Calgary’s digital media and entertainment sector thrives across five key subsectors: Esports, expanding infrastructure and training facilities to elevate local teams and attract large-scale competitions; Game Development, driven by a growing indie community gaining global recognition; Animation, with institutions nurturing talent and solidifying Calgary as a leader in indie animation; VFX (Visual effects) supported by a strong and burgeoning film & TV global production hub; and Immersive Experiences, where companies are pushing the limits of virtual reality and interactive storytelling.
Animation & Visual Effects (VFX) Growth Strategy
Alberta is positioned to be a leading centre for digital media productions in Canada and a destination for global animation and visual effects (VFX) talent and studios. Alberta’s Animation and VFX Growth Strategy identifies four pillars to position the industry for sustainable, long-term growth and establish the province as an interdisciplinary digital media production hub.
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ALBERTA ESPORTS STRATEGY
Alberta is in the game to become a global esports hub. With a strong competitive video gaming community, record innovation investment and an established esports association. The success of the Alberta Esports Strategy has led to increased infrastructure to host and facilitate top-tier events, as seen in the recent opening of Bow Valley College's Digital Entertainment Nexus, a $5.5M esports arena and virtual production studio.
Calgary continues to grow its esports hub by developing talent for the digital entertainment industry through various microcredential and professional programs, as well as offering support in the form of grants, funding, and credits.
Developing top talent
Calgary has a growing pipeline of technical and digital media talent. We have the talent you need - our education institutions are constantly evolving their programs to meet the needs of the new economy. Our workforce is young, smart, productive and active.
Alberta University of the Arts
Bow Valley College
University of Calgary
Visual College of Art and Design Calgary
Funding
Resources
Calgary is one of the most cost-competitive major cities in North America to operate in. The city offers affordable property and utility costs including low real estate rental rates in the downtown core. Calgary also has the second-lowest commercial property taxes of major Canadian cities. The city's infrastructure is diverse, ranging from corporate hubs to unique creative spaces, offering a versatile environment for studio expansion needs.
Beyond affordability, Alberta has funding options to help take your business to the next level.
Alberta Export Expansion Program
Fund name: Various (Strategic Networking and Development Grants)
Funding (if available): up to $25,000
Business type: Alberta Non-profits, For-profit SME's, Tourism companies, Tech Startups
Description: Provides funding support to Alberta small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), municipalities, industry associations, Indigenous communities and economic development organizations promoting Alberta exports
Alberta Innovates
Funding (if available): up to $25,000
Business type: Innovation driven companies, SME's
Description: With many programs available and annual investments of $286 million, we deliver a broad spectrum of funding and grant opportunities for those looking to make a difference in our province.
Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
Fund name: Capital Growth Initiative Loan
Funding (if available): up to $150,000
Business type: Alberta-based women-owned businesses
Description: Alberta Women Entrepreneurs has established our organization as leaders in the entrepreneurial space by providing a variety of programs suited for women entrepreneurs of all scales. AWE is here to provide Capital, Connections, and Capacity.
Bell Fund | Short Form Digital Series
Fund name: Short Form Digital Series
Business type: Digital Video Series for online distribution
Description: The purpose of the Short-Form Digital Series Program is to fund premium, original, digital video series for online distribution, specifically the production of fiction (drama, comedy, and children’s and youth programming) and non-fiction (documentary and lifestyle/factual programming). Only series will be supported, with a maximum length of 15 minutes per episode and a minimum of 6 episodes.
Bell Fund | Slate Development program
Fund name: Slate Development program
Business type: Independent Productions
Description: The purpose of the Slate Development program is to help independent production companies diversify their development slate both in terms of numbers of projects and variety of platforms and media by offering financial support for the planning and development of original intellectual property (“IP”).
Canada-Alberta Job Grant
Funding (if available): Up to $10,000 per trainee, per year
Business type: Employers in private and non profit sectors, First Nations and Metis Settlements, Alberta Treasury Branches, Agri Financial Services Corp.
Description: The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their present or future employees for eligible training costs. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees.
