Calgary rounds out MovieMaker magazine’s top 10 best places to film
Calgary continues to show it is one of the top destinations for film and television productions in North America, making MovieMaker’s list of Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2021. It is the first time Calgary has been ranked by Moviemaker and placed 10th among the top 25 cities.
MovieMaker considered numerous factors in determining the placings on its list, including surveys, research on business environment, recent productions, personal visits to locations and quality of life.
“Calgary prides itself on being a film-friendly city for many reasons. We work closely with municipal departments, business zones, community leaders and the arts community to ensure one-window access to quality locations and services. We offer a competitive business environment and have a large pool of local talent available for productions,” said Mary Moran, President and Chief Executive Officer, Calgary Economic Development. “We are thrilled MovieMaker recognizes the benefits of filming in our city.”
“We’ve been the best kept secret amongst insiders for a long time and it’s great to see the recognition happening on a broader scale,” said Luke Azevedo, Commissioner, Film, Television & Creative Industries, Calgary Economic Development. “Calgary is the fourth largest film jurisdiction in Canada, so it’s no surprise that our city continues to be a top destination for film and television productions globally.”
“We have a lot to offer, including three purpose-built sound stages, 25,000 square feet of multipurpose warehouse and workshop space as well as retrofit facilities being and already developed at the Calgary Film Centre” said Azevedo. “We have an unparalleled variety of locations – Rocky Mountains, Badlands, a thriving urban municipality and some of the best and longest ‘magic light’ in the world all within three hours from Calgary.”
"This was obviously a very different year for our annual list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker — it’s a time of incredible upheaval, but also opportunity. Many in the film and TV industry are looking to change their way of life, and many cities and towns across the country are welcoming these storytellers with open arms,” said Tim Molloy, Editor-in-Chief, MovieMaker.
For the complete 2021 list of Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker — and complete details — visit MovieMaker.com.
The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Calgary as the fifth most liveable city in the world, and number one in the Western Hemisphere, in its most recent rankings.