Established in 1978, the BC Film Commission at Creative BC delivers support and resources to British Columbia’s motion picture industry, communities, stakeholders, and various partners that contribute to its longevity.
The BC Film Commission is crucial to sustaining motion picture activity in B.C. It promotes and facilitates the province’s production capabilities that make B.C. both a global centre of creative excellence and a full-service hub. The Commission strives to continually improve and innovate services in order to best serve and contribute to the growth and success of the industry as a whole.
Winner of the 2025 Global Production Award for Film Commission of the Year
Services
Library + Production Services
The Library + Production Services team leverages the BC Film Commission at Creative BC’s extensive proprietary locations library to deliver customized location packages for domestic and international productions.
British Columbia offers unparalleled geographic diversity—rugged mountain terrain in the Kootenays, picturesque vineyards in the Okanagan, and sophisticated urban environments in the Lower Mainland.
The BC Film Commission provides end-to-end support, including dedicated client service, expert location consultation, production expertise, and timely industry intelligence to ensure each project’s creative vision is realized.
Industry + Community Affairs
The Industry + Community Affairs team serves as the primary point of contact for physical production inquiries from the public and industry stakeholders.
The film commission manages a portfolio of production-related policy files, including liaison with government agencies, regulatory matters, and industry best practices.
Strategic Initiatives
The BC Film Commission at Creative BC is home to major industry initiatives spanning environmental, social, and regional activities. Creative BC leads these initiatives and is jointly supported by government and motion picture industry partners to ensure the sustainability of British Columbia’s motion picture through the Regions, Reel Green™, and Creative Pathways™.
A Timeline of Film in British Columbia
1950s
1953 • CBC Vancouver Studios opens
1958 • Al Sens Animated Films opens in Vancouver
1960s
1963 • Production begins on TV series “The Littlest Hobo”, the first major training ground for episodic television series production in B.C.
1965 • The National Film Board opens regional office in B.C.
1969 • University of British Columbia launches its film program
1970s
1971 • CBC begins production on the TV series “The Beachcombers”
1978 • BC Film Commission is created by the Provincial Government
1980s
1981 • FIRST BLOOD films throughout B.C.
1982 • Vancouver International Film Festival is established
1982 • John Carpenter’s THE THING films in Vancouver
1987 • BC Film + Media, funding for domestic film established
1987 • Vancouver Film School opens
1990s
1993 • Chris Carter films the pilot episode for “The X-Files”
1994 • Feature films including JUMANJI and LITTLE WOMEN are made in B.C.
1998 • The B.C. Provincial Government introduces film and television tax credit programs
1999 • Film industry annual expenditures surpass $1 billion in B.C.
2000s
2002 • The Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC is established to represent collective interests of motion picture industry in B.C.
2006 • Reel Green™, B.C.’s environmental film initiative is established
2010s
2013 • Provincial government establishes Creative BC through merger of BC Film Commission and BC Film and Media
2015 • DEADPOOL 1 films in B.C., generating $783.1 million worldwide at the box office
2019 • Sony Imageworks’ SPIDER MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE wins Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
2020s
2021 • Creative Pathways™ launches to build a more inclusive industry
2023 • Historical funding announcement into B.C.’s creative sector
2024 • FX’s “Shogun” wins a historical number of Emmy Awards
2024 • HBO’s “The Last of Us” Season 2 films across British Columbia
2025 • Historical update to B.C.’s foreign and domestic motion picture tax credit programs
2025 • BC Film Commission at Creative BC wins Film Commission of the Year at the 2025 Global Production Awards at Cannes Film Festival Marche du Cannes
Contact us
filmcommission (at) creativebc.com | +1 604-736-7997