Canada Council for the Arts | Digital Generator
Fund name: Digital Generator
Business type: Art/Creative Organizations
Description: Digital Generator is a short-term initiative to support Canadian arts groups, collectives, and organizations to build their digital capacity and transform their business model and operations.
Canada Council for the Arts | Digital Greenhouse
Fund name: Digital Greenhouse
Business type: Art/Creative Organizations
Description: The Digital Greenhouse is a digital innovation initiative for Canadian individuals, groups and organizations. It supports short-term projects that leverage digital technology to address sectoral and digital challenges
Canadian Digital Media Network
Fund name: Soft Landing: Scale from Home
Funding (if available): up to $4,000
Business type: Tech-Driven Companies
Description: Offers qualified tech-driven startups and scale-ups exposure to digital business opportunities by offering $4,000 CAD in reimbursable marketing and sales expenses. Accepted companies can use funds to help offset the costs of projects related to net-new sales, business development and digital marketing activities.
Canada Media Fund
Fund name: Various
Funding (if available): Various
Business type: Individuals
Description: Through our many programs, we support a dynamic environment where creators, producers, broadcasters, and distributors partner to generate content for Canadians and global audiences to enjoy.
CanExport Innovation
Funding (if available): up to $75,000
Business type: SME's, Academic Institutions, Non-government research centres
Description: CanExport Innovation is designed to promote and enhance Canada’s international innovation efforts. The program offers grants and contributions to Canadian organizations to assist them in establishing and formalizing new collaborative research and development (R&D) partnerships with foreign partners.
CanExport SME
Funding (if available): up to $50,000
Business type: SME's all industries
Description: CanExport SMEs is a funding program designed to promote and enhance Canada’s trade diversification efforts. It offers grants and contributions to Canadian companies to help them prepare for and establish a presence in international markets where they currently have little or no sales.
Creative Export Canada
Funding (if available): Variable
Business type: Canadian Creative Industries
Description: Creative Export Canada offers funding for projects that generate export revenues and help Canadian creative industries reach more people around the world.
Epic MegaGrant
Fund name: MegaGrant
Funding (if available): $5,000 -$250,000 (can reach $500,000)
Business type: Individuals
Description: Epic Games has committed to providing financial grants to creative, noteworthy, and innovative projects built in and around Unreal Engine or projects that enhance the open source 3D graphics ecosystem.
Government of Alberta | Alberta Made Production Grant
Fund name: Alberta Made Production Grant
Business type: Small budget productions
Description: The grant assists Alberta producers to develop Alberta content. It also helps them attract and maintain skilled labour by providing employment opportunities for emerging talent and established industry professionals.
Government of Alberta | Film and Television Tax Credit
Fund name: Film and Television Tax Credit
Business type: Creative Industries (excluding video games)
Description: The Film and Television Tax Credit (FTTC) offers a refundable Alberta tax credit certificate on eligible Alberta production and labour costs to corporations that produce films, television series and other eligible screen-based productions in the province.
Government of Alberta | Innovation Employment Grant
Fund name: Innovation Employment Grant
Funding (if available): 20% on applicable R&D expenditures
Business type: R&D investment SME's
Description: The Innovation Employment Grant encourages economic growth by supporting small and medium-sized businesses that invest in research and development (R&D) with a grant worth up to 20% of qualifying expenditures.
Government of Alberta | Post Production, Visual Effects and Animation Grant
Fund name: Post Production, Visual Effects and Animation Grant
Funding (if available): $500-$200,000
Business type: Incorporated Creative Industries
Description: Provides funding to help cover labour expenses for Alberta organizations involved in the development and delivery of post-production services in Alberta, including visual effects and digital animation.
NRC
Fund name: Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
Business type: SME's
Description: Canada's leading innovation assistance program for small and medium-sized businesses.
SR&ED tax incentives
Funding (if available): 15%-35% depending on type of business
Business type: Business conducting R&D
Description: The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentives encourage businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada.
Telefilm Canada
Fund name: Various
Business type: Independent Productions
Description: Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to developing and promoting Canada’s audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to independent producers to create distinctively Canadian productions with domestic and international appeal. Telefilm also serves as program administrator for the Canada Media Fund.
