TIFF CEO says Canada’s role in Hollywood shouldn’t be ignored amid film tariff threat

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TORONTO — The head of the Toronto International Film Festival says he isn’t panicking over U.S. President Donald Trump’s film tariff threat — in part because he says Canada plays a key role in Hollywood’s global dominance.

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Cameron Bailey says he’s “waiting for more news” before jumping to conclusions about Trump’s vow to impose a “100 per cent tariff” on all films made outside the United States.

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In his social media post Sunday, Trump blamed overseas production incentives for the U.S. movie industry’s “very fast death.”

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Bailey warns against disrupting what he calls a “remarkable and maybe under-recognized cross-border cultural union” between the two countries.

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He points to a steady stream of Canadian talent — including actors Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling and Sandra Oh and director Denis Villeneuve — as proof of how deeply the two countries are intertwined in screenwork.

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Bailey also notes that Hollywood companies frequently come north to film in Canada, and benefit from the country’s skilled crews, locations and infrastructure.

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“It’s really early days. We don’t know what this is going to mean. All we’ve had so far is the post and then a lot of speculation, so let’s see what this really turns into,” Bailey said Tuesday.

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“What I know is that the American film industry is the biggest, most prominent and dominant in the world. And it has succeeded by drawing on the talent and the expertise and the creativity of artists and craftspeople from all over the world. That’s what’s made Hollywood great,” he said.

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Hollywood’s major studios routinely shoot films in Canada, including Marvel blockbusters like 2018’s “Deadpool 2,” Oscar-winners like 2015’s “The Revenant” and Netflix rom-coms for the small screen, like last year’s “Hot Frosty.”

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Those productions typically bring thousands of jobs for Canadian performers, crafts people and artisans, as well as revenue for local businesses.

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“That, to me, is something that’s been created intentionally and has succeeded really well. I think that’s worth protecting,” Bailey said.

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“I think sometimes it can be taken for granted, but this year we’ve been able to really see what it means to pay closer attention to what Canada contributes to this cultural bond between the two nations. And I hope that that continues. It’s delivered great benefits for both countries.”

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Film and television productions shot in Canada generated approximately $9.58 billion in spending last year, according to the Canadian Media Producers Association. Foreign productions made up nearly half that total, contributing $4.73 billion and creating more than 90,000 jobs.

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Dissuading U.S. productions from filming in Canada would be a blow to those who depend on those jobs, said the president of Canada’s national performers’ union.

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“This is more than a trade dispute — it’s an attack on the livelihoods of Canadian performers and creators,” Eleanor Noble of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists union, said Monday in a statement.