Vancouver ranked second best city for movie-makers in North America

It’s no secret that Vancouver is something of a haven for movie-makers.

Appropriately styled “Hollywood North” (though we do share the nickname with Toronto), the West Coast city has been the background in many blockbusters, the hometown of a few A-listers, and the training ground for up-and-comers in the industry, either in front of or behind the camera.

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So it comes as no surprise that when MovieMaker Magazine released this year’s ranking of the best cities in North America for movie makers to live and work, Vancouver took the silver spot.

The ranking even placed our city higher than the actual Hollywood, which came in third – this could be due in part to BC’s tax credits, with 338 films qualifying for the cut this year, according to MovieMaker Magazine.

“It’s great to hear that Vancouver is once again being recognized as one of the top places to live and work as a movie maker,” said Vancouver mayor, Gregor Robertson, in the release from MovieMaker.

“Vancouver’s reputation as ‘Hollywood North’ has only grown in recent years, thanks to our city’s world-class technical and creative talent, robust film infrastructure, strong local economy, and abundant backdrops of natural beauty.”

Sitting at the number one spot is Atlanta, Georgia, as there are huge incentives for films to shoot within their state lines. A program started in 2008 promises a 20% tax credit, along with an additional 10% for productions that include promotions.

Since then, the city has seen an influx of development centring around the film industry, and a total of $2.65 billion was spent on film and TV production in the state in 2017 alone, according to to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

As for Vancouver, the movie and TV industry provides roughly 19,000 jobs for those in the area, and is responsible for over $409 million in salaries – though the number of jobs provided increases to around 42,000 when looking at BC as a whole.

And the other “Hollywood North?” Toronto ranks eighth on the list – not a bad spot to be in, but let’s be honest… it’s no Vancouver.