The 51
Fund name: Fund I and Fund II (Venture Capital Fund)
Business type: Women-led and gender-diverse businesses
Description: The51’s Feminist Funds Series is about investing, community and education. We believe in activating capital into future-fit women-led and gender-diverse businesses while delivering an investing experience that encompasses investors' personal and professional backgrounds, all designed to allow you to invest in the world you want to see.
Western Economic Diversification Canada (now PrairesCan)
Fund name: Various
Business type: Various
Description: Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is the department that diversifies the economy across the Canadian Prairies. PrairiesCan leads in building a strong, competitive Canadian economy by supporting business, innovation and community economic development unique to Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Get connected to the community
Growing Opportunities in Digital Media
Employment in Digital Media & Entertainment is expected to continue outpacing the general economy in the coming years. It is forecasted that by 2030, Alberta’s Digital Media & Entertainment industry could add up to 3,500 new jobs. If this growth is realized, the sector could contribute as much as $169 million to the province’s GDP.
Calgary is an opportunity-rich city
Our interactive investment map highlights the foreign direct investment (FDI) that has taken place in the Calgary area over the past 6 years. Explore Alberta’s digital economy through the Start Alberta digital platform, a useful tool for exploring digital economy and ecosystem.
Explore Investment in Calgary Explore Alberta’s digital economy
There is a shift happening to Calgary’s economic landscape and tech is at the forefront.
Gaming
Calgary’s gaming ecosystem is experiencing rapid growth. There are more than 60 companies working on video games and/or immersive media products and services. The video game industry employs 470 people, with 935 roles focused on immersive media (XR) in Calgary. The Digital Media & Entertainment employment rate is growing at an average annual rate of 4.8% (ITCT, 2024).
Calgary Game Developers Association
The Calgary Game Developers Association supports over 1200 local creatives and is dedicated to supporting a community of indie game developers, organizing regular meetups and events. Members represent a pool of readily available talent within the city.
View WebsiteAlberta-made games
Digital Alberta’s Albertan-made games dashboard boasts a list of over 190 games made in the province, 90 of which are on Steam and 108 on Itch.
View WebsiteRapidly-growing memberships
Membership in the gaming subsector in Calgary is growing fast: Twitch Calgary currently has 790+ members while the Calgary Unreal Engine Meetup has 180+ members.
Esports
Esports has taken the world by storm in recent years, integrating itself into popular culture and attracting global investors. The global gaming market is forecasted to reach USD 424.23 billion by 2033 (Straits Research, 2024).
The Alberta Esports Strategy has been successful in uniting Calgary and Edmonton partners to demonstrate the economic potential of the esports industry. This cross-provincial effort has showcased the viability of esports and grown the sector across Alberta.
Alberta Esports Strategy
The esports industry is booming as gaming becomes the top choice of entertainment for millennials and Gen Z. With a forecasted value of $1.6B USD globally, the esports industry offers a billion-dollar opportunity in Alberta. Explore how Alberta is ready to seize the billion-dollar opportunity in the Alberta Esports Strategy.
Animation and visual effects
Animation and visual effects (VFX) are a dominant force in the creative and digital tech landscape. The global spend for the animation and visual effects market is expected to reach $289.4B USD by 2026. By 2030, the Digital Media & Entertainment industry, which includes animation and visual effects, is projected to contribute up to $169 million to Alberta's GDP.
52% of Alberta’s Interactive Digital Media companies are headquartered in Calgary. Calgary’s cost effective and business friendly environment, along with funding opportunities for this sector provide a great location for you to grow your studio.
Post-Production, Visual Effects and Digital Animation Grant (PPG)
Immersive technologies
There are more than 60 companies working on immersive media and digital technology products and services in the city. Low operating costs and accessible space, mixed with the right talent and an unmatched quality of life, make Calgary a smart move for your Digital Media & Entertainment business.
Team Calgary partners
Want to learn more? Get in touch
Contact
Tori Romano
Business Development Manager, Digital Media & Entertainment
