REGINA - Creative Saskatchewan ushered in the new fall season this week with a preview of 13 recent productions made in the province.
The productions were highlighted at an event at the Saskatchewan Science Centre Monday afternoon, in which dignitaries including provincial government representatives and those involved in the film and TV industry viewed the trailers and clips from the upcoming productions at the Kramer IMAX Theatre.
All the projects had been shot during the 2023-24 year and all received funding from the Creative Saskatchewan Film and Television Production Grant, which the province expanded in recent years to provide $12 million annually.
Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Laura Ross told the audience attending the screening that the investment is “paying off in spades.” Each of the productions was located throughout the whole province, she said, from northern communities such as La Ronge to southern communities such as Swift Current.
Minister Rosssaid $22 million has been committed to 36 productions since April 2023, with these productions spending $55 million and producing an economic impact of $93 million. She touted the investment as diversifying the Saskatchewan economy.
“I say to my colleagues, we’re not just COWs,” said Ross, referring to “coal, oil and wheat.”
“Well, we’re a whole lot more than that and that’s what this industry is all about. I think it’s providing opportunities for young people to realize their future right here in Saskatchewan. That’s a great news story that we are able to share today.”
The province made another announcement Monday, with Ross confirming investment of $500,000 to assist Saskatchewan Science Centre in purchasing a IMAX GT dual laser digital projection system.
The province touts the funding as allowing the Science Centre to offer high-quality IMAX screenings well into the future.
“An investment in the Science Centre, in the Kramer IMAX Theatre is critically important, because technology evolves,” said Sandy Baumgartner, CEO of the Saskatchewan Science Centre.
“And as we evolve as an organization, in order to continue showing great films in this province, we need to have the best technology. So yeah, it doesn’t come with just popcorn sales. We need to get investment from government, corporate, and donors to keep the Science Centre alive.”
Here is a full list from the province of the 13 productions and where they can be found:
- Why Am I - Citytv
- Staying Wild - Citytv
- Flat Out Food - Citytv
- Guardians of the North - Citytv
- Red River Gold - coming to APTN
- Chums Chums - Reelgood
- Welcome to Kittytown - Theatrical release
- Sideways - coming soon
- Treaty Road - APTN
- Stories of the North - Citytv
- For Country: First In Last Out - coming soon
- Gifts of Christmas - coming soon
- We Kill Them All - coming soon.
