THE QFTC LAUNCH TWO FAM TOURS IN VR

Apr 4, 2022

THE QUEBEC FILM & TELEVISION COUNCIL INNOVATES & REINVENTS KEY EFFORTS BY LAUNCHING TWO FAMILIARIZATION TOURS IN VIRTUAL REALITY FOR 11 AMERICAN PRODUCERS

Montreal, January 26, 2021 – On January 19 and 21, 2021, the Quebec Film & Television Council (QFTC) hosted the launch of two familiarization tours, organized by the film commission services team.

In a typical year, the QFTC organizes up to four familiarization (fam) tours involving up to five American producers for each. During these tours, the QFTC coordinates a series of visits and meetings to present the Quebec’s audiovisual industry’s exceptional offer and to introduce key partners.

Since the current situation prohibits travel, the QFTC has pivoted to create an innovative formula for the traditional fam tour that is unique in the world! In collaboration with Montreal-based company UNLTD, the QFTC produced an immersive virtual reality experience that allows American producers to discover the province’s many assets:

an incredible versatility of landscapes, architecture and culture, with four real seasons;
competitive tax incentives;
highly skilled and specialized workforce & AQTIS – IATSE union merger announced
fully equipped facilities just a few minutes from downtown;
a new offer of virtual production stages;
one of the world’s largest visual effects, animation & post-production hubs; and
a full range of creative, professional and financial services to meet all the needs of a production.

“We are thrilled to launch our very first virtual reality familiarization tours to promote the province of Quebec’s audiovisual offer! With the current limitations, the QFTC had the creative inspiration to produce an immersive VR experience that will allow our American producers to travel virtually until it will be possible to do so in person again! Special thanks to our public funders and our prestige partners without whom these reinvented tours would not be possible!” Chanelle Routhier, Film & Television Commissioner, Province of Quebec

More than a dozen virtual reality headsets and bagels (a Montreal signature!) were offered to American producers from some of the biggest US studios: Marvel Studios, Apple TV, Universal Content Productions, A24, CBS Television Studios, Skydance, Universal 1440 Entertainment, John Wells Productions, A & E Studios… The immersive VR production allowed them to travel virtually and discover the global audiovisual offer of the Province of Quebec while staying in the comfort and security of their homes in Los Angeles.

“This tour is a truly innovative way to adapt to the current situation. I really enjoyed the whole experience, from breakfast to meeting everyone, to the virtual presentation & immersive VR production. I know a lot of work went into it, it’s really cool and very visual, and really useful to watch.” Inman Young, Head of Production, A24

“Thanks so much for including me. I found the event super helpful and the VR location viewing on the Oculus was AWESOME. I can’t say enough good things about it.” Gabriela Vazquez, VP Production, CBS Television Studios

With this new tool, Quebec hopes to strategically position itself, from both a creative and technological perspective, as a choice location in the audiovisual sector for producing projects of every type: filming, visual effects, animation, post-production, music scoring, VR, etc.!

Following the two virtual breakfast meetings, a series of follow-up business meetings between American producers and Quebec partners are planned.

The QFTC thanks all its partners who made this experience possible: Air Canada, BFL Canada, Difuze, Demers Beaulne, Entertainment Partners, Grandé Studios, Hybride, MELS, Miller Thomson, National Bank, RCGT, Rodeo FX, UNLTD, as well as our financial backers: SODEC, DEC, MEI, City of Montréal, City of Québec and CMM.

About the QFTC

The QFTC is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 that contributes to the development and competitiveness of Quebec as a world-class multi-screen production centre. As an economic development agency, its mission is to generate investment in Quebec through competitive tax incentive programs, the expertise of industry members, architectural diversity, the quality of its infrastructure and the industry’s ability to export its products to foreign markets.

The QFTC is supported by its partners: Air Canada, National Bank of Canada, BFL Canada, Corporate Stays, Demers Beaulne, difuze, EP Canada, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Hôtel Gault/Monville, Hybride, Miller Thomson, Grande Studios, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, Rodeo FX, William Gray Hotel and Mount Stephen Hotel, as well as federal, provincial and municipal governments.

For more details, visit www.qftc.ca.