After a year marked by headline-making moments, we reflect on the standout stories from the creative industries. From exciting new initiatives to inspiring success stories, here are some of the key highlights across book publishing, interactive and digital media, magazine publishing, motion picture, and the music and sound recording industries:
Motion Picture
Domestic Film
LONGLEGS grosses $100 Million at Box Office to Become 2024’s Highest-Grossing Indie Film
With a gross of $72 million in the U.S. and Canada and a total $100 million at the global box office, LONGLEGS is also the top-grossing R-rated horror film of 2024. Also, in just three weeks, LONGLEGS became the highest-grossing indie horror film of the past 10 years.
LONGLEGS
Netflix Buys and Oscar-Qualifies YINTAH Doc About Indigenous Nation’s Fight for Sovereignty
More than a decade in the making, YINTAH tells the story of a Canadian-based Indigenous nation’s fight for sovereignty. Co-directed by Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano, and Jennifer Wickham, the docu captures the Wet’suwet’en nation’s right to stewardship and sovereignty over their territories.
RESIDENT ORCA received the Best BC Director Award at the 2024 Whistler Film Festival
From first-time feature documentary directors, Sarah Sharkey Pearce and Simon Schneider, this intimate and heart-breaking narrative explores the relationship with the natural world through a captive whale and the attempts to return her to her wild family.
WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN won the Best Picture prize at this year’s Canadian Film Fest
A twisty, clever, genuine and romantic fantasy directed by Canadian filmmaker Kim Albright, has garnered attention for its unique narrative and emotional depth. WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN balances humour, cynicism, and hopefulness with a deft hand and a great deal of emotional intelligence.
OSTINATO is a short animation depicting a composer grappling with tinnitus. It follows Nuha, who perceives the world as a vibrant soundscape, as she learns to incorporate a mysterious Tone that disrupts her music into her life. Notably, some music was composed before the animation, with animators using videos of Cawley’s piano performances to guide their work. This short was made possible through the Women in Animation Animation Career EXCELerator NProgram and can be streamed on Netflix.
Domestic Series
Surrey-set “Allegiance” police drama now shooting Season 2 for winter streaming
A second season of the Surrey-set police drama “Allegiance” is filming locally for broadcast this winter from Lark Productions. Debuted last February, “Allegiance” was CBC’s most-watched new series of the 2023-24 season, the broadcaster says.
Allegiance
“Farming for Love”: Three B.C. farmers set to pick their partners during season finale
“Farming for Love” is based on the long-running international hit “Farmer Wants a Wife”. In the first season of Canada’s Farming for Love, five farmers searched for a match.
Vancouver-based WildBrain Studios earned 10 nominations at the 2024 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards
SNOOPY PRESENTS: ONE-OF-A-KIND MARCIE received two nominations, including Best Animated Special. TAKE CARE WITH PEANUTS was nominated for Short Form Animated Program, while MALORY TOWERS earned six nominations, including Best Children’s or Family Viewing Series. Additionally, SNOOPY PRESENTS: WELCOME HOME, FRANKLIN was nominated for Best Editing for an Animated Program.
B.C. Ties
Vancouver-born Natalie Rae brings DAUGHTERS to Netflix and shortlisted for Oscars
The documentary explores this challenge by profiling a father-daughter dinner-dance that took place at a Washington, D.C. prison in 2019, enabling select inmates to spend some quality time with their young daughters.
DAUGHTERS (Netflix)
In SUGARCANE, from documentary filmmakers Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, the inscriptions offer a deeply moving dimension to what went on at St. Joseph’s Mission residential school. They illustrate the quiet power of a remarkable film that brings humanity, sensitivity, and a bracing concreteness to an issue sometimes abstracted by numbers.
Foreign Production filmed in B.C.
B.C.-shot “SHŌGUN” smashes Emmy Awards record
Heading into the awards at the Peacock Theater the show already had broken Emmy records for most wins in a single year by collecting 14 trophies at the Creative Arts Emmys. The FX series increased its record wins to 18 at the Primetime Emmy Awards by adding trophies for best drama series, best actress in a drama series for Anna Sawai, best actor in a drama series for Hiroyuki Sanada, and best drama directing for Frederick E.O. Toye.
