With the increasing demand for quality content across various platforms, Canada is a great place to build a career in the film industry. The industry constantly seeks creative professionals who bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. The Canadian film and television industry generates around $9 billion in revenue, creating more than 216,660 jobs, making it a thriving and exciting field.
Canada’s film industry primarily focuses on three provinces: Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. These provinces have excellent facilities, talent, crew, services and locations to support the film industry. They are a great place to gain experience and make the necessary connections to take your career to the next level.
Ontario is considered the central seat of Canada’s film industry and is home to one of the largest film festivals in the world, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Toronto is one of North America’s top five largest film industries and is home to Canada’s most prominent production houses. Additionally, because it’s far cheaper and more accessible than filming in the United States, many of Hollywood’s most significant productions are filmed in Canada. The government partially funds Canada’s film industry, which allows the country’s major production houses to reimburse and treat workers fairly, something that may not occur in other countries.
British Columbia is another major film industry hub in Canada, and Vancouver, in particular, is a prominent filming location for many Hollywood movies. The Vancouver film industry employs over 65,000 people, and more than 80% of production occurs in the Vancouver metropolitan region. Vancouver’s film industry has created some of the biggest streaming shows worldwide.
Quebec is home to a significant portion of Canada’s film industry, making it another excellent location to build a career in film. Quebec’s thriving local film industry allows Canadian filmmakers to fully grow and realize their creative visions in ways they couldn’t work in other countries. The centre of Quebec’s film industry is Montreal, and as a result, many of Canada’s most beloved filmmakers, like Dune director Denis Villeneuve, are Quebecois. Film industry jobs in Montreal are abundant as the industry is growing massively, thanks to major production houses like Telefilm Canada and Entertainment One. These companies are behind massive hits like The Walking Dead, Peaky Blinders, The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, Twilight, Room, Brooklyn and Peppa Pig.
Now that you know about the top provinces for the film industry, let’s dive into the top five careers in the film industry in Canada.
Producer/Director – average salary $70,000 – $200,000+
Producers and directors oversee the creative and technical aspects of the film, television and other media productions. They work closely with writers, actors, cinematographers and other crew members to bring a project from its initial concept to its final execution. A producer’s responsibilities typically include developing a project, securing funding, hiring key personnel, and managing the production schedule and budget. A director’s role involves translating the script into visual images and directing the actors and crew to bring the story to life.
Animator – average salary $40,000 – $90,000+
Animators are responsible for creating the illusion of motion in visual effects and animation projects. They use various software tools and techniques to create character animations, special effects, and other visual elements. Animators may specialize in 2D or 3D animation and work on multiple projects, including films, TV shows, video games and advertising.
Sound Designer – $50,000 – $100,000+
Sound designers work closely with directors, producers, and editors to create the audio elements for film, TV, and other media productions. They use a combination of sound effects, dialogue, music and other audio elements to create an immersive and engaging audio experience for viewers. Sound designers must deeply understand sound design principles and be skilled in using audio software tools.
Video Editor – average salary $40,000 – $80,000+
Video editors assemble raw footage into a cohesive and compelling story. They work closely with directors, producers and other post-production personnel to ensure the final product meets the project’s creative vision. Video editors must be skilled in video editing software and have a keen eye for detail.
Screenwriter – $30,000 – $150,000+
Screenwriters create scripts for film, TV, and other media productions. They work closely with producers, directors and other creative team members to develop compelling characters, engaging storylines, and captivating dialogue. Screenwriters must have a deep understanding of storytelling principles and be skilled in the art of dialogue.
The film industry needs workers. Like the rest of Canada, the aging population and the massively expanding industry have led to massive vacancies that the industry desperately needs to fill.
Interested in starting a career in the film industry?
Trebas Institute – Toronto and Montreal offer Audio and Video Post-Production (Montreal), Film & Television Production and Post-Production (Toronto), Film and Television Production (Montreal), Sound Design (Montreal) and other programs designed to give students a holistic understanding of the film and entertainment industry and prepare students to become exceptional leaders in their field.
Many of Trebas’ faculty and alumni have gone on to win major awards and work for big industry names. CourseCompare has recognized Trebas Institute in the 2023 Outcomes-Based Rankings as one of the ‘Best Film Schools.’