Quebec City, July 13, 2022 – After four consecutive years of growth, production in the audiovisual industry in Quebec fell in 2020–2021, to $2.2 billion— down 6% from the previous year, but still higher than in 2018–2019. The drop is largely attributable to a decrease in foreign productions. Such are the findings of the 2022 edition of the Profil de l’industrie audiovisuelle au Québec, published today by the Observatoire de la culture et des communications of the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
Film and Television Production, Quebec, 2016-2017 to 2020-2021
1. Quebec share of the cost estimates for productions that received the refundable tax credit for film and television production services. This tax credit is for the shooting of foreign productions and technical services such as animation and special effects in Quebec.
Sources: Société de développement des entreprises culturelles and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Compilation: Institut de la statistique du Québec, Observatoire de la culture et des communications du Québec.
The Profile data show that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic varied for the different segments of the Quebec audiovisual industry, namely: broadcaster in-house production, independent television production, film production, production for the Web, participation in foreign production, and the sale of production services.
Significant increase in independent television production
In 2020–2021, independent television production, which makes up 36% of the industry, reached a 10-year high of $815 million (+23% over 2019–2020). This increase was driven by French-language independent television production (fiction, variety shows and magazine shows), which increased 29% over 2019–2020 to $520 million, while production in other languages rose 8% to $113 million.
Drop in film production
Film production in 2020–2021 was valued at $146 million, down 14% from 2019–2020, and its share of overall production was at its lowest level in the last 10 years: 6%. At 27 productions in 2020–2021 (15 fewer than the previous year), the number of feature-length fiction films also reached a 10-year low.
Significant decline in foreign production and production services
After four years of strong growth, the segment comprising foreign production participation and production services declined in 2020–2021 to $970 million, $258 million less than in 2019–2020. This decrease was likely due to the pandemic.
Profile of the Quebec audiovisual industry in 2021
These data come from the 2022 edition of the Profil de l’industrie audiovisuelle au Québec, which is produced with contributions from the Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM), the Association québécoise des techniciens et techniciennes de l'image et du son, IATSE local 514( AQTIS 514 IATSE) the Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ), the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), the Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC), the Table de concertation de l'industrie du cinéma et de la télévision de la Capitale-Nationale, and the Union des artistes (UDA).
With the exception of data on theatre releases in 2021, this edition of the Profil de l’industrie audiovisuelle au Québec pertains to the 2020–2021 fiscal year. Its statistics therefore reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the audiovisual industry in Quebec.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.