Toronto’s film industry sets record in 2021, on track to break it in 2022

Apr 19, 2022 | Arts

The Toronto film industry bounced back from COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, with more than $2.5 billion in direct spending, the city announced in a press release in March.

The previous record of $2.2 billion was set in 2019, however the pandemic forced productions to close over the winter and for much of the following summer, usually the busiest season for filming.

The market shrank to $1.5 billion in 2020.

Director Raoul Bhatt, second from right, checks the scene before filming on the set of the gritty oil patch drama Pipe Nation in Sundre, Alta., in 2020.
Director Raoul Bhatt, second from right, checks the scene before filming on the set of the gritty oil patch drama Pipe Nation in Sundre, Alta., in 2020. Toronto and Vancouver remain the focus of the industry, but other films and shows are being produced across the country. Photo credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Mayor John Tory said in the press release the industry is now seeing historic growth in the city, and is confident the trend will continue.

“The many studios here in Toronto remained at capacity throughout the full pandemic year and are projected to be at capacity again this year, which means the local film and TV sector will play a major role in our pandemic recovery,” he said.

Many international companies continue to invest in the Canadian film industry, colloquially known as Hollywood North, with new studios being built, and Netflix announcing its opening a Toronto office.

The bulk of the film work are in foreign owned productions and commercials, according to Statistics Canada.

The City of Toronto also conducted a workforce study for the film industry in 2021, hoping to keep up with any gaps in resources that may come up as the industry continues to grow.

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