Toronto's film industry generated $2.4 billion in production volume in 2022. The sector's momentum is reflected in numerous awards and a workforce of 45,000 direct employees.
Key Takeaways
- TIFF screened 300+ feature films from Toronto filmmakers in 2023, winning 12 awards
- In 2022, the Toronto screen sector generated $2.4 billion in total production volume, accounting for 52% of Ontario's overall screen industry output
- In 2023, Toronto's film workforce totaled 45,000 direct employees across all roles
- Toronto hosted 1,200 days of principal photography in 2022, driving $2.2 billion in on-location spending
- Toronto has 25 major soundstages totaling 1.2 million sq ft, with 80% occupancy in 2023
Toronto’s film industry is growing steadily, with rising production activity and strong future potential.
Related reading
01 · Category
Awards And Festivals27 stats
01
TIFF screened 300+ feature films from Toronto filmmakers in 2023, winning 12 awards
02
Toronto-produced films won 8 Canadian Screen Awards for Best Picture 2022-2023
03
5 Toronto films nominated for Oscars in 2023, including Best International Feature
04
Hot Docs festival showcased 50 Toronto docs, 3 won audience awards in 2023
05
Toronto International Film Festival attendance hit 500,000 in 2022
06
Canadian Screen Awards gave Toronto entries 45 wins in TV categories 2023
07
2 Toronto animations won Annecy Festival prizes in 2023
08
TIFF People's Choice Award won by Toronto co-production 3 times in last 5 years
09
Toronto VFX teams earned 10 Emmy nominations for series work in 2022
10
Reelworld Film Festival in Toronto awarded 20 shorts from local creators 2023
11
7 Toronto films took Genie Awards (now CSA) for directing 2022
12
Inside Out Festival for kids films from Toronto won 15 audience picks 2023
13
Toronto Web Festival honored 100 digital series, 25 from locals in 2022
14
4 Toronto docs nominated for International Emmy 2023
15
Planet in Focus eco-film fest in Toronto gave 8 awards to local entries 2022
16
Toronto After Dark genre fest awarded 5 features from GTA filmmakers 2023
17
12 Leo Awards for BC/Toronto co-productions, Toronto leads with 8 in 2023
18
TIFF Industry selectees from Toronto: 30 projects funded post-festival 2022
19
Women in the Director's Chair fest honored 10 Toronto women directors 2023
20
Toronto Arab Film Festival awarded 6 films from local diaspora 2022
21
3 Toronto series won International Kids Emmy Awards 2023
22
ImagineNative Indigenous fest in Toronto: 15 awards to Toronto creators 2022
23
Toronto Female Eye Film Festival: 20 winners from local submissions 2023
24
6 Toronto films at Sundance 2023, 2 won jury prizes
25
Environmental Media Awards to Toronto green films: 4 in 2022
26
Toronto Black Film Festival: 25 awards across categories 2023
27
10 Golden Trailer Awards for Toronto post-production trailers 2022
Interpretation
Awards And Festivals Interpretation
Across 2022 and 2023, Toronto’s screen and screen-adjacent industries are showing standout momentum, with 500,000 festival attendees at TIFF in 2022 alongside a steady stream of recognition including 12 TIFF awards, 45 TV-category CSA wins, and 10 Emmy nominations for local VFX teams in 2022.
