British Columbia's film industry generated over three billion dollars in production volume in a single year. The sector also supported 28,000 full-time equivalent jobs and won 15 Canadian Screen Awards for productions shot in the same period.
Key Takeaways
- The BC film industry won 15 Canadian Screen Awards for productions shot in 2022
- In 2022, the British Columbia film and television industry directly generated $3.32 billion in British Columbia production volume
- BC's film industry employed 78,000 unique workers in 2022 across all roles
- BC boasts 12 major studio facilities with 1.2 million sq ft of soundstage space
- In 2022, BC hosted 1,457 screen productions including features, TV series, and commercials
British Columbia’s film industry continues to generate strong employment and growth for local communities.
Related reading
01 · Category
Awards and Recognition16 stats
01
The BC film industry won 15 Canadian Screen Awards for productions shot in 2022
02
Vancouver-shot films received 8 Oscar nominations in 2023 including visual effects categories
03
BC VFX studios contributed to 22 Emmy-winning shows in 2022
04
12 Leo Awards went to BC-based animation projects in 2023
05
Hollywood North productions from BC exported to 150 countries generating cultural impact
06
BC films secured 25 Gemini Awards historically for TV excellence
07
Indigenous-led BC productions won 5 Canadian Screen Awards for content in 2022
08
BC's "The Last of Us" episode won 3 Emmys for VFX in 2023
09
In 2022, BC screen exports reached $2.1 billion in value to global markets
10
BC productions won 42 Leo Awards across 28 categories in 2023
11
"Shang-Chi" VFX by BC studios won an Oscar in 2022
12
BC-animated "Ron’s Gone Wrong" received Oscar nomination 2022
13
18 Canadian Screen Awards for drama series shot in BC 2022
14
BC content streamed on Netflix generated 1B hours viewed globally 2022
15
7 BAFTA nods for BC VFX work on UK co-productions 2022
16
Indigenous BC film "Reservation Dogs" won Peabody Award 2022
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Economic Impact18 stats
01
In 2022, the British Columbia film and television industry directly generated $3.32 billion in British Columbia production volume
02
The BC screen sector contributed $1.1 billion in provincial GDP in 2021 through direct and indirect effects
03
Film and TV productions in BC paid $927 million in provincial taxes in 2022
04
The multiplier effect of BC film spending created an additional $1.5 billion in indirect economic activity in 2022
05
BC's film industry supported 28,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022, leading to $2.1 billion in wages
06
In 2023, BC film productions spent $1.2 billion on local goods and services
07
The BC VFX sector alone contributed $750 million to the provincial economy in 2022
08
Hotel spending by film crews in BC reached $150 million in 2022
09
BC film industry exports generated $500 million in international revenue in 2021
10
Provincial government rebates to film productions totaled $400 million in FY2022/23
11
BC productions accounted for 25% of Canada's total film GDP contribution in 2022
12
Local business spending by BC film crews hit $850 million in goods/services in 2022
13
Tourism boost from film locations added $300 million to BC economy in 2022
14
BC film tax credits claimed totaled $660 million in 2022/23 fiscal year
15
Indirect tax revenue from BC screen sector was $450 million in 2022
16
Real estate impact from studio builds valued at $200 million in Greater Vancouver 2022
17
BC film industry retail spending by cast/crew reached $120 million in 2022
18
Venture capital invested in BC screen tech startups was $180 million in 2022
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Employment and Workforce18 stats
01
BC's film industry employed 78,000 unique workers in 2022 across all roles
02
There were 28,000 full-time equivalent jobs sustained by the BC screen sector in 2022
03
VFX and animation employed 12,500 people in BC as of 2023
04
Below-the-line crew jobs in BC film grew by 20% from 2021 to 2022, reaching 45,000 positions
05
Over 5,000 IATSE local 669 members work in BC's film camera department annually
06
BC has 2,200 registered production companies employing local talent
07
Women represent 42% of the BC film workforce in 2022, up from 38% in 2019
08
Indigenous workers in BC screen industry numbered 1,200 in 2022
09
Training programs graduated 1,500 new entrants into BC film jobs in 2022
10
Average annual wage in BC film sector was $85,000in 2022
11
BC screen sector headcount peaked at 85,000 unique individuals in Q3 2022
12
Above-the-line positions in BC film numbered 3,500 in 2022
13
BC has 15,000 freelance crew members registered with unions
14
Diversity hires increased to 35% in BC productions under equity programs 2022
15
2,500 actors worked on BC sets in 2022 via ACTRA stats
16
Background performers in BC totaled 25,000 bookings in 2022
17
BC film schools like VFS trained 2,800 students in production disciplines 2022
18
Entry-level jobs grew by 18% to 10,000 positions in BC screen 2022
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Infrastructure and Studios18 stats
01
BC boasts 12 major studio facilities with 1.2 million sq ft of soundstage space
02
Vancouver's Bridge Studios has 400,000 sq ft including 14 soundstages operational since 1983
03
The VFX industry in BC has over 100 companies housed in 2 million sq ft of facilities
04
Fort Langley National Historic Site hosted 50 film shoots in 2022 with dedicated infrastructure
05
BC has 25 post-production houses with capacity for 4K/8K workflows
06
New Westminster Quay studios added 100,000 sq ft of production space in 2023
07
BC's location portfolio includes 5,000+ film-friendly locations registered
08
High-speed fiber internet covers 95% of BC studio zones for VFX data transfer
09
Mammoth Studios in Burnaby offers 5 soundstages totaling 55,000 sq ft
10
BC invested $50 million in studio expansions in 2022-2023
11
BC has 18 soundstages at Pivot Point Studios totaling 120,000 sq ft
12
The Exchange Studios in Vancouver offers 80,000 sq ft with 6 stages
13
BC's VFX Corridor in Burnaby hosts 50 companies in 1.5M sq ft
14
North Shore Studios expanded to 250,000 sq ft with water tanks in 2022
15
300+ government buildings in BC are film-prepped for shoots
16
BC invested in green production infrastructure worth $20M in 2022
17
Terminal City Studios provides 40,000 sq ft including backlots
18
Wireless spectrum allocation for film drones covers 90% of BC shoot zones
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Production Volume18 stats
01
In 2022, BC hosted 1,457 screen productions including features, TV series, and commercials
02
Feature film production volume in BC reached $450 million in 2022
03
British Columbia issued 5,200 film production permits in 2022
04
TV series production accounted for 52% of BC's total screen spend in 2022 at $1.73 billion
05
In 2023, BC saw a 15% increase in high-budget foreign productions, totaling 120 projects
06
Animation and digital media productions in BC generated $320 million in spend in 2022
07
MOWs and miniseries contributed $280 million to BC production volume in 2022
08
Commercial productions in BC totaled 2,100 shoots with $95 million spend in 2022
09
BC hosted 45 major studio feature films in 2022
10
Post-production volume in BC reached $650 million in 2022, primarily VFX
11
BC hosted 320 TV episodes in production in 2022
12
Pilots and movies-of-the-week totaled 35 projects worth $250 million in BC 2022
13
Foreign location shoots in BC numbered 1,200 in 2022
14
BC's digital media game sector produced 150 titles with $400 million spend in 2022
15
Reality TV formats shot 85 series in BC contributing $180 million in 2022
16
BC issued permits for 450 feature days of shooting in 2022
17
Post, digital, and VFX volume was $950 million including 1,200 projects in 2022
18
New media and interactive content reached $150 million in BC production 2022
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). British Columbia Film Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/british-columbia-film-industry-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "British Columbia Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/british-columbia-film-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "British Columbia Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/british-columbia-film-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
40 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level