TORONTO — Ontario is reporting a blockbuster 2021 for film and television production.
The province says 394 productions made last year brought in $2.88 billion in spending for the economy.
The figures come from Ontario Creates, a provincial agency that facilitates economic development, investment and collaboration in creative industries.
The agency says the figures represent more than 48,000 full-time direct and spinoff jobs that could include technicians, production managers, location managers, craft services, post-production experts, accountants, performers and drivers.
That's a 38 per cent rise from the 232 productions in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a brief shutdown of film and television work for part of the year.
Foreign production remained strong in 2021, with expenditures topping $1.9 billion, while domestic film and television production brought in $965 million.
Ontario Creates president Karen Thorne-Stone credited the numbers to the province's financial incentives, studio expansions and film-friendly locations.
"We are thrilled to see Ontario's film and television industry leading the province's economic recovery," Thorne-Stone said Thursday in a statement.
Recent Ontario-shot productions include the Hulu/CTV series "The Handmaid's Tale" and CBC's "Pretty Hard Cases," along with Sarah Polley's upcoming film "Women Talking" and the Kevin Hart comedy "The Man from Toronto."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2022.
Sadaf Ahsan, The Canadian Press
