A new film and television tax credit for the capital region announced in Tuesday’s budget will boost production by 100 per cent, says Victoria film commissioner Kathleen Gilbert.
“We’ll do at least double what we’re doing now,” said Gilbert, adding she toasted the announcement with champagne.
Producers shooting in Greater Victoria can now access a six-per-cent distant location provincial tax credit. It was previously available only to producers filming north of Whistler, east of Hope and anywhere on Vancouver Island except the capital region.
The tax credit applies to productions with principal photography beginning on or after Wednesday. While it will not affect the 10-episode television series Gracepoint currently being filmed in Victoria, Gilbert said producers can take advantage of the tax credit if they film a subsequent season here.
“I have a couple of productions — I can’t name them at this point — that I’ll be calling as soon as I get off the phone with you. I’m hoping I’ll have producers in my car next week because of this, showing them around,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert added she is trying to attract three new TV and film projects to Victoria. The tax incentive, combined with global publicity from Gracepoint and a drop in the Canadian dollar, will make this task easier.
The distant location tax credit was introduced in 2008 to encourage TV and film production outside Greater Vancouver. Gilbert said she does not know why the capital region was excluded at the time.
The TV and film industry on southern Vancouver Island has experienced a slump over the past seven years. Gilbert said she hopes the new tax credit helps restore it to 2007 levels. However, that might take time because the infrastructure was eroded after film-crew workers moved elsewhere.
