Calima Lab

Studio Overview

Calima Lab is a specialized CGI and visual effects (VFX) production studio headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Established in 2022 by co-founders Tomás Sackmann and Francisco, the studio operates as the dedicated CGI and VFX production arm of the Aconcawa Group. Calima Lab distinguishes itself by moving beyond the traditional role of a downstream execution vendor, instead positioning itself as a creative production partner that integrates into the early stages of ideation and development for agencies, brands, and entertainment studios.

Core Capabilities

The studio bridges the gap between narrative cinema and spatial design, leveraging both traditional offline rendering pipelines and real-time technologies. Its technical expertise includes:

• Character & Creature Development: End-to-end creation of digital assets, including design, sculpting, grooming, texturing, and look development for film and games.
• World-Building & Environments: Design and visualization of complex architectural masterplans, themed attractions, and immersive virtual spaces.
• Real-Time Cinematics: Production of high-fidelity trailers and in-engine cinematics using Unreal Engine 5.
• Creative Production: Previsualization, storyboarding, and comprehensive post-production finishing, including compositing and color grading.

Operational Model

Calima Lab utilizes a hybrid operational model. While maintaining a central physical studio base in Dubai to house core creative leadership and facilitate in-house production, the studio draws upon a globally distributed network of specialized artists. This structure allows the team to scale effectively for high-profile commercial campaigns, luxury hospitality launches, and large-scale real estate developments. The studio’s portfolio includes notable work for global brands such as Porsche and BMW, as well as immersive digital experiences for the Mandarin Oriental and various metaverse-focused projects.