As winter officially begins in Winnipeg, the city is already living the rhythm of Christmas… on the film sets. Thanks to its snowy landscapes, its tax incentives, and its talent pool, the Manitoba capital is establishing itself as a true hub of the holiday film industry.
A city that has become a key setting for holiday films
The city has become a recurring setting for many popular holiday-themed films, where local and international actors are seen bundled up in winter coats, under Christmas lights, at various filming locations across the city.
Many of these productions are intended for the American channel Hallmark, which makes dozens of Christmas films each year for an audience of millions of viewers.
Winnipeg actor and director Rodrigo Beilfuss, also artistic director of Shakespeare in the Ruins, has also appeared in four Hallmark films over the past five years.
Over the past five years, Winnipeg has established itself as a center of the Christmas movie industry. This puts Winnipeg on the map as a hub for these kinds of holiday films. And it’s grate to see Winnipeg shine across North America.
A talent pool and incentives that attract productions
When theaters closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rodrigo Beilfuss turned to film and began auditioning for on-screen roles.
Weather it’s Hallmark or Hamlet, according to him, Winnipeg offers a vast pool of talent for directors.
“We have world-class actors and artists here,” he emphasizes. Mr. Beilfuss also appears in locally shot action films Nobody 2 and Violent Night 2.
For her part, Lynne Skromeda, general director and cinema commissioner of Manitoba Film and Music, says the film and television industry is thriving in the province.
“We have the talent, we have the infrastructure, it’s just perfect. People love to come back and shoot here,” she said, inviting the public to consult an online list of Christmas films produced in Manitoba, published by Film Training Manitoba.