Ontario is touting a record-breaking year for the film and television sector, with 394 productions bringing in $2.88 billion in production spending for the economy in 2021.

Ontario Creates says the figures represent 48,135 full-time equivalent direct and spin-off jobs for Ontarians, which is an increase of 38 per cent or 18,468 jobs from 2020, when the pandemic shut the industry down. It’s also more than 2019, which was also billed as a record-breaking year with 343 productions bringing in $2.16 billion in production spending and supporting 44,540 full-time equivalent direct and spin-off jobs.

Ontario Creates attributes the 2021 increase to several factors, including COVID-19 recovery, new growth in production, and Ontario’s robust health and safety protocols. The provincial agency also points to competitive tax credits and financial programs, ongoing studio space expansion, a diverse talent pool and range of film-friendly locations.

The figures are from the calendar year and represent only the money spent in Ontario on 2021 domestic and foreign film and TV productions.

Domestic production contributed $965 million after a lull in 2020, thanks in large part to 115 TV series productions contributing over $707 million in expenditures. In 2019, domestic production contributed $1 billion.

A strong TV industry also led to robust foreign production in 2021, with total expenditures reaching over $1.9 billion. That’s compared to $1.1 billion in foreign production in 2019. Live action production increased in 2021, accounting for 361 of the total 394 productions.

As expected, Toronto was a major hub of production activity last year. The city says its screen production industry set a record with more than $2.5 billion in direct spending in film, TV and digital media productions in 2021. That surpasses 2019, when a record $2.2 billion was spent in Toronto on production.

In total, there were 1,468 productions in Toronto last year. Key titles included the Oscar-nominated feature Nightmare Alley (pictured), the Apple TV+ series See and the CBS/Paramount+ series Star Trek Discovery, among many others.

In a news release, Mayor John Tory pointed to factors including strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols and expanding tech-forward studio space, such as a planned complex on 8.9 acres in the lakefront Port Lands district.

Tory said the city’s screen production industry is set to experience rapid growth and momentum again in 2022. As a result, the city’s Film Office is hiring additional film permit coordinators and sector development staff. New film permitting fees are also being introduced this year to help support the Film Office.

“We have seen expansive growth and jobs over the past few years, and along with the continued investments we have made in the infrastructure and workforce I am confident that the growth will continue for years ahead,” said Tory in a statement.

“The many studios here in Toronto remained at capacity throughout a full pandemic year and they are projected to be at capacity again this year, which means the local film and TV sector will play a major role in our pandemic recovery.”