Rural Alberta shines: Film office wins prestigious award

The Mountain View Regional Film Office (MVRFO) has another award to add to its collection.

The MVRFO, a partnership between Didsbury, Sundre and Mountain View County won the award “Innovative Approach to Economic Development Project” at the 2024 50th annual Economic Developers Alberta awards.

The film office helps bring in film companies to use Mountain View as their filming location.

Didsbury Mayor, Rhonda Hunter and Sundre Mayor Richard Warnock are thankful to receive an award like this.

"When you get these awards, you have to feel good, the work that was done by our economic development officers has been amazing," stated Warnock.

Mayor Hunter explained communities like Didsbury and Sundre are starting to be recognized as locations of choice when it comes to filming.

"We want to continue working with our provincial government to make sure that rural and remote picks up steam and get the tax credits that the provincial government has been offering."

Photo of the award, provided by Jonathan Allan, Economic Development Officer with the Town of Sundre.

According to Mayor Warnock, the MVRFO is the first regional film office in central Alberta.

"We have to have innovative approaches, we are all competing for the same business. I do believe that with the work that we're doing, we will get recognized for it. When more movies happen, it will absolutely bring us to the forefront."

Mayor Hunter also talked about why she believes it's important for shows to be filmed in rural locations like Didsbury and Sundre.

"It's really an honour and it invokes a community pride and spirit for our residents which has now spilled into rural pride and spirit. 

Didsbury has become a go-to film location in Alberta recently, as major American T.V. series have been filmed there, including the fifth season of Fargo and Under The Banner of Heaven.

Back in October, the film office won two National Economic Development awards.

Alberta continues to be a magnet for noteworthy and fan-favourite films and series to be filmed in the province. Some of the most talked-about films and series include HBO's smash hit series The Last of Us, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and My Life With the Walter Boys.

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