Creative BC’s New Head Prem Gill Makes Her First Trip To Hong Kong FILMART

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LINK editor R. Paul Dhillon spoke to Creative BC new chief Prem Gill after she made her first trip to a film market, attending the Hong Kong FILMART to promote BC’s burgeoning film industry. Here is our Q&A:

R. Paul Dhillon: BC’s film industry is thriving at the moment and some would say at the peak due to the perfect storm of low Canadian dollar and the usual tax incentives – so what more are you planning to accomplish with the Asia trip?

Prem Gill: Creative BC’s overarching goal is to support BC producers by developing creative partnerships and finding new markets for Canadian sectors. With the Hong Kong FILMART, Creative BC worked to match BC and Asian producers, distributors and broadcasters.

RPD: Is BC looking to lure more Asian productions?

PG: We have a world-class industry in BC and a natural connection to Asia. We are looking for opportunities for Canadian creatives to set-up co-productions and for Asian producers to consider BC as a destination for all their creative needs.

RPD: What goals do you have in mind for your current trip?

PG: The main goal of the trip was to develop relationships with Asian producers, distributors and broadcasters to familiarize and encourage even more partnerships with BC creators.

RPD:  Is there a specific agenda you have for your trip to the Hong Kong market?

PG: We went to Hong Kong with a delegation of 18 Canadian companies primarily from Ontario and BC that ranged across the following verticals: production, sales, distribution, and support organizations. The trip was mainly focused on developing relationships with our Asian counterparts, facilitating B2B programs, hosting a Creative BC/Canadian pavilion, and having face-to-face meetings to open discussion around co-productions.

RPD: There is talk that BC government wants to revisit the tax credits for film production – what is your take on that?

PG: The Province is reviewing tax credits with the industry.

RPD: What is BC doing to get more production from Asia to shoot in BC, specifically productions from India’s Bollywood.

PG: We can look to the HK FILMART as an example of what we’re trying to accomplish with Asian productions shooting in BC. In 2014, the BC production community joined a BC trade mission to India, and we are looking at doing something similar in the near future.

RPD: Despite the Co-production treaty between India and Canada – there hasn’t been any significant announcement in terms of Indian productions shooting in Canada or BC? What do we need to change that?

PG: We need to focus on continuing to develop relationships. By creating events and opportunities for face-to-face meetings, both in India and Canada, we open up dialogue among production and film companies, which lead to new opportunities.