Creative BC

05/28/2026

Creative BC today announced the appointment of Laura Lightbown, a respected motion picture executive and former Creative BC Board member, as its Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2026.

Lightbown brings nearly three decades of leadership experience within Canada’s domestic film and television industry. Her extensive career includes producing, executive producing, and advising on feature films and TV series nationwide, demonstrating a deep understanding of the industry’s landscape.

Ms. Lightbown will work closely with outgoing CEO Prem Gill, who departs on June 26, 2026, to ensure a smooth and effective leadership handover for British Columbia’s vibrant creative industries.

As previously announced, the Creative BC Board of Directors will initiate a comprehensive national search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer.

🔗 Read more on Creative BC:

Vancouver, B.C. – May 28, 2026 – Creative BC today announced the appointment of Laura Lightbown, a respected motion picture executive and former Creative BC Board member, as its Interim

05/28/2026

The endless hallways are almost here! Backrooms, filmed in British Columbia, premieres Friday, May 29.

Inspired by the viral internet phenomenon, the film brings the unsettling world of the Backrooms to the big screen – transforming familiar spaces into something eerie, uncanny, and impossible to escape.

05/27/2026

Before the cameras roll, the Construction Department gets to work!

From structural builds to scenic finishes, this team turns design into fully realized, camera-ready environments that ground storytelling in reality.

🔗 Explore construction roles in B.C.'s film industry with Creative Pathways™: https://creativepathwayscanada.com/world-builders-the-construction-department/

05/27/2026

🎬 Big congratulations to the team behind Stranger In Town, filmed in the Kootenays (Canal Flats & Invermere) on securing international sales representation with UK-based Reason8 ahead of Cannes ✨

Directed by Melanie Oates, the film follows a woman fleeing a fundamentalist community after a violent incident leaves her alone in an unfamiliar world. The project stars Sophie Nélisse (Yellowjackets) and Charlie Carrick (The Testaments), produced by Amber Ripley of Goodbye Productions with support from Telefilm Canada.

A special note that Sara Shaak, Executive Producer, was instrumental in bringing this production to the Kootenays, drawn by her past time living in the region and her deep love for it 🌲💛

This is more strong news for the region, highlighting the continued growth of high-quality, higher-budget productions choosing the Kootenays as a home for ambitious storytelling 🎥🌄

Read more about the announcement here:
https://www.screendaily.com/news/stranger-in-town-set-in-a-canadian-sect-boarded-for-sales/5216488.article

Congratulations to the entire cast and crew on this incredible milestone 👏

📷: Still frame from “Stranger in Town” Production

05/27/2026

The Hollywood Reporter's Most Powerful Women in Canadian Entertainment 2026 list is out, and we're so proud to see British Columbia recognized on this national stage!

• Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC
• Liz Shorten, COO, Canadian Media Producers Association - CMPA
• Nimisha Mukerji, Director
• Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Actor/Filmmaker
• Roma Roth, Creator, Showrunner

A huge congratulations to our partners and collaborators across Canada who made the list! Discover the inspiring women shaping the future of the Canadian motion picture industry: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/most-powerful-women-canadian-entertainment-2026-1236601627/

05/26/2026

Handmade monsters, analog film grain, punk collage, and the terrifying messiness of creativity — LUCID is returning home to B.C. this May and June!

In our latest BC Creates feature, LUCID co-directors Deanna Milligan and Ramsey Fendall discuss analog horror, DIY filmmaking, practical effects, and building a surreal “coming of monster” story by hand in Oak Bay, B.C!

From punk collage aesthetics to shooting on film, the pair unpack the creative process behind one of B.C.’s boldest new horror features.

🔗 Read more: https://bccreates.com/creativity-unleashed-in-deanna-milligan-and-ramsey-fendalls-lucid/

📸 Photo credit: Stills from LUCID
Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission

05/26/2026

Netflix Canada and ACE Canada Program have announced the shortlisted candidates for the fifth cohort of the Animation Career Excelerator Program! 🎬✨

The immersive program supports animation professionals who identify as women, non-binary, and Two-Spirit, helping advance careers through mentorship, training, and the creation of an original short film. This year’s shortlist highlights incredible talent from across Canada, with strong representation from British Columbia across nearly every creative role.

ACE also announced that Rocketship Mai, created by the ACE 4 cohort, will screen at the Annecy Film Festival this June - bringing the work of emerging Canadian animation talent to the international stage.

Proudly supported by Creative BC.

🔗 Learn more: https://awn.com/

05/25/2026

Tiny Lights Festival marks its 15th year with a celebration of collaboration and connection at Wildflower Commons!

From May 29-31, this multi-day event brings together music, art and community programming, creating a welcoming space for audiences to gather, share and experience live performance in an intimate setting.

🔗 Learn more and get tickets: https://creativebc.com/calendar/tiny-lights-festival-2026/

05/24/2026

Did you know that British Columbia is home to more than 280 publications spanning arts, literature, lifestyle, business and independent publishing, reflecting the creativity and diversity of communities across the province? 📚

Magazines continue to play an important role in shaping culture, journalism and storytelling across Canada!

In our latest post, all eyes are on East Vancouver’s subTerrain magazine - an independent literary publication that has spent more than 30 years championing bold, unconventional writing and artwork from emerging and established voices across Canada and beyond.

🔗 Read more on BC Creates: https://buff.ly/hOGPhwP

05/23/2026

Now streaming on Netflix: Remarkably Bright Creatures 🐙✨

Filmed across Vancouver and the North Shore, the film adaptation of the 2022 novel by Shelby Van Pelt transformed spots like Deep Cove, Gallant Avenue, Whytecliff Park, Steveston Village and the Vancouver Aquarium into the fictional seaside town of Sowell Bay!

Even the aquarium scenes were inspired by local locations, with Vancouver Aquarium octopus Agnetha helping bring Marcellus to life.

📸 Photo credit: DIYAH PERA / NETFLIX

05/23/2026

May 23 is Komagata Maru Remembrance Day.

Today, we reflect on the 1914 journey of the passengers who were denied entry to Canada and the injustices they faced. Their story remains an important reminder of the impacts of exclusion and the ongoing work towards equity and belonging.

We recognize and honour the great contributions of the Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu communities to British Columbia’s creative industries and beyond.