From Classroom to Studio

The industry is also well-supported through education and training programs for artists, software engineers, and other technical-related professionals. They include:

• The Master of Digital Media program offered by the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Emily Carr University of Art + Design and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) through the Centre for Digital Media (CDM)
• Focused career pathway programs (one year) offered by Lost Boys | School of Visual Effects,including Advanced Visual Effects Compositing (Nuke) and Effects Technical Director (Houdini).
• Specialized programs offered by the Vancouver Film School (VFS), including Foundation Visual Art & Design (one year); 3D Animation & Visual Effects (one year); and Classical Animation (one year)
• One-year programs offered by the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanARTS), such as 2D/3D Character Animation, Game Art & Design, and Visual Effects
• Diploma programs in 3D and animation offered by The Art Institute of Vancouver, a two-year Digital Visual Effects Diploma offered by Capilano University and certificate and diploma programs offered online through the Vancouver Animation School.

Major Tax Incentives (not exclusive)

• Federal Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit: Canadian-controlled production companies may claim 25 per cent of qualified labour costs for an eligible Canadian production.
• British Columbia Production Services Tax Credits: Production companies with a permanent establishment in British Columbia receive a 33 percent refundable tax credit on eligible labour costs.
• BC Digital Animation or Visual Effects (DAVE.): provides a tax credit of 17.5% on qualifying labour costs to production companies employing BC talent.
• British Columbia Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit: taxable Canadian corporations with permanent establishments in British Columbia, in the business of developing interactive digital media products may be eligible for a refundable 17.5 percent tax credit on qualified labour costs.

Domestic Tax Credits

• Federal Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit: Canadian controlled production companies and production companies with a permanent establishment in Canada may claim 16 percent of qualified labour costs for an eligible production.
• Film Incentive BC: British Columbia-controlled production companies receive a 35 percent refundable tax credit on eligible labour costs, limited to 60 percent of total production costs.