**** BUSINESS Media Release
Province Continues Support for Film and Television Fund
———————————————————————————
Film and television productions employ local tradespeople and film crews, develop local creative talent and showcase the province on the world stage.
That is why government is continuing the Nova Scotia Film and Television Production Incentive Fund for another five years, until 2025-26.
“The fund is doing what it was designed to do – encouraging productions and supporting and expanding our local creative industry,” said Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Business. “Nova Scotia is home to some of the country’s best film producers, screenwriters and technicians and we want to keep them here. We recognize the important positive contribution of the creative economy to our province and we’re pleased to provide the industry some certainty by continuing this fund for the next five years.”
Film and television productions provide employment opportunities for over 100 Nova Scotia producers and more than 800 production technicians and 600 professional performers from the Atlantic region. The Nova Scotia screen industry is currently experiencing an upswing because of the province’s low COVID-19 case numbers.
Nova Scotia invested $77.5 million in 162 film and television projects in the past four years through the incentive fund. That investment resulted in $292 million in production spending, supporting important economic contributors such as salaries, taxes and the sale of local goods and services. The fund was established in 2015.
Quotes:
“We’re pleased by the government’s decision. It reflects its understanding that before, during and after this time of crisis, the film and television industry is one that can be relied upon to generate economic gains for the province, contributing to economic recovery. The film and television industry in Nova Scotia creates jobs and injects both domestic and foreign investment into the payroll of Nova Scotians and locally owned small businesses – the heart of our economy.”
– Laura Mackenzie, executive director, Screen Nova Scotia
“Shows like Diggstown generate provincial return on investment; they grow a young tech-savvy crew and they showcase Nova Scotia to the world. The incentive fund is one of the most important tools in our industry toolbox. The fund makes it possible for us to compete globally. It helps us bring interprovincial and foreign investment into the province and then allows us to export the product we create – TV shows and movies – to the world.”
– Karen Wentzell, producer, Diggstown
Quick Facts:
— the fund was established as a financial incentive for eligible productions, based on expenditures within Nova Scotia and is designed to stimulate and support the production of projects in the province
— since 2015, Nova Scotia has been home to the critically acclaimed feature film The Lighthouse, television shows This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Diggstown, The Curse of Oak Island, Feudal and Hope for Wildlife, and Netflix production Locke and Key
— supporting the film industry is an action in the province’s Cultural Action Plan
Additional Resources:
Nova Scotia Film and Television Incentive Production Fund: http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/do-business/film-television-production/nova-scotia-film-television-production-incentive-fund
Approved film productions: http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/news/film-productions-announced
Film fund accountability reporting: http://beta.novascotia.ca/accountability-reporting-government-investment-funds
