Mr. Speaker, the film and media arts industry makes a positive economic and cultural impact on our Territory. It provides employment and learning opportunities for our residents, provides a venue for our talented filmmakers to showcase their work and draws outside production companies to the Northwest Territories to create memorable films that use our rugged landscape as a backdrop.
Today I am pleased to share with you the results of the progress report on the film and media arts industry that I am tabling later in the House today.
The Departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Education, Culture and Employment have been working together over the past two years to explore the best ways to support film in complementary ways: Industry, Tourism and Investment through the business and economic side, and Education, Culture and Employment through the training, cultural and creative development side.
The process started over two years ago when members from the NWT film industry raised concerns about the need for increased support.
Realizing the need to have a closer look at the film industry, ITI and ECE undertook a review. This involved close consultation with the NWT film and media arts industry – at a workshop last year, the Government of the Northwest Territories and stakeholders came together to discuss options and develop recommendations for support.
We all agreed that improved collaboration was needed between ITI and ECE. The GNWT also committed to establish the NWT Film Commission’s mandate and staffing configuration, to establish dedicated funding support for the industry, to invest in the formation of an industry association, and to invest in website development.
Today I am pleased to announce that the Government of the Northwest Territories has made progress on each of these commitments, and the industry is becoming even healthier.
The two departments regularly collaborate on film issues. We restructured the NWT Film Commission and added a full-time dedicated Associate Film Commissioner.
Dedicated funding of $100,000 per year is now available through ITI’s Support to Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Policy, to provide additional support to the NWT film industry.
Also, with the full support of the GNWT, the NWT Professional Media Association was formed. This gave the film industry and our government a more formal way to discuss ways to provide the support that is needed.
Last but not least, we have made significant progress on a brand new NWT Film Commission website. This sleek new website, nwtfilm.com, is a resource to the local film and media arts industry and companies who want to film in the NWT. It also has an NWT Film Suppliers guide to promote the local industry.
Progress has been made on more than just what is identified in this report. ITI, through the NWT Film Commission – as well as ECE – recently provided support and took part in a panel at the first-ever NWT Filmmaker and Producer Forum in September. This kind of two-way dialogue is an essential part of working together with the industry.
Mr. Speaker, we realize there is more work to do and this report is only one way we will show our support for the film and media arts industry. We will continue to work closely with the industry and I am confident we will see even more amazing work from our local filmmakers and film community and that interest in filming in the NWT will continue to grow.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.