Alberta film and television funding, tax credit moved to one ministry

Alberta’s Film and Television Tax Credit and Alberta Media Fund are being bundled under one government ministry. (FILE)

Alberta’s Film and Television Tax Credit (FTTC) and Alberta Media Fund (AMF) are being bundled under one government ministry.

The province said at a press conference Wednesday both will now fall under its Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women.

According to the province, the change “will improve co-ordination, strengthen oversight and provide greater clarity for industry partners.”

The province also said unscripted television and game shows will be part of an expansion to the FTTC.

Arts, Culture and Status of Women Minister Tanya Fir said this will “create jobs and diversify Alberta’s economy.”

Janet Morhart, chief operating officer and co-executive producer for Prairie Dog Film + Television, lauded the moves.

“Alberta producers are thriving, thanks in no small part to the Alberta Media Fund,” Morhart said in a press release.

“Aligning the fund and the Film and Television Tax Credit under one ministry strengthens development and production incentives, helping turn ideas into screen-ready projects that attract investment and create jobs.”

The FTTC previously fell under the Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration.

The province’s website says the FTTC “offers a refundable Alberta tax credit on eligible production costs to corporations that produce films, television series and other eligible screen-based productions in the province.”

There are 22 and 30 per cent tax credit rates.

More information about the FTTC is available here.

The AMF “offers a variety of grants to help support the growth, sustainability, competitiveness and business attraction of our province’s cultural industries.”

It’s open to “screen-based productions, digital media, script writing, book publishing, magazine publishing and sound recording.”

More information about the AMF is available here.

More than $65M earmarked for film and television

Officials also noted the province is investing more than $65 million into the local film and television industry through Budget 2026.

Wednesday’s press conference was held in Banff, during the Banff World Media Festival.

“The Banff World Media Festival highlights the strength of Alberta’s screen sector and the talent behind it,” Fir said.

Jenn Kuzmyk, the festival’s executive director, called it “a strong example of how the Alberta Media Fund successfully invests in infrastructure.”

Kuzmyk said such investments are “bringing new business, world-class productions, local film and television industry growth and vast cultural benefits to the province.

And Kuzmyk said the result is “positioning Alberta as a global leader in the screen sector.”

According to the province, the FTTC and AMF have paid out for more than 380 productions since 2020.

The province said that has generated “more than $1.6 billion in spending” and has contributed “an estimated $933 million to provincial GDP.”

The province also said that has supported “more than 16,000 jobs.”