OTTAWA – A decline in international financing, fewer home-made television dramas and increased competition from other countries’ production incentives are hitting Canada’s independent production sector according to a report released today by the Canadian Film and Television Production Association.
While the film and television production volume increased by 4% to $4.93 billion in 2024/2003, "the outlook is grim for 2024 when taking into account cuts to the Canadian Television Fund and a higher dollar," says today’s news release.
The industry’s annual statistical report, Profile 2024, was released today at the Canadian Film and Television Production Association’s Prime Time in Ottawa conference.
"While we have seen moderate growth the overall numbers show Canadian content production is under siege, it’s not growing” said Guy Mayson, CFTPA president and CEO. “What is growing is broadcaster in-house production and foreign location shooting, but over the next 12 months with a higher dollar even foreign location shooting will drop.”
During the period Profile 2024 was conducted foreign location shooting increased 8%, but that period does not reflect the impact of SARS in Toronto or the Canadian dollar’s rise.
"Clearly we have to figure out how to get more Cancon on the air, and we’re going to have to work with Canadian broadcasters to make that happen,” said Laszlo Barna, CFTPA chair, and executive producer, Barna-Alper Productions (DaVinci’s Inquest, Blue Murder).
During the CFTPA conference the trade association plans to announce a new production model that recommends increasing broadcaster license fees and ensuring tax credit rebates are used for development and not forced into meagre production budgets.
The highlights of Profile 2024, were presented at the Westin Ottawa, where over 500 producers, industry players and government officials from across the country are attending the association’s two-day conference. Analysis and data for the eighth annual report was compiled by the CFTPA, the Quebec producers’ association – the APFTQ, the Department of Canadian Heritage and consultants Nordicity Group Ltd. The data covers the period from April 2024 to March 31, 2024.
Profile 2024: Highlights
* $4.93 billion in total production, a 4% increase over the previous period. This figure includes: $1.78 billion in Canadian content CAVCO-certified production, which is virtually unchanged over 2024/2002; $266 million in Canadian content non-CAVCO certified productions, virtually unchanged over 2024/2002; $996 million in broadcaster in-house production, a 4% increase; $1.9 billion in foreign location shooting, an increase of 8% over 2024/2002. Of that, Ontario’s share was 30% (up 2%); BC had 44% (down 3%) and Quebec had 19% (up 71%).
* 51,300 direct and 82,100 indirect jobs; a 4% increase over the previous period
* Production declined 9% in BC ($1.04 billion) and 4% in Atlantic Canada ($162 million), increased 18% in Quebec ($1.45 billion) and 20% in the Prairies ($312 million), and remained the same in Ontario ($1.97 billion).
The CFTPA is a non-profit, trade association representing almost 400 companies in the Canadian production industry. The association promotes the general interests of Canadian producers by lobbying government on policy matters, negotiating labour agreements, and offering mentorship programs and copyright initiatives.
The full Profile 2024 can be found in its entirety at www.cftpa.ca.
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