British Columbia is expanding the Digital Animation or Visual Effects tax credit to post-production activities, and extending the Interactive Digital Media tax credit to 2018, Minister of Finance Michael de Jong announced today with the introduction of Balanced Budget 2015.

As promised, the Digital Animation or Visual Effects (DAVE) tax credit will apply to labour expenditures on eligible post-production activities for productions where principal photography begins on or after March 1, 2015.

The Interactive Digital Media tax credit was introduced in 2010 and set to expire in 2015, but Budget 2015 extends the credit to 2018 to continue providing support for the digital media industry. The Interactive Digital Media tax credit is a 17.5% refundable tax credit on eligible salary and wages for eligible companies that develop interactive digital media products in B.C.

British Columbia also supports filmmakers, actors and other industry participants through a suite of refundable tax credits designed to encourage film and television production activity in all areas of B.C. The credits serve to reduce the cost of wages for film and television companies, and make operating in B.C. more affordable.

The motion picture industry spends over $1.1 billion per year on production activity in British Columbia, generating an estimated 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. B.C.’s digital-media industry generates about $1.2 billion in revenue and employs approximately 14,000 British Columbians.

Quotes:

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

“The film, television and digital media industries are an important element in the diverse B.C. economy, attracting skilled workers to high-value jobs. Expanding and extending these credits helps support a successful film and interactive digital media sector.”

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond -

“British Columbia is one of the busiest jurisdictions for filmmaking in North America - and with good reason. We have exceptional talent and infrastructure; our tax credits for the film and digital-media industries are just another added incentive for production companies to call B.C. home. I am positive that the measures in Budget 2015 will result in increased investment in the Province, putting more of our talented British Columbians to work.”

MLA for North Vancouver Seymour Jane Thornthwaite -

“North Vancouver had a record-breaking year in 2014 for film activity, but that success was not limited to the North Shore. This industry is valuable for the entire province and extending tax credits, both in scope and length, will keep B.C.’s film industry competitive and strong.”

Learn More:

The B.C. government launched BC Creative Futures, a strategy to help foster a creative workforce and support the continued growth of creative industries in British Columbia. For details, visit: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/arts_culture/bccf.htm

Media Contacts:

Jamie Edwardson
Director of Communications
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799