Nova Scotia film biz booming

Nova Scotia's film industry had a banner year last year, after a disappointing 2007-08.

Two strikes, by Hollywood writers and the Canadian performers union ACTRA, hurt the industry in that year. But Ann MacKenzie, president and CEO of Film Nova Scotia, said local productions doubled in value to $150 million in 2008-09, the industry's best year ever.

"The main reason was, in the fall of 2007, the province announced increasing our tax credit to one of the highest in the country," MacKenzie said.

"At that point in time, the base credit was 35 per cent, and they increased the base credit to 50 per cent. And they increased our regional incentive from five per cent to 10 per cent, and they maintained the frequent filming bonus."

MacKenzie said the current shooting year, which began April 1, is already off to a better start than last year's record figures.