Cinespace Film Studios to build new space in Toronto Port Lands. Photo courtesy of blogTO.
Aleema Ali
Mayor John Tory announced a new 165,000 square foot film studio coming to the Toronto Port Lands district, courtesy of Cinespace.
“Our film and television and digital industry has been such a booming success that we’ve been victims of our own success,” Tory said in a statement on Friday.
The project is a result of much needed studio space in the city and to also boost Toronto’s film and television industry and overall economy.
According to Cinespace Film Studios, the project will be replacing space lost from the Eastern Avenue facility to General Motors about a year ago.
The new space will be built on Marine Terminal 51 and a portion of the cruise ship terminal, which will not disrupt ship activities according to the city.
Before/after render of Cinespace’s plans for the Toronto Cruise Ship Terminal in the port lands. Dramatic transformation. pic.twitter.com/AKOnpBCtyI
— Matt Elliott (@GraphicMatt) March 2, 2018
“The space makes sure that we can keep offering our film and television and digital clients the studio space they want and that they need for their production,” Tory added.
Humber film students are currently working on their own film productions at Cinespace, a generous offer from the studio during the strike last fall.
Humber’s film professor Donna O’Brien-Sokic said the new studio is absolutely amazing.
“They’re doing great things. And for what we do in terms of training people to work in this industry at Humber, that is incredibly good news,” she said.
O’Brien-Sokic said its also great for the industry on a whole for attracting international productions.
“The more space we have, the more productions may come here. Toronto is emerging as another global centre,” she added.
In 2016, the Ontario Film and Television Industry contributed over one billion dollars to the provincial economy. It also supported over 35, 000 jobs.
Canadian Oscar nominations
One of the leading contenders for best picture at the 2018 Oscars this Sunday, “The Shape of Water” was filmed in Toronto and parts of Hamilton.
It has a total of 13 nominations, including best picture, best director, best actress and best original screenplay to name a few.
#TheShapeofWater is now (FINALLY!!) playing EVERYWHERE! Nominated for 13 Academy Awards including BEST PICTURE and BEST DIRECTOR @RealGDT. Get tickets: https://t.co/lpOsmjTvEZ pic.twitter.com/9g9cgpuqwW
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) January 26, 2018
O’Brien-Sokic said in the past, del Toro praised Toronto when winning a Golden Globe.
“I have to say, Guillermo del Toro, after he won the golden globes for best director gave a huge shout out to the crews of Toronto and also shouted out Hamilton,” she said.
Construction on the Cinespace project is due to start soon with no specific date yet.