MPPIA in 2017: Greater Strides Ahead for a Fortified Industry Association

Coming off of 2016 — one of our busiest years ever — MPPIA and BC’s screen production industry at large will not break the momentum in the pace of our progress. Just two weeks into the new year and 2017 is already stacking up opportunities for action that will make a difference to our future, both near and long term. 2016 was an eventful ride with some tricky terrain to navigate, but we ended the year strong and poised to capitalize on the hard work that was carried out over the last twelve months.

Together, industry partners accomplished a great deal in 2016, among the highlights:

• worked closely with Government on their revisions to BC’s industry tax policy — to minimize the impact of the changes and ensure that the BC industry and our client stakeholders were clearly apprised of forthcoming changes and transition provisions;
• participated with Creative BC, screen and counterpart creative industry colleagues to continue activating the ‘BC Creates’ message across industry, government and BC community audiences, including via the second annual Creative Industries Week of activities in April 2016;
• mobilized a Community Appreciation initiative in cooperation with Creative BC, launching in September 2016 for an ongoing campaign that will continue to roll out this year;
• elevated our international presence with Western Economic Diversification funding through Creative BC and leveraged stakeholder collaboration;
• enhanced BC industry profile with an inaugural MPPIA/TIFF presence in cooperation with the Whistler Film Festival, and a second annual Screen Industry Builder Award in cooperation with the Vancouver International Film Festival, the latter of which showcased the BC Industry’s leadership in environmental sustainability.
• contributed to a range of skills training initiatives that will continue to be developed in the coming year.

As 2017 is a Provincial election year, it is our responsibility to ensure that all our Provincial candidates understand our industry and what it means to British Columbia. One of our first priorities this year is our creative sector collaboration with digital/interactive media, music and publishing to present Creative Industries Week to British Columbia at the end of February. Launching on February 27 in Victoria, events and communications will roll out in BC throughout the week to March 4 showcasing the motion picture, digital media, music and publishing industry sectors. This will be the third annual Creative Industries Week in BC proclaimed by the Provincial Government and with it comes an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate the value, reach and potential of BC’s creative economy. On the opportunities front, MPPIA’s refreshed and expanded Motion Picture Production Industry Career Expo will be among the week’s special events on March 3 — a full calendar of events will be shared in early February.

MPPIA is positioned better than ever to deliver on the goal to maximize our activities through collaboration and communication. For the first time, the Industry Association kicks off a new year with a full time employee acting on our behalf as MPPIA welcomed Executive Coordinator Lori Climenhaga to the team effective November 1, 2016. With a strong member and stakeholder relations background, Lori brings an excellent skill set to MPPIA and we look forward to her work with Executive to streamline our operations, enhance our member relations and mobilize a strategic planning process.

As always, collaboration will be key to our ongoing success and we are already in action with plans for Creative Industries Week underway. In Canada’s 150th year, we will have an early start in celebrating BC’s contribution to our nation’s creative economy.

On behalf of the MPPIA Executive, happy new year! We look forward to working together for a productive 2017.

Peter Leitch, Chair

Motion Picture Production Industry Assn. of BC