File photo (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

2025 BC BUDGET

Bigger tax incentives a great conversation starter for the TNRD Film Commission

Dec 13, 2024 | 4:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — Earlier this week, the NDP government announced plans to attract more film and TV productions to the province through increased tax incentives.

Set to come forward in the NDP’s 2025 budget, the government will be increasing the Film Incentive BC Tax Credit, which supports Canadian-content productions, and the Production Services Tax Credit that provides a tax incentive for international projects made in B.C.

“It definitely won’t hurt. I mean, having a lucrative tax incentive is always a very strong conversation starter when you are talking to productions that are wanting to come into the area, so having that much stronger of a tax incentive is a beautiful thing,” said TNRD Film Commissioner Terri Hadwin. “I am a super big fan of the tax incentives we have in British Columbia because they are all labour based, so they are tied to a person getting a job in film industry.”

While Vancouver has been dubbed ‘Hollywood North,’ the tax credits increase for rural areas of the province, including the Thompson Nicola Regional District, which had an up year in 2024, easily surpassing the strike-slowed 2023. The TNRD is also still investigating bringing a production studio to the region.

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“Just recently, I was in the American Film Market (convention) that was held in Las Vegas, got to meet with different productions. The first thing they say is, ‘Wow. Your location is stunning and gorgeous’ and then the second question is, ‘What are your tax incentives?’ Having a bigger dialogue around that is always a good thing,” said Hadwin.