Calgary named by MovieMaker Magazine as 5th-best North American city to live and make movies in

Calgary was named the fifth-best North American city to live and make movies in by MovieMaker Magazine on Wednesday (Photo: X@CalgaryEconomicDevelopment)

Calgary was named one of the top five cities to live and make movies in by MovieMaker Magazine Wednesday.

It also moved up to the second-best Canadian city, ranking behind Toronto, which placed second out of 25 behind Albuquerque, N.M.

Calgary was singled out for its unique combination of diverse filming locations, world-class infrastructure and a supportive business environment, which has contributed to its growing reputation as a top filmmaking location, on series such as Fargo, HBO’s The Last of Us and the upcoming Abandons, Netflix’s My Life With the Walter Boys, Apple+’s Fraggle Rock, Wynona Earp, Heartland and numerous other award-winning films and series.

“Calgary is very welcoming toward filmmakers — even those looking to move there permanently,” reads the ranking in MovieMaker Magazine’s Winter 2025 edition.

“And its many attractions include a lovely and modern downtown that gives way to stunning natural beauty nearby, from prairies to badlands to the Rockies.”

IATSE 212 President Damian Petti said in a statement to CTV News that the news wasn’t a surprise to producers and casts who have worked in Calgary on productions.

“We are very pleased, but not surprised, to see Calgary ascending to No.5 on the MovieMaker list,” he said.

“Our locale continues to evolve in positive ways,” Petti added. “We have had a robust year in terms of budget and genre range as well a great mix of locally-produced independent, and high budget streaming projects.

“Despite production volumes taking a steep decline nationally and globally, Calgary has managed to keep much of its momentum,” he added. “We have built many new relationships and are grateful for a high number of multi-season pickups on the episodic side of our industry.”

Calgary film commissioner Luke Azevedo, who regularly travels to Los Angeles to pitch the city as a location, said the nod was well-earned.

“Calgary’s continued rise on this prestigious list is a result of our commitment to fostering a creative economy that supports filmmakers and productions of every scale,” Azevedo said. “From our unparalleled landscapes to our globally competitive incentives, we’ve cultivated an ecosystem that empowers local and international productions alike.

“This recognition is a nod to the collaboration between industry partners, government and Calgary’s vibrant creative community.”

Other Canadian cities on the list of 25 North American locations included Vancouver (No. 9) and Ottawa (No. 25).

In a separate list of small towns, Kamloops placed 10th.