Quebec’s English-language film industry struggling

Quebec's English-language film industry says it's being left behind as provincial tax credits and incentives aren't keeping up with the rest of Canada.

Montreal’s English-language film and television industry is struggling amid gaps in tax credits.

With productions drying up, especially following the pandemic, industry members say Quebec risks not just losing jobs, but talent.

“The province doesn’t have an interest in English culture anymore,” said Simon Peacock, president of ACTRA Montreal, the union representing 3,831 professional performers in the city.

Peacock, who is a working actor himself, says it is hard making a living in the industry, and part of the reason is the Quebec government.

He points to a lack of competitive tax credits for English-language projects. Peacock also says support for post-production has been axed.

“Quebec was a sort of one-stop shop. You could shoot here, then you could do all your post-production here at the same time,” he said, “Having to now go somewhere else for that makes us less attractive.”

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Montreal’s MELS studio is also feeling the squeeze as its film production lab is closing its doors. President Patrick Jutras cited an “absence of competitive tax incentives to attract a steady stream of foreign productions to Montreal” as one of the reasons for the decision.

Filmmaker and director of photography Alfonso Maiorana has experienced the slowdown firsthand.

“I am still working, but not as much as in the past and that’s not a good sign,” said Maiorana.

He says some professionals are deciding to leave Quebec and move to Toronto or Vancouver for better opportunities.

CTV News reached out to Quebec’s Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, for comment, but he was not available.