“SHŌGUN”
Netflix’s “Virgin River”: A Small Town Story with Big Economic Impact, with $44.4 Million Spent on Season Five in B.C.
From set decorators to sound editors, costume designers and more, the production spent $29.3 million on local wages and salaries and supported more than 390 talented British Columbians. The remaining $15.1 million was spent with a wide range of B.C. businesses on the purchase of local production-related goods and services like catering, lumber, equipment rentals and more. Season five alone supported more than 500 local businesses in communities across the province.
“Virgin River” star hints at new season and why B.C. is the ideal filming playground
Filmed from Burnaby to Squamish, with Jack’s Bar filmed inside the Watershed Grill, Hollingsworth says filming in B.C. with the talented cast and crew has been a privilege. But there have also been some challenging moments.
Infographic Credit: Motion Picture Association – Canada
MERRY & BRIGHT on a Hollywood Set in Langley
The MERRY & BRIGHT holiday experience returns to Martini Town, the Langley backlot of Martini Studios, open December 4, 2024 to January 5, 2025. Indulge in festive movie fantasies, and plenty of photo ops, at this unique outdoor film set featured in movies and TV series.
“Superman & Lois” Series Finale: Behind the Screen in Vancouver
After four seasons, “Superman & Lois” has wrapped up with its series finale airing earlier this month, bringing the show to a close. The series is filmed on the iconic Smallville set in Cloverdale, Vancouver.
Here’s When “Resident Alien” Season 4’s Release Is Now Expected
After months of waiting, filming for the series began in Vancouver on December 2, 2024, and will continue until March 31, 2025. This places its release in the latter half of 2025, likely expected in late summer or early fall.
“The Last of Us” coming in 2025
According to ComicBook Gaming’s speculations, “The Last of Us” Season 2 will be available come March next year, the earliest month of the Spring season, and will run until May 2025. This season is also filmed in B.C.
Interactive + Digital Media
DigiBC receives $720,000 to boost British Columbia’s creative technology sector
This PacifiCan funding is for DigiBC to deliver Signals, a Vancouver-based initiative combining a creative technology event with talent development opportunities for students and recent graduates. PacifiCan funding will support Signals programming for three years.
B.C. AI developer Stellar Code Lab receives $250K funding from CMF
Of the 18 projects, 11 of them were granted either exactly, or close to, the maximum amount allowable of $250,000. Selected projects include the artificial intelligence (AI) software D.Art AI Artist Assist App developed by Vancouver-based Stellar Code Lab, a division of the animation studio Stellar Creative Lab.
Vancouver studio ILM exclusively defined iconic style of Netflix’s “ULTRAMAN: RISING”
Ultimately, a significant part of the ILM Vancouver team’s task was to explore the concepts that would define the film’s style, establish a look that would not only stand out among other animated features, while also being robust enough for the crew to carry through 1,600-plus shots. In the end, the challenge of building the beautiful world of ‘‘ULTRAMAN: RISING” was worth the long days as every magnificent pixel of the film are generated assets created internally and exclusively by ILM.
Creative BC-funded Creative Technology Gallery at Science World wins prestigious national innovation award
The Creative Technology Gallery at Science World, launched in September 2023, brings to life the institution’s mission to make science engaging and relevant. This 3,000-square-foot immersive space highlights British Columbia’s vibrant fusion of science, art, and technology.
Photo Credit: Science World
ACE Canada’s Animation Career EXCELerator picks 7 of 9 finalists from B.C.
The finalists were selected by a jury of more than 35 creative and studio industry professionals from across Canada. This year, there are 7 of 9 final participants from B.C., including Arlyn Bantog, Patricia Atchison, Crystal Woo, Airin Budiman, Katie Winchester, Anastasia Walker and Bec Cranswick.
