Forget Hollywood; with a staggering $3.32 billion in direct production volume and a total economic impact stretching into the billions, British Columbia's film industry isn't just a backdrop—it's a powerful economic engine supporting tens of thousands of jobs and defining the province's creative and financial landscape.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the British Columbia film and television industry directly generated $3.32 billion in British Columbia production volume
- The BC screen sector contributed $1.1 billion in provincial GDP in 2021 through direct and indirect effects
- Film and TV productions in BC paid $927 million in provincial taxes in 2022
- In 2022, BC hosted 1,457 screen productions including features, TV series, and commercials
- Feature film production volume in BC reached $450 million in 2022
- British Columbia issued 5,200 film production permits in 2022
- BC's film industry employed 78,000 unique workers in 2022 across all roles
- There were 28,000 full-time equivalent jobs sustained by the BC screen sector in 2022
- VFX and animation employed 12,500 people in BC as of 2023
- BC boasts 12 major studio facilities with 1.2 million sq ft of soundstage space
- Vancouver's Bridge Studios has 400,000 sq ft including 14 soundstages operational since 1983
- The VFX industry in BC has over 100 companies housed in 2 million sq ft of facilities
- The BC film industry won 15 Canadian Screen Awards for productions shot in 2022
- Vancouver-shot films received 8 Oscar nominations in 2023 including visual effects categories
- BC VFX studios contributed to 22 Emmy-winning shows in 2022
BC's film industry is a massive economic driver, generating billions and supporting thousands of jobs.
Awards and Recognition
- The BC film industry won 15 Canadian Screen Awards for productions shot in 2022
- Vancouver-shot films received 8 Oscar nominations in 2023 including visual effects categories
- BC VFX studios contributed to 22 Emmy-winning shows in 2022
- 12 Leo Awards went to BC-based animation projects in 2023
- Hollywood North productions from BC exported to 150 countries generating cultural impact
- BC films secured 25 Gemini Awards historically for TV excellence
- Indigenous-led BC productions won 5 Canadian Screen Awards for content in 2022
- BC's "The Last of Us" episode won 3 Emmys for VFX in 2023
- In 2022, BC screen exports reached $2.1 billion in value to global markets
- BC productions won 42 Leo Awards across 28 categories in 2023
- "Shang-Chi" VFX by BC studios won an Oscar in 2022
- BC-animated "Ron’s Gone Wrong" received Oscar nomination 2022
- 18 Canadian Screen Awards for drama series shot in BC 2022
- BC content streamed on Netflix generated 1B hours viewed globally 2022
- 7 BAFTA nods for BC VFX work on UK co-productions 2022
- Indigenous BC film "Reservation Dogs" won Peabody Award 2022
Awards and Recognition Interpretation
British Columbia's film industry is not just playing for participation trophies; it’s a globally recognized, multi-billion dollar juggernaut that, from its Vancouver nerve center, masterfully blends Oscar-winning spectacle, Emmy-hoarding VFX, and award-winning Indigenous storytelling into a cultural export powerhouse.
Economic Impact
- In 2022, the British Columbia film and television industry directly generated $3.32 billion in British Columbia production volume
- The BC screen sector contributed $1.1 billion in provincial GDP in 2021 through direct and indirect effects
- Film and TV productions in BC paid $927 million in provincial taxes in 2022
- The multiplier effect of BC film spending created an additional $1.5 billion in indirect economic activity in 2022
- BC's film industry supported 28,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022, leading to $2.1 billion in wages
- In 2023, BC film productions spent $1.2 billion on local goods and services
- The BC VFX sector alone contributed $750 million to the provincial economy in 2022
- Hotel spending by film crews in BC reached $150 million in 2022
- BC film industry exports generated $500 million in international revenue in 2021
- Provincial government rebates to film productions totaled $400 million in FY2022/23
- BC productions accounted for 25% of Canada's total film GDP contribution in 2022
- Local business spending by BC film crews hit $850 million in goods/services in 2022
- Tourism boost from film locations added $300 million to BC economy in 2022
- BC film tax credits claimed totaled $660 million in 2022/23 fiscal year
- Indirect tax revenue from BC screen sector was $450 million in 2022
- Real estate impact from studio builds valued at $200 million in Greater Vancouver 2022
- BC film industry retail spending by cast/crew reached $120 million in 2022
- Venture capital invested in BC screen tech startups was $180 million in 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
Despite the province’s generous $400 million in annual rebates, BC’s screen sector proves to be a remarkably shrewd investment, directly generating over $3 billion in production, supporting nearly 30,000 families, and returning that subsidy to the public purse many times over through taxes, wages, and a sprawling economic halo effect that touches everything from hotels to hardware stores.
