Production Information

Manitoba's filming infrastructure keeps growing!

Crew

Winnipeg has over 2,000 professionals who make up local film and television crews. Our hardworking labour pool has over 30 years of experience and has had the opportunity to grow from a local film community to an international film centre.

Studios and warehouses

Big Sky Studios is Manitoba's newest sound stage facility, containing 187,000 sq ft of flexible space. It houses:

  • Two 15,000 sq ft clear-span sound stages with 40’ high ceilings
  • Two sound stages with 20’ high ceilings
  • 30' x 40' column grid (17,000 sq ft and 12,800 sq ft)
  • A mill and paint shop (14,400 sq ft)
  • Set dec/props/storage option (9,200 sq ft)
  • Wardrobe space with dye and laundry (13,800 sq ft)
  • 15,200 sq ft of production and executive offices
  • An indoor atrium with a park-like setting, skylights and kitchen/commissary/dining areas
  • Mezzanine with 30,000 additional sq ft of production and executive office space
  • 50-seat presentation theatre with multimedia Crestron technology

Manitoba’s other purpose-built studio, the Manitoba Production Centre, offers a 15,000 sq ft clear-span space supported by office space, a carpentry shop, loading docks, wardrobe and a commissary.

In addition, there are a number of warehouses that have been adapted and used by studios and streamers for TV series and features.

Equipment providers, animation, VFX and post-production services

The local infrastructure includes:

Permitting

We work closely with our city and provincial partners to support productions with access and permitting.

The City of Winnipeg's Film and Special Events office looks after street permitting, wet downs, ITCs and PDOs, while the Government of Manitoba’s Culture and Heritage Policy Branch takes care of permits for highways, provincial parks, the law court building and other government assets.

Competitive tax incentives

Manitoba has the most competitive tax credit in Canada, with the choice between receiving up to 65% on eligible Manitoba labour with the Manitoba Film & Video Production Cost-of-Salaries tax credit or up to 38% on local eligible expenditures, including eligible local labour, with the Manitoba Film & Video Production Cost-of-Production tax credit.

International airport

Winnipeg’s James Richardson International airport serves major airlines, including Air Canada, WestJet and Delta as well as regional carriers. There are direct flights between Los Angeles and many other Canadian and US destinations.

You can clear customs in Winnipeg when travelling to the US. A separate terminal for private jets also provides customs and immigration services.