B.C. talent features alongside ULTRAMAN, MOANA and DAFFY DUCK at this year’s Spark Animation Festival
One of the Canadian features in the spotlight is an Alberta-B.C. co-production, Sunburnt Unicorn. To create the film, Alberta director Nicholas Johnson worked with Calgary-based Squid Brain Studios and Saturna Island-based New Machine Studios. The digitally animated adventure follows a boy named Frankie who encounters creatures, like the Cactus King, as he wanders the desert after a car accident that leaves him with a piece of glass sticking out of his forehead.
Book + Magazine
Vancouver’s Li Charmaine Anne wins a Governor General’s Literary Award
The Canada Council for the Arts announced the list on October 13 and Vancouver-based writer Li Charmaine Anne has won the 2024 Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People’s Literature with her debut novel Crash Landing.
Medicine Wheel Publishing and Marisa Alps win Books BC awards
Medicine Wheel Publishing is set to receive the Jim Douglas Publisher of the Year award, while industry veteran Marisa Alps is being recognized with the Gray Campbell Distinguished Service Award.
B.C. Books win 2024 BC Yukon Book Prizes
This year, there are seven winners from B.C., including A Season in Chezgh’un by Darrel J. McLeod Douglas & McIntyre, The Best Loved Boat: The Princess Maquinna by Ian Kennedy Harbour Publishing, Crushed Wild Mint by Jess Housty Nightwood Editions, My Baba’s Garden by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith, ill. Neal Porter Books, Hopeless in Hope by Wanda John-Kehewin HighWater Press, Crushed Wild Mint by Jess Housty Nightwood Editions and Keith Maillard.
B.C. publisher Arsenal Pulp’s Bad Land by Corinna Chong makes Giller Prize longlist
Vancouver-based Arsenal Pulp Press is celebrating an exciting achievement as Bad Land, the acclaimed novel by Corinna Chong, has been longlisted for the prestigious 2024 Giller Prize.
“Bad Land” by Corinna Chong
Taste Canada’s 2024 award names 4 of 10 shortlisted writers from B.C.
Taste Canada has announced the 2024 shortlists for its 10 culinary writing awards. This year, there are four B.C.-published books made the shortlist, including Eat Alberta First: A Year of Local Recipes from Where the Prairies Meet the Mountains by Karen Anderson (TouchWood Editions), My Thali: A Simple Indian Kitchen by Joe Thottungal with Anne DesBrisay (Figure 1 Publishing), Okanagan Eats: Signature Chefs’ Recipes from British Columbia’s Wine Valleys by Dawn Postnikoff & Joanne Sasvari (Figure 1 Publishing), and Let’s Eat: Recipes for Kids Who Cook by DL Acken and Aurelia Louvet (TouchWood Editions).
Music
The 2025 JUNO Awards aim to make Vancouver home for a provincewide party
The 2025 JUNO Awards ceremony takes place at Rogers Arena on March 30, there will be events and performances taking place across the province to bring the Junos to music fans across B.C. and will be hosted by Michael Bublé.
Michael Bublé Image credit: Andrew Chin/Getty Images
Kelowna named as host city for Country Music Week 2025 & The 2025 CCMA Awards
The Canadian Country Music Association announced that Kelowna, British Columbia, will be the host city for Country Music Week 2025 the 2025 CCMA Awards presented by TD. Known for its breathtaking landscapes and year-roandund activities, Kelowna promises an exceptional backdrop for celebrating Canada’s top country music talent in September 2025.
Vancouver renews investment for emerging artists and professionals in music industry
It was recently announced that the City of Vancouver renewed its investment of $350,000 to the Vancouver Music Fund to support Indigenous and underrepresented groups working in the music and sound recording industry.
B.C. Musicians win at Western Canadian Music Awards at BreakOut West 2024
Organized by the Western Canadian Music Alliance, BreakOut West is a yearly music gathering comprised of an immersive music development conference, music festival, and award ceremonies. This year, there are 11 winners from British Columbia.
Maple Ridge musicians picked for MusicFest in Toronto
Grade 12 student Ethan Knowles, a euphonium player, and Grade 11 student Alex Gibson, who plays the tuba, will be heading to the 52nd annual MusicFest Canada “The Nationals” at the University of Toronto in May. The pair will be two of thousands of young musicians ages 16-24, from across the country to be accepted for the one-week educational music convention, the largest in the country.
