It is becoming an annual tradition in this space to crow about the Canadian film business’ accomplishments at the Academy Awards. Last year it was about Denys Arcand’s win for best foreign-language film for Les Invasions barbares, a masterful showcase for both Quebec’s creative talents and crews. The year before it was for the blockbuster musical Chicago, which shot in Toronto.

And now, as we celebrate Chris Landreth’s victory for best short animated film for the groundbreaking Ryan – no small feat, considering he beat Disney’s Lorenzo – let’s also reflect on the success of another production with a strong Canadian component – Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator, which was produced in Montreal.

The Aviator ultimately lost the best picture prize to Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby, so in that sense it doesn’t join the esteemed ranks of Chicago or Eastwood’s Unforgiven, the 1992 best pic winner that shot in Alberta. But it did take home more hardware than any other film this year – five Oscars in total, and three of those (art direction, cinematography and costume design) are in categories in which Montreal crews, support staff and infrastructure figured significantly.

The Aviator shot in Montreal from July to October 2003, setting up shop at the state-of-the-art Mel’s Cité du Cinéma studio facility. Montreal film commissioner Daniel Bissonnette estimates that 65% to 70% of the film, with an estimated budget of over US$100 million, was shot in the city.

After a dismal year of guest production in Montreal in 2004, the high-profile success of The Aviator, coupled with Quebec’s new 20% service tax credit – the highest of Canada’s major production centers – can only help rejuvenate the city’s service sector.

‘It can be pretty significant in helping us promotion-wise,’ says Bissonnette. ‘When we go to Hollywood, or when [U.S. producers] come to Montreal for scouting, they will ask about The Aviator. They will know what Scorsese said about Montreal – maybe not publicly, but what he told the crew and what he’s ready to tell people who are going to phone him.’

Bissonnette points out that foreign shooting has already picked up in the city, with the fantasy film The Fountain, starring Hugh Jackman, recently wrapping, and the thriller Lucky Number Slevin, with Josh Hartnett, winding down. Also, NBC is bringing a series pilot, War of Troubles, to Montreal for the first time, and the city is even hosting Chinese producers for a series about their favorite Canadian, Dr. Norman Bethune. A major Hollywood production has already done some prep work in town, but has yet to officially sign a deal with the director.

And now Scorsese, in his tireless quest to get himself a best director Oscar, is gearing up to shoot his next feature film, The Departed. A take on the Japanese film Infernal Affairs, it’s a cops-versus-Irish-gangsters thriller set in Boston. The announced cast includes Aviator star Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson. What isn’t yet clear is where it’s going to shoot.

One might think Scorsese would shoot the film in his native New York, especially after the city recently launched a new 5% tax credit, adding to a state tax credit of 10%. In fact, a Feb. 22 Variety story said the film is ‘expected to be shot’ there. Another source has it rolling in Boston in April.

But don’t count out Montreal yet. Not only are its financial incentives better, but surely Scorsese has not forgotten the results he got there on The Aviator. In fact, there is talk the filmmaker might soon be coming to town to scout locations, although no formal requests have been submitted.

Whether The Departed goes in the city or not, the local production community deserves to celebrate its crucial role in the Oscar-worthy The Aviator. Bravo, Montreal.