02 · Category
Economic Contribution30 stats
01
In 2022, the Toronto screen sector generated $2.4 billion in total production volume, accounting for 52% of Ontario's overall screen industry output
02
Toronto's film and TV productions contributed $1.8 billion to the local GDP in 2023 through direct and indirect spending
03
The multiplier effect of film production in Toronto is estimated at 2.5, meaning every $1spent generates $2.50 in broader economic activity
04
In 2021, Toronto hosted 245 screen productions that injected $1.1 billion into hotels, restaurants, and retail sectors
05
Film tourism from Toronto shoots generated $250 million annually in visitor spending based on 2022 data
06
Toronto's VFX and post-production added $450 million to the economy in 2023, supporting 4,500 jobs indirectly
07
Tax credits in Ontario drove $1.2 billion in qualified labour expenditures for Toronto productions in 2022
08
The Toronto film industry exported $800 million in services globally in 2023, boosting trade balance
09
Local business spending by Toronto film crews reached $300 million in catering and transportation in 2022
10
Toronto's screen sector paid $950 million in wages and salaries in 2023
11
In 2020, despite pandemic, Toronto film production sustained $700 million economic activity via virtual shoots
12
Toronto hosts 60% of Canada's $4 billion screen economy, equating to $2.4 billion in 2022
13
Animation studios in Toronto contributed $150 million to GDP in 2023 with 1,200 employees
14
Toronto's indie film scene generated $120 million in micro-budget productions in 2022
15
Foreign productions spending in Toronto hit $1.5 billion in 2023, 70% from US studios
16
Toronto film industry supported $500 million in construction for soundstages in 2021-2023
17
Retail sales tax revenue from film shoots in Toronto was $45 million in 2022
18
Toronto's digital media tied to film added $200 million in exports in 2023
19
Event filming like TIFF generated $180 million in 2022 economic impact
20
Toronto's screen sector reduced unemployment by 1.2% in media districts in 2023
21
In 2022, Toronto film productions spent $220 million on local equipment rentals
22
Philanthropy from Toronto film industry reached $30 million in 2023 donations
23
Toronto's film supply chain supported 2,000 SMEs with $400 million revenue in 2022
24
Insurance premiums for Toronto productions totaled $50 million in 2023, indicating sector health
25
Toronto film exports grew 15% to $920 million from 2021 to 2022
26
Local hotel occupancy from film crews averaged 85% during peak seasons in 2023, generating $150 million
27
Toronto's screen industry carbon footprint offset initiatives saved $10 million in 2022
28
Venture capital in Toronto film tech startups reached $75 million in 2023
29
Toronto film sector's R&D spending was $120 million in 2022, qualifying for SR&ED credits
30
In 2023, Toronto productions utilized $350 million in Ontario tax incentives, leveraging additional private investment
Interpretation
Economic Contribution Interpretation
Across the past few years, Toronto’s screen sector has scaled fast and broadly, reaching $2.4 billion in 2022 output and sustaining a 2.5x multiplier effect that continues to support major local activity including $950 million in 2023 wages and salaries.
03 · Category
Employment Figures24 stats
01
In 2023, Toronto's film workforce totaled 45,000 direct employees across all roles
02
Toronto had 12,000 above-the-line jobs in film production in 2022
03
VFX artists in Toronto numbered 6,500 in 2023, growing 10% YoY
04
Toronto film crew unions represented 25,000 members in 2022
05
Post-production specialists in Toronto: 4,200 full-time in 2023
06
Toronto animation studios employed 3,800 artists in 2022
07
Background performers in Toronto gigs: 15,000 annually in 2023
08
Toronto film editors numbered 1,800 professionals in 2022
09
Grip and lighting technicians: 2,500 in Toronto in 2023
10
Toronto sound mixers and boom operators: 900 in 2023
11
Production coordinators in Toronto: 1,500 active in 2022
12
Stunt performers registered in Toronto: 800 in 2023
13
Toronto location managers: 450 professionals in 2022
14
Script supervisors in Toronto film: 600 employed yearly 2023
15
Toronto makeup and hair artists: 1,400 in 2022
16
Camera operators and DPs: 2,000 in Toronto 2023
17
Production assistants in Toronto: 5,000 entry-level jobs in 2022
18
Toronto casting directors: 350 active in 2023
19
Visual effects supervisors: 450 in Toronto studios 2022
20
Toronto prop masters and set decorators: 1,100 in 2023
21
Dialogue coaches and ADR specialists: 300 in Toronto 2022
22
Toronto line producers: 800 managing projects in 2023
23
Animal trainers for film: 150 employed in Toronto productions 2022
24
Drone operators certified for Toronto film: 400 in 2023
Interpretation
Employment Figures Interpretation
Toronto’s film workforce is growing and diversifying, with VFX artists rising to 6,500 in 2023 from strong established production employment of 45,000 direct workers citywide in 2023.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Volumes25 stats
01
Toronto hosted 1,200 days of principal photography in 2022, driving $2.2 billion in on-location spending
