When Eccholine came to us for one of the most watched reality shows in Italy, we knew the stakes were high. Pechino Express 2026 — the 13th season of the iconic Sky Original series, subtitled L'Estremo Oriente — chose Indonesia as its dramatic opening chapter, before the race continued into China and Japan. The show aired on Sky Uno and NOW from March 12 to May 14, 2026, drawing millions of Italian viewers into the islands' extraordinary landscapes.

For overseas production companies planning to shoot in Indonesia, understanding what a local film fixer actually does is the difference between a smooth international production and a logistical nightmare. Here's how we supported Eccholine across two islands, dozens of locations, and one of the world's most demanding broadcast formats.

Why Indonesia — and Why You Need a Local Fixer

Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia's most cinematic countries. Its diversity is staggering: ancient Hindu temples, UNESCO-listed rice terraces, active volcanoes, and hidden waterfalls — all within a few hours of each other. But that beauty comes with complexity. Filming permits, local authority relationships, community protocols, and inter-island logistics are not things you navigate from a production office in Milan or Brussels. Eccholine needed a fixer with deep roots in Indonesia — someone who could unlock iconic locations, coordinate local crew, and ensure a safe production incl. proper permitting and visa compliance. That's exactly what Bali Fixer does.
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The Route: From Ubud's Sacred Temples to Java's Waterfalls

The starting line for Pechino Express 2026 was set at Pura Dalem Temple in Ubud, Bali — one of the island's most atmospheric and culturally significant sites. Securing access to a working temple for an international reality show required careful negotiation with local religious authorities, community leaders, and the relevant government permits. This is exactly where local expertise is non-negotiable.

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Teams traveled from Bali to Java via Ketapang port, managing the complex logistics of crew, equipment, and vehicles across the Bali Strait. The stage ended at Tumpak Sewu Waterfalls in East Java, a dramatic natural site requiring off-road planning, safety measures, and local community collaboration. Covering the 238-kilometre route from a sacred Balinese temple to a jungle waterfall in Java involved local infrastructure and expertise, handled by an experienced Indonesian film fixer.

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What We Delivered as Film Fixers in Indonesia

For Eccholine and the Pechino Express production, Bali Fixer handled three critical pillars of the Indonesia shoot.

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1.  Film Permit & Visa

Securing film permitting as well as complete visa compliance for foreign filming crews shooting and working in Indonesia.

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2. Location Scouting & Permitting

Identifying, securing, and managing film permits for culturally sensitive and remote locations across Bali and Java, including temple access and national park coordination.

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3. Local Film Crew

Building a reliable local production crew incl. local line producers, locations managers, production assistants and on-the-ground coordinators — integrated seamlessly with the international team.

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The Indonesia Advantage for International Productions

For production companies considering Indonesia as a filming destination, the country offers an unmatched combination of landscape variety, production value, and cost efficiency. Bali alone offers everything from luxury villa interiors and beach clubs to ancient temples and highland jungle. Extend into Java — or further to Lombok, Flores, or Raja Ampat — and you have one of the most diverse filming environments on the planet.

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The key is having the right fixer on the ground. Bali Fixer works with international productions of all sizes — from single-crew documentaries to large-scale reality shows like Pechino Express — to ensure that the creative vision translates flawlessly into an on-location reality.

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Planning a Shoot in Bali or Indonesia?

Whether you're a European broadcaster scouting for your next reality format, a commercial director looking for a tropical backdrop, or a documentary filmmaker drawn to Indonesia's cultural depth — local expertise is your most valuable production asset. Bali Fixer offers end-to-end film fixing services across Indonesia: location scouting, permit acquisition, local crew coordination, talent, logistics, and on-the-ground production management. We've worked with international production houses and broadcasters.

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A huge thank you to Eccholine and Sky Italy for trusting us to bring Indonesia to life on screen. It was a privilege to be part of it.