Today, Mayor Olivia Chow announced she will lead a film mission to Los Angeles from May 8 to 10 to help energize Toronto’s thriving multi-billion-dollar film, television and digital production industry and encourage more movie makers to invest in Toronto.

Mayor Chow, along with Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth) and Councillor Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North), made the announcement at Cinespace Studios’ Marine Terminal campus, on the set of Netflix’s production of FRANKENSTEIN directed by Guillermo Del Toro.

The Mayor’s Mission to Los Angeles is a collaborative public- and private-sector initiative that will see Mayor Chow and 40 delegates across the industry meet with established and prospective clients of Toronto’s film industry, including major studios and streaming companies, along with other independent production, entertainment and technology companies looking to expand their operations in the city.

The mission follows Toronto’s number one ranking as ‘Best Place to Live and Work as a Movie Maker’ in 2024 by MovieMaker Magazine, a strong endorsement of the excellent crews, locations and studio spaces available across the city.

In 2022, the screen production industry in Toronto set a record with $2.6 billion in direct spending and is one of the largest screen-based industries in North America, employing more than 35,000 people.

The Mayor’s Mission to Los Angeles is sponsored by ACTRA Toronto, BMO Media Finance, Centennial College, Cinespace Studios, CMU, Company 3, DGC Ontario, Dufferin Gate Studios, East End Studios, Entertainment Partners, Film Ontario, GreenSpark Group, IATSE 411, IATSE 873, MBS, NABET 700-M UNIFOR, Northcrest Developments, Ontario Creates, Panavision Canada, Pinewood Toronto Studios, POV, RBC, RedLab, Rocket Science VFX, Sheridan College, SPINVFX, Starline Group, Toronto Film School, TriBro Studios, Urban Post and William F. White Intl.

Information about the screen production industry in Toronto, including planned productions through this spring and summer, is available at: https://www.toronto.ca/bu.../.

“The rapid growth of the screen sector in Toronto is a true testament to the diversity of talent and perspectives that we have here in our city. I’m looking forward to leading my first business mission to Los Angeles to secure more investments in Toronto’s film industry and further expand our city’s reputation as a world-class screen production hub.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow

“The upcoming business mission to Los Angeles is an invaluable opportunity to build on the success of previous efforts and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to growing Toronto’s already thriving screen industry.”
– Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth), Chair, Film, Television and Digital Media Advisory Board

“Toronto has truly ‘scripted’ its success story as a global powerhouse in film and television production. This upcoming mission promises to ‘direct’ the further expansion of the industry, bringing a diverse cast of productions to our city and ‘setting the stage’ for thousands of job opportunities for everyone in the sector.”
– Councillor Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North), Mayor’s Economic Development & Culture Champion

SOURCE: City of Toronto

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