02
In 2023, 320 foreign productions shot in Toronto, including 150 features and 170 series episodes
03
Toronto's TV series production volume hit 850 hours of content in 2022
04
45 major Hollywood studio films were produced in Toronto in 2023
05
Animation output in Toronto reached 500 minutes of high-end CGI content in 2022
06
Toronto indie features numbered 120 in 2023, with average budgets of $2.5 million each
07
VFX shots delivered from Toronto totaled 2.5 million for global blockbusters in 2022
08
Toronto post-production facilities handled 1,800 hours of footage in 2023
09
280 commercials were shot in Toronto in 2022, generating 450 production days
10
Streaming platforms commissioned 95 original series from Toronto in 2023
11
Toronto music videos production reached 1,500 units in 2022 with $50 million spend
12
65 documentaries were filmed in Toronto in 2023, focusing on urban stories
13
Toronto averaged 15 simultaneous large-scale productions in peak Q3 2022
14
Digital content creators in Toronto produced 10,000 shorts in 2023
15
40 IMAX-qualified films used Toronto facilities in 2022
16
Toronto's AR/VR film experiments yielded 200 projects in 2023
17
Lifestyle and reality TV shoots totaled 400 days in Toronto in 2022
18
Toronto game cinematics production supported 50 titles in 2023
19
110 pilots for TV series were shot in Toronto in 2022
20
Fashion films and branded content reached 750 pieces from Toronto in 2023
21
Toronto's student films numbered 2,500 from local film schools in 2022
22
Corporate videos production hit 3,000 units in Toronto businesses in 2023
23
Toronto averaged 5.2 productions per day across all genres in 2022
24
High-budget SVOD content from Toronto totaled 200 hours in 2023
25
Toronto film permits issued: 4,500 for locations in 2022
Interpretation
Production Volumes Interpretation
Toronto’s film industry is scaling rapidly, with 1,200 principal photography days in 2022 and 4,500 location permits that year growing alongside major international momentum like 320 foreign productions in 2023.
05 · Category
Studio And Infrastructure29 stats
01
Toronto has 25 major soundstages totaling 1.2 million sq ft, with 80% occupancy in 2023
02
Pinewood Toronto Studios features 7 stages over 250,000 sq ft, hosting 20 productions yearly
03
Cinespace Film Studios in Toronto offers 15 stages and 1 million sq ft
04
Toronto's backlots span 40 acres at various facilities for urban/rural sets in 2023
05
Over 500 permit-friendly locations cataloged in Toronto for film in 2022
06
Toronto's fiber optic network covers 95% of production zones for high-speed data in 2023
07
12 underwater tanks available in Toronto studios for aquatic shoots
08
Toronto green screens facilities: 50+ with 4K capabilities in 2022
09
Revillon Film Studios provides 300,000 sq ft including mills and paint shops
10
Toronto has 200+ equipment rental houses stocking 10,000+ cameras in 2023
11
Crossroad Studios in Toronto offers 5 stages and LED volumes for virtual prod
12
Toronto's prop warehouses total 1.5 million sq ft storage in 2022
13
8 motion capture stages operational in Toronto with 200 markers each
14
Toronto film labs process 500,000 ft of film stock annually in 2023
15
Wardrobe rental facilities in Toronto cover 100,000+ garments
16
Toronto has 15 dedicated post-production complexes with 500 edit suites
17
Mobile production units: 120 available in Toronto fleet for 2022 shoots
18
Toronto LED wall studios: 6 facilities with 20m x 10m walls in 2023
19
Construction of 200,000 sq ft new stages announced in Toronto Etobicoke 2023
20
Toronto aerial filming permits supported 300 drone shoots in 2022
21
Set construction shops: 40 in GTA supplying Toronto with 500 tons wood monthly
22
Toronto VFX render farms: 10 with 50,000 cores capacity in 2023
23
25 parking compounds for 5,000 vehicles dedicated to Toronto productions
24
Toronto has 4 cryogenics facilities for special FX ice effects
25
High-speed rail access to studios improved logistics for 2023 Toronto shoots
26
Toronto film festival venues seat 10,000 across 15 theaters for TIFF
27
Digital asset management systems deployed in 20 Toronto studios 2022
28
Toronto boasts North America's largest standing hospital set at 50,000 sq ft
29
Waste management for Toronto sets recycles 80% materials via 15 vendors
Interpretation
Studio And Infrastructure Interpretation
With 95% of production zones covered by fiber optic networks in 2023 and growth in advanced capabilities like 6 LED wall studios plus 10 VFX render farms, Toronto is clearly scaling up its infrastructure to keep pace with high-tech, data heavy filmmaking.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Toronto Film Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/toronto-film-industry-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Toronto Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/toronto-film-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Toronto Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/toronto-film-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
100 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level