Nenshi woos Hollywood filmmakers to new Calgary Film Centre

Alberta's film leaders willhave just three hours to pitch Hollywoodfilmmakers and woo them to the brand new$28 millionCalgary Film Centre, which opens on May 19.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshianda delegation ofindustry representatives and economic development experts are attendinga mix and mingle event in Los Angelesto promote Alberta as a premier year-round filming destination.

To help sell it, they've put together a two- to three-minute long "sizzle reel,"which highlightsthe best interior and exterior features of the new facility, the industry-specific equipment on site, and Alberta'snatural beauty.

It willbe playedfor some of the biggest players in Hollywood film and television.

"We want tojust let them know that, with confidence, they can come to Alberta and have a convenient film production experience," said Erin O'Connor,general manager for the Calgary Film Centre.

Canadian cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal have traditionally been the top choices for filmmakers fromabroad, but O'Connor says Calgary isn't far behind.

"We have a really competitive pricing feature, but we also are available. A lot of those places are filled up," she said.

O'Connor said she hopes to springboard off of the success of The Revenant, Fargo, Heartland and Hell on Wheels all of which were partially shotin Alberta.

"I hope that we will have a mix of big Hollywood blockbusters as well as local and regional productions," O'Connor said.

The new film centre includes50,000 square feet of purpose-built sound stages as well as 35,000 square feet of multi-purpose workshop and warehouse spaces.

In 2015, film and television productions added roughly $240 million to Alberta's economy.

With files from The Homestretch