CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Alberta filmmakers are worried the latest moves by the Kenney government will decimate the industry.
Hundreds attended a town hall in Calgary Nov. 3, 2019, after the UCP budget reduced this year’s film fund from $45 million to just $15 million.
Also, the Budget reduced eligible expenditures from 30 per cent to 22 per cent.
The UCP says the funding cap will increase to $30 million in 2021-22 and then $45 million in 2022-23.
READ MORE: How the provincial budget will affect your pocketbook
Filming in Alberta
Blair Young with the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) said even with a promised increased, it still means fewer productions for the province in the short term.
“That’s not enough money to be able to attract films to come to this province as opposed to Winnipeg or B.C. or New Mexico or other jurisdictions who have a larger film fund and offer more lucrative tax incentives.”
Young added that productions don’t even file for the credit until about a year after the filming has finished, so the economic benefit is realized before the government doles out any cash.
“That’s a year after millions of dollars have already been spent in Alberta. This is literally low-hanging fruit, with no upfront cost to the government.”
The UCP plans to eliminate a grant program for the film industry and instead replace it with a tax credit.
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Damian Petti with the union representing motion picture technicians believes this will lead to job losses and will hurt the Alberta economy.
“Overall, the effects are the incentive goes down by about 65 per cent. Previously, there was $46.7 million available for incentives for the industry and as of April 1, there will be $16 million. This will create widespread uncertainty. Projects will be facing a juried system that will pick winners and losers. It’s a major problem.”
Young and Petti agreed that due to the immediate decrease, it may doom some current productions and shy away from future jobs due to the uncertainty of the situation.
Petti adds there is some optimism after the industry held a meeting Sunday night in Calgary, and sent a letter to Economic Development Minister Tanya Fir who has agreed to meet with representatives on Nov. 7, 2019.
Filming Wood Buffalo
Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo’s film and video producers came to terms with the new normal.
Matt Salem is the director for film, video, and photography for Arts Council Wood Buffalo (ACWB).
Disappointed by the funding cut, Salem said it will impact ongoing and future projects in our region.
“There are many great artists in this community that have worked so hard to get where they are now, only to be told there may not be a future in film in Alberta.”
Salem said the local, web-popular Nerdvana series received support from StoryHive.
Nerdvana contributed to the local economy by bringing revenue to hotels, restaurants, tourism, and other businesses.
Salem said he expects to hear from StoryHive for another large-scale project by the end of November.
“So far, they have been pretty silent on their views, but I anticipate it’s going to mean a lot in coming projects.”
Looking long-term, Salem said assurances of increases to the funding cap within five years may be too late for some artists.
“As an artist, I travelled and other people from other provinces were very jealous of how well artists in Alberta were supported. It seems like that time has maybe come and gone.”
He suggested artists, in particular in the young video game production industry, are beginning to look to other provinces and areas to find support.
The original publishing date of this article is Nov. 4, 2019.
