Film, TV, Music, and More: How Alberta is Building a Creative PowerhouseIn this special Banff World Media Festival edition of the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast, hosts Brent Kawchuk and Justine Gamez Huckabay sit down with the Honorable Tanya Fir, Alberta’s Minister of Arts, Culture, and Status of Women. From her roots as a self-proclaimed “high school drama nerd” to her leadership in shaping Alberta’s creative economy, Minister Fir shares her vision for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally recognized screen industry.

Recorded against the backdrop of one of the most influential gatherings in the media world, this conversation explores In this Episode: 

• The value of Banff as a “reverse trade mission” bringing global media executives to Alberta’s doorstep.
• Recent enhancements to Alberta’s Film and Television Tax Credit, including incentives for rural production and new eligible genres like reality and game shows.
• How scholarships and targeted programs are opening doors for women and emerging talent in technical and applied arts.
• The connection between film, television, and music and how the upcoming Alberta Music Commission will create new creative synergies.
• Alberta’s commitment to fostering industry collaboration, training pipelines, and opportunities that keep local talent working and thriving at home.

From global studio meetings with companies like Amazon, Sony, and Paramount to celebrating the power of Alberta’s local producers, this episode offers insight into how cultural policy, industry partnerships, and creative ambition come together to shape the future of Alberta’s screen scene.

Whether you’re a seasoned producer, a first-time filmmaker, or simply curious about how Alberta is positioning itself on the world stage, this conversation will inspire and inform.

Contact

The Honorable Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, Government of Alberta

• Website: https://www.alberta.ca/arts-culture-and-status-of-women.aspx
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanyafirMLA
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyafirab
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/tanya_fir

This podcast is brought to you by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA), championing Alberta’s screen sector for over 40 years through advocacy, industry events, and professional development. Learn more or become a member at ampia.org.

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CREDITS

Hosted by: Justine Gamez Huckabay & Brent Kawchuk

Thank You to Our Supporters

• Presented by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA)
• Produced in collaboration with Metamorphosis Media Group
• Studio space and internship support provided by Mount Royal University, Broadcast Media Studies
• Mount Royal University Students: 

Editors & Camera – Kade Stevens, Victor Labeaume; Set Photographer – Maia Mabiasen

• Promotional support courtesy of the Alberta Film Commission
• Series trailer edited by Kade Stevens, Mount Royal University

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