specialists build the custom rigs and drones in the company's workshop in Amsterdam North, which holds 3D printers, a CNC mill and electronics benches. The company also offers to join a production during pre-production planning.

Kiwi Aerial Shots is a Dutch company that films from drones and helicopters for professional productions. It reports more than fourteen years in the film industry and works worldwide with heavy-lift, fast FPV and custom-built aircraft.

What Kiwi Aerial Shots does

• Drone filming: aerial footage with camera systems from ARRI and RED, plus DJI Inspire 3 aircraft.
• Helicopter filming: including Cineflex camera work.
• FPV drone shots: fast, close-moving footage.
• Drone lighting: large LED lights flown for night productions.
• Immersive and 360 filming: 180 and 360 degree drone recording.
• Custom builds: drones and rigs designed for unusual productions.

Who it serves

Feature films, commercials, sports events, corporate films, streaming series, nature films and attractions.

Key facts

• Based in: the Netherlands.
• Certification: European EASA Specific certification for heavier drones.
• Permissions: certified for flights in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and around Schiphol, including at night.