Employment and Workforce
- BC's film industry employed 78,000 unique workers in 2022 across all roles
- There were 28,000 full-time equivalent jobs sustained by the BC screen sector in 2022
- VFX and animation employed 12,500 people in BC as of 2023
- Below-the-line crew jobs in BC film grew by 20% from 2021 to 2022, reaching 45,000 positions
- Over 5,000 IATSE local 669 members work in BC's film camera department annually
- BC has 2,200 registered production companies employing local talent
- Women represent 42% of the BC film workforce in 2022, up from 38% in 2019
- Indigenous workers in BC screen industry numbered 1,200 in 2022
- Training programs graduated 1,500 new entrants into BC film jobs in 2022
- Average annual wage in BC film sector was $85,000 in 2022
- BC screen sector headcount peaked at 85,000 unique individuals in Q3 2022
- Above-the-line positions in BC film numbered 3,500 in 2022
- BC has 15,000 freelance crew members registered with unions
- Diversity hires increased to 35% in BC productions under equity programs 2022
- 2,500 actors worked on BC sets in 2022 via ACTRA stats
- Background performers in BC totaled 25,000 bookings in 2022
- BC film schools like VFS trained 2,800 students in production disciplines 2022
- Entry-level jobs grew by 18% to 10,000 positions in BC screen 2022
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
Even with 78,000 unique roles from gaffers to green-screen wizards, BC's screen sector still relies on a core truth: behind every 25,000 background bookings and $85,000 average wage is a rapidly growing, diversifying, and union-backed collective proving that Hollywood North is built by more than just its stunning scenery.
Infrastructure and Studios
- BC boasts 12 major studio facilities with 1.2 million sq ft of soundstage space
- Vancouver's Bridge Studios has 400,000 sq ft including 14 soundstages operational since 1983
- The VFX industry in BC has over 100 companies housed in 2 million sq ft of facilities
- Fort Langley National Historic Site hosted 50 film shoots in 2022 with dedicated infrastructure
- BC has 25 post-production houses with capacity for 4K/8K workflows
- New Westminster Quay studios added 100,000 sq ft of production space in 2023
- BC's location portfolio includes 5,000+ film-friendly locations registered
- High-speed fiber internet covers 95% of BC studio zones for VFX data transfer
- Mammoth Studios in Burnaby offers 5 soundstages totaling 55,000 sq ft
- BC invested $50 million in studio expansions in 2022-2023
- BC has 18 soundstages at Pivot Point Studios totaling 120,000 sq ft
- The Exchange Studios in Vancouver offers 80,000 sq ft with 6 stages
- BC's VFX Corridor in Burnaby hosts 50 companies in 1.5M sq ft
- North Shore Studios expanded to 250,000 sq ft with water tanks in 2022
- 300+ government buildings in BC are film-prepped for shoots
- BC invested in green production infrastructure worth $20M in 2022
- Terminal City Studios provides 40,000 sq ft including backlots
- Wireless spectrum allocation for film drones covers 90% of BC shoot zones
Infrastructure and Studios Interpretation
British Columbia’s film industry isn’t just playing make-believe; it’s built a sprawling, high-tech empire of soundstages, VFX fortresses, and film-ready frontiers so vast and well-connected that even the drones have clear signals.
Production Volume
- In 2022, BC hosted 1,457 screen productions including features, TV series, and commercials
- Feature film production volume in BC reached $450 million in 2022
- British Columbia issued 5,200 film production permits in 2022
- TV series production accounted for 52% of BC's total screen spend in 2022 at $1.73 billion
- In 2023, BC saw a 15% increase in high-budget foreign productions, totaling 120 projects
- Animation and digital media productions in BC generated $320 million in spend in 2022
- MOWs and miniseries contributed $280 million to BC production volume in 2022
- Commercial productions in BC totaled 2,100 shoots with $95 million spend in 2022
- BC hosted 45 major studio feature films in 2022
- Post-production volume in BC reached $650 million in 2022, primarily VFX
- BC hosted 320 TV episodes in production in 2022
- Pilots and movies-of-the-week totaled 35 projects worth $250 million in BC 2022
- Foreign location shoots in BC numbered 1,200 in 2022
- BC's digital media game sector produced 150 titles with $400 million spend in 2022
- Reality TV formats shot 85 series in BC contributing $180 million in 2022
- BC issued permits for 450 feature days of shooting in 2022
- Post, digital, and VFX volume was $950 million including 1,200 projects in 2022
- New media and interactive content reached $150 million in BC production 2022
Production Volume Interpretation
British Columbia's screen sector is clearly thriving on a diet of high-budget ambition and meticulous detail, where over a thousand shoots and nearly a billion in post-production prove we're not just making movies, we're building a sprawling, pixel-perfect empire one permit at a time.
Sources & References
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