When we think of places where movies are made, we tend to think of Hollywood.
And if not the City of Angels, then most likely New York.
In Canada, our mind might drift to Vancouver, once dubbed “Hollywood North.”
But a recent list of “The Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2026” reveals some surprising results.
In Canada, Toronto is top dog for moviemaking—and Calgary, ranked fourth overall, is not far behind.
Canada, writes Tim Molloy for Moviemaker Magazine, is giving American anchors “serious competition.”
This “in part because of high costs in the U.S., and because of Hollywood’s uncertainty about where and how to invest,” according to Molloy.
Calgary edged out several cities in Texas—as well as Vancouver—to earn its near-podium ranking this year.
Vancouver, now an “established cornerstone of the industry,” remains “the first choice of countless film and TV productions” due to “incredibly photogenic locations.”
But Calgary is also enjoying a “thriving film scene” and “major upswing in location-scouting requests.”
Recent Blue Sky City productions include My Life With the Walter Boys, Billy the Kid, Heartland, and Anna Pigeon.
The Alberta Film and Television Tax Credit, which provides a rolling refund of up to 30% for expenses in film and television projects, helps the area’s attraction too—and that credit can stack with a federal one for an even juicer refund.
The region is also home to the Calgary International Film Festival and the Calgary Underground Film Festival.
Also on the Moviemaker list is Edmonton, squeezing into the top 25 in the 22nd slot.
A new addition to Moviemaker’s list, Edmonton’s broader film popularity is rising from the success of “scrappy indie film scene.”
And, like in Calgary, moviemakers can benefit in Edmonton from Alberta’s financial incentives.
Overall, it appears that Alberta is gaining ground within North America’s film industry.
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