Vancouver: The Okanagan Film Commission and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District have each received $60,000 from the B.C. government to help attract film and television productions.

‘Right now 90% of film and television production takes place in the Lower Mainland,’ says Gerard Janssen, B.C.’s minister of small business, tourism and culture. ‘I want to see regional production grow so production dollars and jobs go to all areas of the province and everyone benefits from our booming industry.’

The Okanagan and Thompson-Nicola film commissions will use the $120,000 to market products and services to directors, producers and location scouts.

‘Our goal is to make the Thompson-Nicola region a viable film production destination,’ says Andy Kormendy, chair of the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission. ‘And to do that we have to sell ourselves effectively. This funding will improve the marketing and advertising products we use at industry conferences and film festivals to entice productions to the region.’

Last June, the B.C. government introduced the regional film commission assistance program and, in the most recent budget, committed $500,000 to maintain the program for a second year. *

-//www.sbtc.gov.bc.ca