Motion Picture

CIERA™ 2023 numbers measure the broader motion picture industry. Within that are the motion picture tax credit qualifying activities that make original storytelling content, which are supported by the Province’s motion picture tax credits for foreign and domestic production. 

Creative BC’s motion picture tax credit administration team makes annual estimates for the scale of production spending (similar to CIERA™ Direct Output) within calendar years. Creative BC publishes these estimates as “Film and TV Statistics”. See them here.

Based on these statistics drawn from proprietary Creative BC datasets, (vs. the public datasets upon which CIERA™ is based), this original storytelling segment of motion picture production can be identified.

Through these figures we can see that while strikes and global reduction in production deeply impacted 2023 motion picture production spending in B.C., estimated at $2.3B, the industry typically generates well over $3B to the B.C. economy annually and early estimates for 2024 show slow yet positive trends.

*Measures hours worked, in terms of number of positions, not the number of people working or sharing these positions. Due to the freelance nature of the creative industries, this methodology is a proxy only and typically underestimates the number of workers in the sector.

**Prior to the pandemic, Creative BC’s count of estimated freelancers was at 108,000 people, aggregated from a variety of industry sources, including the B.C. motion picture industry’s Below-the-Line Labour Market Study, 2018, and Staying in Tune: A Study of the Music Industry Labour Market in British Columbia, 2019. By using CIERA™ year-over-year job growth insights as multipliers, the count of freelance workers has been estimated for this report. As available, new information generated through industry’s own real-time research will be used by Creative BC to improve this annual estimate.

***Presently, the video game segment is the only industry clearly measured by North American Industry Classification Codes (NAICS). Therefore interactive and digital media (IDM) figures represented by CIERA™ are limited to this segment of the industry, excluding other storytelling-based interactive and digital media such as virtual reality and augmented reality.

CIERA™ maps business activity classified by Statistics Canada through what is known as the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). These NAICS codes are attributed in full or in part to a three-part sector value chain: Creation > Production > Sales + Distribution. 

Some of the “culture industries” as defined by Statistics Canada contribute to more than one creative industry, therefore these NAICS cannot easily be attributed to a single creative industry, nor can their business activities be proportionally allocated. In these cases, their economic contributions have been aggregated into CIERA™’s Multi-Creative Industry figures. Outlined bullets below are Multi-Creative Industry Services that do contribute to some extent to this value chain. See Multi-Creative Industry Services impacts.

See full annual CIERA™ tables and multiple years of data here.

British Columbia is an international force in animation. Millions of people across the world are avid fans of popular animated series that are conceived, developed and produced in British Columbia. Merging technology and imagination, B.C.’s designers, writers, animators and directors transform an infinite variety of visualizations into art forms that showcase a global competence in innovative digital and creative content. Recognized by many prestigious awards and nominations, B.C.’s animation companies are breaking out some of the most prolific productions of computer animation for television and direct-to-video, long-form CGI for feature films, commercials and interactive entertainment.

Learn more through the Animation + VFX Alliance 

Commercial production is a busy segment of B.C.’s production industry and B.C. professionals in all areas of the television commercial production industry are highly skilled and experienced. B.C. commercial advertising producers provide complete production services to domestic and foreign agency and producer clients shooting projects in British Columbia.

Learn more about commercial advertising via the Commercial Production Association of Western Canada.

B.C.’s digital and post community have some of the most creative and talented minds in the world. Building on the success of British Columbia’s film and television industry, it’s no surprise that digital animation and visual effects have flourished here as well.  In addition to extensive knowledge and creative and technical expertise, our artists, technologists, supervisors and producers have the critical skills needed to consistently produce world class work.

Learn more through the Animation + VFX Alliance 

The scale and longevity of motion picture production in British Columbia place it at the forefront of industry evolution as one of the world’s most groundbreaking jurisdictions. B.C.’s studio infrastructure alone delivers state-of-the-art facilities among the largest in North America. Demanding special effects sequences, and set builds that are challenging to accommodate because of sheer size are made possible by an array of technical support, and built-ins designed to service and streamline the production process. B.C. production equipment suppliers and industry service providers ensure the highest level of support and the most extensive inventory of leading edge well-maintained accessible and professional equipment in Canada.

Learn more through Screen BC, the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of British Columbia and Canadian Media Producers Association – BC Producers Branch 

B.C. post-production houses and visual effects facilities have provided services to thousands of film and television projects and received dozens of accolades including Oscar and Emmy nominations, in addition to numerous Genie, Gemini and Leo awards. With features like Godzilla, The Great Gatsby, Elysium, Seventh Son, Man of Steel, Prometheus and Life of Pi as well as popular television shows such as Once Upon a Time, Supernatural, Bates Motel and Arrow, B.C.’s post-production and visual effects sector offers a wealth of world class talent and creative digital artists, and a track record that stands behind them.

Learn more through the Vancouver Post Alliance.

Grounded in a commitment to social justice, decolonization and reconciliation, BIPOC TV & FILM is a community-centric non-profit organization advocating for racial equity and decent work practices in Canada’s screen media industry. 

The Black Screen Office supports the development, production and distribution of Canadian Black screen content around the globe. We are committed to ensuring that Black Canadians are represented at all levels throughout the screen industries.

The Canada Media Fund fosters, develops, finances and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms.

The Disability Screen Office is a national, not-for-profit organization that works with the Canadian screen industry to eliminate accessibility barriers and foster authentic and meaningful disability representation throughout the sector.

Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver (GEMS) is a member-based organization committed to furthering gender equity in film and television. Previously named Women in Film and Television Vancouver (WIFTV), GEMS incorporated in 1989 as a not-for-profit society registered in British Columbia. By addressing systemic barriers, GEMS works towards supporting more inclusive, representative media.

The Indigenous Screen Office‘s mission is to support and develop Indigenous screen storytellers and Indigenous stories on screens and increase representation of Indigenous peoples throughout the screen industries in Canada.

Established in 2002, Screen BC (Motion Picture Production Industry Association of British Columbia (MPPIA) is a member-based non-profit organization dedicated to a strong future for BC’s motion picture production sector.

Together, Screen BC’s diverse membership represents the ‘voice and vision’ of the motion picture production industry in British Columbia. MPPIA’s vision is to grow, diversify and promote a competitive and sustainable motion picture industry in BC.

MPPIA members work together to inform, educate, develop and market new initiatives that ensure BC’s motion picture industry flourishes as part of British Columbia’s vibrant, environmentally conscious, knowledge-based economy.

The National Film Board of Canada is Canada’s public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and alternative dramas. 

National Screen Institute is a not-for-profit training organization that supports creators from across Canada to tell unforgettable stories through industry-informed training and mentoring in film, television, and digital media.

Racial Equity Screen Office (RESO) is a Vancouver based national office that supports the mentorship, training, funding, production, and distribution of content by racialized Canadian filmmakers with diverse stories told through our diasporic migrant lens with a major goal to build greater business opportunities and markets for content from racialized communities in and outside of Canada.

Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada’s audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world.

STORYHIVE offers production grants, training and distribution opportunities for creators in BC and Alberta. We tell stories, create art and make careers happen.

The Vancouver Post Alliance represents the interests of the Post Production industry in British Columbia. We aim to promote and market our talent, create a platform to exchange knowledge, aid professional development, and provide a forum for networking and collaboration. We want to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices within our community, as we believe we are all stronger together.