2025 was a landmark year for British Columbia’s creative industries. Across film, television, music, publishing, and interactive digital media, B.C.–based creators and companies continued to earn global recognition, break new ground, and shape culture at home and abroad. Here’s a look at some of the standout achievements from this year. This year saw impressive growth and achievement from B.C.–supported creators, with projects gaining momentum at home and abroad.
A Year of Music in B.C.
Music across B.C. had a milestone year filled with national pride, major award shows, and breakout artists:
- The JUNO Awards returned to the province, hosted by Burnaby icon Michael Bublé.
- The Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) were also held in B.C., drawing fans and artists from across the country.
- BreakOut West announced it will bring its multi‑city festival and industry conference to Victoria in 2026, further solidifying the island’s growing music scene.
- Cameron Whitcomb of Nanaimo won two major CCMA awards in Kelowna, marking a breakthrough year for the artist.
- B.C. artists Quintana Mills, Dan Mangan, Karan Aujla, Finn Wolfhard, Lights, and Mac DeMarco appeared on CBC’s Top 100 Canadian Songs of 2025, showcasing the province’s breadth of talent across genres.
Motion Picture
- Increased Tax Credits: The B.C. government made official updates to motion picture tax credits to attract both domestic and international productions.
- HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2, filmed in B.C., premiered this year and earned two Location Managers Guild Award nominations for its work.
- The BC Film Commission at Creative BC took home the Global Production Award for Film Commission of the Year at Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes.
- Our Ocean Table was nominated for Best People & Nature at the Jackson Media Awards. The project also secured additional financing from TELUS Originals to move into series production.
- ONE DAY THIS KID grew its profile significantly with Dan Levy joining as Executive Producer. The film is streaming on The Criterion Collection/Channel, a prestigious milestone for emerging filmmakers.
- THE MONKEY became the most‑watched independent horror trailer of all time, signalling strong international interest ahead of release.
- Sony Pictures Imageworks animated KPOP DEMON HUNTERS – the most-watched film of all time on Netflix (over 236 million views) – along with In Your Dreams, the Netflix feature which debuted at #4 on the streamer.
- DNEG won the Academy Award for Visual Effects, the BAFTA Award for Special Visual Effects, the Critics Choice Award for Best Visual Effects and 4 VES Awards for its work on Dune: Part Two.
- Wildbrain Studios’ received 30 accolades this year — 9 wins plus 21 nominations — from the Children’s & Family Emmys, Canadian Screen Awards, Leo Awards, and more local, national and global honours.
Interactive Digital Media
- The B.C. government increased the Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit from 17.5% to 25% of eligible salary and wages. The credit was also made permanent to encourage investment and job creation in the industry.
- 1000xRESIST! won a Peabody Award, cementing its status as one of the year’s most innovative and socially resonant digital works.
- Gamescom 2025: A delegation of BC video game companies attended Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, to network and showcase their work at the Canada Pavilion.
- Web Summit Vancouver 2025: B.C. hosted this major tech event, featuring a dedicated BC Pavilion, “Startup Island,” and a “Beta Lounge” to highlight local talent to global investors and publishers.
- Ludic Lemur Entertainment earned a nomination in the Indie Game Awards for their game Calm the Storm, recognized for Achievement in Accessibility.
- The Centre for Digital Media won the Technology Trailblazer Award at the 2025 Magnet Awards for Pioneering Leadership in the Ecosystem (MAPLE) for its role in shaping B.C.’s digital-product innovation ecosystem.
- Electronic Arts (EA) teams in Vancouver contributed to a standout slate of releases in 2025, including the record-breaking Battlefield 6, the global launches of both EA SPORTS FC 26 and EA SPORTS NHL 26, and the early access release of skate.
- 81 Monkeys created and implemented a project funding partnership program, securing more than $1.5 million toward its upcoming title World of Anterra.
- Buffalo Buffalo launched its debut game, Fresh Tracks, on PS5 in August, along with Birdseed VR, a new VR bird-watching game coming to Meta Quest and SteamVR in 2026.
- IM4 Media Lab was featured on CBC’s North By Northwest, highlighting the creative collaboration behind the intergenerational mural Thunderbird Dreams: Imagining Good Futures.
Publishing
- B.C. Magazine Day: November 30 was celebrated as the annual B.C. Magazine Day, an initiative by the Magazine Association of BC (MagsBC) to recognize the province’s diverse publications and storytellers.
- Word Vancouver 2025: The festival ran from September 14 to September 20, featuring nearly 40 events across Vancouver and a main celebration at UBC Robson Square. This literary event plays a vital role in connecting authors, publishers, and readers, strengthening the local literary community.
- B.C. authors and publishers continued to shine on the national stage, with several titles landing on CBC’s Best Canadian Books of 2025 list:
- Dandelion by Jamie Chai Yun Liew (Arsenal Pulp Press)
- The Cost of a Hostage by Iona Whishaw (TouchWood Editions)
- The Tiger and the Cosmonaut by Eddy Boudel Tan (Penguin)
- Brown Girl in the Snow by Yolanda T. Marshall, illustrated by Marianne Ferrer (Greystone Kids)
- I Won’t Feel This Way Forever by Kim Spencer (Orca Book Publishers)
- Restaurant Kid by Rachel Phan (Douglas & McIntyre)
- Searching for Serafim by Ruby Smith Diaz (Arsenal Pulp Press)
Featured image: Michael Bublé at the 2025 JUNO Awards. Photo credit: Lindsey Blane
