Netflix is further cementing its presence in Langley, B.C., with the announcement of an extension of its lease agreement with Martini Film Studios in the city for an additional five years.

The California-based streaming giant set up shop in the full-service production facility in B.C.’s Lower Mainland starting in 2017, as Martini Film Studios’ first client. Recent Netflix productions filmed at the studio include Another Life season two (pictured), Space Force season two, Mixtape, Ivy & Bean and Grendel season one.

Under the new lease extension, Netflix will continue to have access to the facility’s eight sound stages and more than 260,000 square feet of total space. Martini Film Studios also has a suite of support services provided by studio designer and builder MBS.

Netflix also uses studio space at Canadian Motion Picture Park (CMPP) in Burnaby, B.C., where it signed a multi-year lease agreement in 2020.

In 2019, Netflix also signed multi-year leases with Pinewood Toronto Studios and Cinespace along Toronto’s downtown waterfront, where the company also has an office housing its Canadian content team, who started doing meet-and-greets with producers in January.

Netflix and Martini Film Studios have partnered on several initiatives, including the installation of 20 electric vehicle charging stations at the facilities. They’ve also provided the use of stage space for professional training programs to increase capacity for the province’s growing production sector.

B.C. studio space is growing amid a booming production sector driven by foreign service productions.

According to the Vancouver Economic Commission’s annual film spend research released last October, the local film, TV, post-production and animation industries generated $3.4 billion in direct spending for the provincial economy in the 2020 calendar year. While it was a 16.6% year-over-year drop from the record-setting $4.1 billion in 2019, it was more than industry stakeholders had anticipated after months of filming delays caused by COVID-19.

“With more than 60 Netflix shows and movies filmed in B.C. since 2018, we’re excited to be redoubling our commitment to the region as a production centre,” said Amy Reinhard, VP of Studio Operations at Netflix, in a statement on Wednesday (March 30). “There’s an incredible level of talent, innovation and creativity across the province, and we’re pleased to extend our relationship with Martini Film Studios which has been an outstanding partner.”

Gemma Martini, founder and CEO of Martini Film Studios, called Netflix “an incredible partner.”

“Netflix is a very important part of the production sector here in B.C. and we really appreciate the huge vote of confidence it is showing, both to the Martini Film Studios but also to the world class crew and technicians that hold up our industry,” said Martini.

Added Geoff Teoli, Vancouver’s acting film commissioner: “There’s no doubt that the industry has been a lifeline to many British Columbians during the pandemic, but we can’t forget that B.C. talent, creatives and workers have in turn been a lifeline for the industry as a whole, particularly with so many disruptions in other global film hubs.”

Photo (L to R): Samuel Anderson as William, Greg Hovanessian as Beauchamp McCarry in episode 208 of Another Life. Credit: Eike Schroter/Netflix