City nominated again for Outstanding Film Commission at LMGI Awards

BRANTFORD, ON – For the second year in a row, the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) has nominated the City of Brantford for an LMGI Award in the Outstanding Film Commission category for work on The Handmaid’s Tale. 

The LMGI Awards recognizes the exceptional and creative visual contributions by location professionals in film, television and commercials from around the globe. The Awards also honor film commissions who have gone above and beyond during the scouting, pre-production and production of specific projects. Hundreds of international submissions were considered across all LMGI Award categories. In the 10-year history of the LMGI Awards, a total of 42 film commissions have been nominated for the Awards. The City of Brantford is one of eight film commissions to be nominated two or more times, and the first in Canada.

“It’s a huge honour for the City of Brantford to be nominated for an LMGI Award once again,” says Kevin Dekok, Economic Development Officer and Film Liaison for the City of Brantford. “It demonstrates why Ontario is an amazing place to film. The nomination is a testament to the colossal and collaborative efforts of everyone involved in location filming including Ontario Creates, community partners, City staff and Council, residents, businesses and outstanding location managers like Anne Richardson and Jeremy Pinard who brought The Handmaid’s Tale to Brantford.”

After working with the production in 2018 and 2020, the City was thrilled that The Handmaid’s Tale returned to Brantford to film scenes for two pivotal episodes in Season 5, a state funeral scene in season five (S05E02 “Ballet”), as well as the diner and police station scenes featured in the season premiere (S05E01 “Morning”). Initial planning began in November 2021, four months prior to filming, and preliminary efforts focused on identifying and securing potential locations. Recognizing the potential for the state funeral scene site, the number of background performers grew as did the scale of required community supports. Over 600 extras joined a cast and crew of about 150 professionals to bring this incredible scene together.

In 2022, the City received 61 film inquiries and welcomed 10 film projects. These projects represented an estimated: $318,000 in City billed costs and revenues; $1.428 million overall in Brantford-specific film related budgets; 1,070 cast and crew over 66 days of film activities; 2,100 estimated hotel nights; and community donations totalling $2,550.

Ontario's Film and Television industry contributed a record-breaking $3.15 billion to Ontario's economy in 2022, creating 45,891 high-value full-time equivalent direct and spin-off jobs for Ontarians. As the industry flourishes in Ontario, so does the opportunity for the City to attract continued film investment alongside Ontario Creates, an agency of the Government of Ontario that is dedicated to growing Ontario's creative industries.

The City is recognized alongside six film commissions from around the world shortlisted for the 2023 Awards. The others honoured in the category are:

• The Alberta Film Commissions (Calgary, Edmonton)/Calgary Economic Development for The Last of Us
• The City of Worcester, MA Film Commission for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• The Czech Film Commission for The Gray Man
• The Montana Film Office for 1923
• The Oklahoma Film + Music Office for Reservation Dogs - Season 2

Winners will be announced at the LMGI Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

 -30-

Media Contact:

Chelsey Tobin | Communications Specialist, Communications and Community Engagement
City of Brantford | 519-759-4150 ext. 5048 | ctobin@brantford.ca