Written by Shona Smith on Jun 24, 2021. Posted in Incentive News

Nova Scotia nearly doubles available funding for productions

Nova Scotia government is adding CAD23.6 million to the Nova Scotia Film and Television Production Incentive Fund, nearly doubling the size to CAD48.6 million. Some of the major productions currently shooting in Nova Scotia is drama anthology The Sinner, Canadian legal drama Diggstown.

The increase in funding reflects a record number of applications and the province’s growing popularity as a production destination. According to the Office of Communities, Culture and Heritage 61 projects have already been approved for the 2021-2022 year.

“When COVID-19 emerged in Nova Scotia, the film and television industry worked tirelessly to create and implement medical-grade health and safety protocols on set, allowing the sector to continue to work throughout the pandemic. It's become clear during these tough times that Premier Rankin has chosen to invest in an industry that acts as an economic driver for the region, attracting well over CAD100 million dollars in foreign direct investment, which is injected directly into the payroll of Nova Scotians and small businesses that make up the heart of our communities.” Says Laura Mackenzie, executive director, Screen Nova Scotia.

The fund was established in 2015 and provides up to 32% on eligible Nova Scotia expenditure, including labour goods and services. To date the fund has invested CAD99.5 million, resulting in CAD340 million worth of production spending in the province.

Notable projects during this time include Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse, and numerous television series including Locke & Key (Netflix), This Hour has 22 Minutes (CBC), The Curse of Oak Island (History Channel) and Feudal.

One of the largest productions to film in Nova Scotia, The Sinner, is currently underway on the South Shore. Another major production, Diggstown is filming its third season in the Halifax-Dartmouth area.

“Our association with the Nova Scotia government reflects Universal Content Productions’ ongoing investment in our global production community. We are grateful for the opportunity to film The Sinner in beautiful Nova Scotia, while safely and successfully following pandemic protocols” says Mark Binke, executive vice-president, Production, UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Canada’s federal funding can be stacked with regional incentives. The Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) applies to national, foreign and co-production and amounts to 16%.