Calgary has been the backdrop of many popular movies and TV shows. Its surrounding areas have appeared in award-winning films like The Revenant, Interstellar, and Inception. Now, the city is gaining recognition on the global stage for its contributions to the film industry.
Today, Calgary ranks fifth on MovieMaker Magazine’s ‘The Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2025. The publication highlighted that the city’s scenery, hefty tax credits, and hardy local talent base are drawing people in after recent productions showed what the city is capable of.
“Calgary is rising fast as a production hub,” says MovieMakers, and “is very welcoming towards filmmakers.”
Luke Azevedo, vice-president of creative industries for Calgary Economic Development, says Calgary is prepared to meet the needs of filmmakers and directors.
“We’re at a point here that we can go after any size and scope of project now globally and know that we can knock it out of the park,” said Azavedo.
And if the scope of the project is large enough, directors bringing their films to Calgary might be eligible for some welcome benefits.
The Alberta Media Fund offsets costs for large productions worth over $500,000. Also, the Film and Television Tax Credit gives directors a 30 per cent tax cut if their production involves an Alberta-based producer and employs Alberta labourers.
“Our locals are being supported as much as we possibly can,” says Azevedo, “and part of that is that the incentive is higher than it is for foreign productions.”
Azevedo knows Calgary has an excellent talent base to meet the requirements for those tax cuts.
“Anybody that’s worked here has ranted about the quality of the work that’s being done,” he said. “Absolutely no question there.”
Kevin Thorn, an independent film director, says that their genuine love of the work makes Calgary’s talent so excellent.
“It’s people who are willing to work for each other for free,” he says. “They really believe in it, and do it for the passion and the love,” he said.
Thorn shares that the indie film space is where future filmmakers get their start.
“You’ve got a community of young aspiring filmmakers coming together to help each other make films,” he says, “aspiring to each other’s passions because you’ve all got the same goal,” said Thorn.
That passion is part of what makes Calgary such a good place for filmmakers, says Azevedo.
“We’re not a city that is jaded around film and TV. People still have excitement about it,” he said. “We want to be that next billion-dollar industry.”