PANAMA CITY: Any city or country loves to see its name up in lights as the setting of a movie. New York and Paris are probably spoiled in that regard. But this year make room for a new player: Panama.

No fewer than seven big international productions will be shot this year in the isthmus country known best for its busy canal.

It is hosting stars of the stature of Robert De Niro, Benicio del Toro, Gael Garcia Bernal and Dwayne Johnson, the former wrestler who goes by the name “The Rock.”

Until now, Panama had been the setting of only two foreign flicks: “The Tailor of Panama,” a 2001 film starring Pierce Brosnan, and “Quantum of Solace”(2008), the 22nd James Bond movie, with Daniel Craig.

But this year will be a bustling one on the movie front. The government attributes the appeal to a new law that reimburses movie producers for some of their costs, and perks that include a varied landscape offering everything from jungle to urban settings to desert.

“The only thing you are not going to find in Panama is snow. But don't worry, they can handle that in post-production,” said Arianne Benedetti, director general of cinema at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Other pluses that make Panama a good place to shoot a movie: the economy is stable and uses dollars, logistics for moving stuff around are good and there are lots of flights here.

Local movie makers are not thrilled, though. They fear the lure of Hollywood will mesmerize and absorb local actors and movie technicians, to the detriment of Panamanian production.