International Studios Support Canada’s Film and Television Sector’s Growth

The rise of foreign studios and streaming services has contributed significantly to the impressive expansion of Canada’s film and television production sector in recent years. With the emergence of digital streaming services, audiovisual production has greatly increased nationwide, with international partners playing a key role.

Over $7.8 billion has been invested by foreigners in Canadian production to date, with $1 billion of that amount going specifically toward Canadian-owned content. Canada is becoming a major player in the global entertainment market thanks to these investments, which are propelling the development of top-notch international productions within its borders.

Production activity from international studios has increased by 285% in the last ten years, opening up a plethora of opportunities for Canadian professionals working in the field. Local talent fills the majority of the jobs created by these foreign projects when they are brought to Canada.

Today, more than half of Canada’s audiovisual output consists of television and streaming productions supported by international studios. Almost 60% of the total compensation given to Canadian creative workers comes from these projects. Actually, over the last ten years, the number of jobs created by foreign productions has increased three times faster than that of domestic content.

Foreign Location Service (FLS) production spending increased by 2.3% to $6.86 billion during the fiscal year 2022–2023, driven by major international titles like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Fargo, and The Good Doctor. Over 137,000 Canadian workers were employed in the sector as a result of this boom.

In 2022, major Motion Picture Association (MPA) studios alone spent more than $4.8 billion in Canada on production-related goods and services. Nearly 39,000 businesses nationwide, from lodging and catering to equipment rental and transportation, benefited from these expenditures.

You can examine the main conclusions of the Profile 2023: Economic Report on the Screen-Based Media Production Industry in Canada for a more thorough examination of the financial effects of the country’s film and television production scene.