7 Foreign location and service production

The foreign location and service (FLS) production segment is primarily comprised of films and television programs filmed in Canada mainly by foreign producers with the involvement of Canadian-based service providers. This includes the visual effects (VFX) work done by Canadian VFX studios for foreign films and television programs. For almost all FLS projects (97%), the copyright is held by non-Canadian producers.

Canada has also become a destination for the filming of many television series commissioned by US studios, networks or subscription video on demand (SVOD) services. Some recent series include the latest seasons of IT: Welcome to Derry, The Last of Us, Doc and Happy Face.

In recent years, Canada’s FLS production segment has also contributed to numerous films released globally. Some recent Hollywood films that have either been shot in Canada or had their VFX work done in Canada include Frankenstein, Tron: Ares and Final Destination Bloodlines.

Highlights from 2024/25

  • The total volume of FLS production in Canada increased by 9.5% from $4.86 billion to $5.32 billion.
  • This growth was driven by the total volume of FLS television series production increasing by 12.1% to $3.42 billion and the total volume of other[22] FLS television production increasing by 54.4% to $366 million.
  • The total increase was slightly offset by a decrease of 2.2% in the total volume of FLS feature film production to $1.54 billion.
  • While the total volume increased, the total number of FLS productions decreased from 490 to 460. There were decreases in the number of FLS productions across all types in 2024/25.
  • The vast majority of the volume of FLS production in 2024/25 remained in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, representing 40%, 30% and 22% of the total respectively.
  • The volume of FLS animation production increased from $837 million to $1.03 billion in 2024/25, although the number of projects declined from 129 to 98.
  • While total volume increased in most FLS production segments, these results are coming off significant decreases in production last year. As a result of two major multi-month strikes in 2023, FLS production had declined by 26.6% in 2023/24. As such, production levels for 2024/25, while increased, are still lower than they were in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

7.1 Total production and types

Foreign location and service production

Exhibit 7-1 Volume of foreign location and service production, by type

Source:
Association of Provincial Television and Film Agencies.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding.
* Includes TV movies, specials, pilots and other single-episode programming. Prior to 2017/18, mini-series were included as part of the TV other category. In 2017/18, the statistics for mini-series were collected in the TV series category. For this reason, the year-over-year growth in TV series production in 2017/18 is slightly overstated. However, the vast majority of production in the TV series category is still likely comprised of TV series rather than TV mini-series.

Volume of foreign location and service production, by type, annual growth 2024/25

2023/24 ($) TotalGrowth ($M) 2024/25Growth (%) 2024/25
Feature films1,570-35-2.2
TV series3,05336812.1
TV other*23712954.4
Total4,8614619.5

Source:
Association of Provincial Television and Film Agencies.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding.
* Includes TV movies, specials, pilots and other single-episode programming. Prior to 2017/18, mini-series were included as part of the TV other category. In 2017/18, the statistics for mini-series were collected in the TV series category. For this reason, the year-over-year growth in TV series production in 2017/18 is slightly overstated. However, the vast majority of production in the TV series category is still likely comprised of TV series rather than TV mini-series.

Exhibit 7-2 Annual number of foreign location and service projects, by type

Source:
Association of Provincial Television and Film Agencies.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding.
* Includes TV movies, specials, pilots and other single-episode programming. Prior to 2017/18, mini-series were included as part of the TV other category. In 2017/18, the statistics for mini-series were collected in the TV series category. For this reason, the year-over-year growth in TV series production in 2017/18 is slightly overstated. However, the vast majority of production in the TV series category is still likely comprised of TV series rather than TV mini-series.

The total volume of FLS production increased in real inflation-adjusted dollars in 2024/25, while the value of the Canadian dollar decreased.

Exhibit 7-3 Total volume of foreign location and service (FLS) production (real inflation-adjusted dollars vs. value of Canadian dollar)

Source:
Bank of Canada, Statistics Canada and Association of Provincial Television and Film Agencies.

[22]Other television production includes television movies, specials, pilots and other single-episode programming. It excludes mini-series, which are counted in the television series category.