About us

Our mission

The Saguenay Film Commission’s mission is to support and facilitate film and audiovisual production in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. We assist artists, producers, and companies seeking to showcase the region on screen by providing coordinated, professional support throughout the production process.

As a division of Promotion Saguenay, the region’s economic development organization, the Film Commission benefits from cross-sector expertise and a strong regional network, ensuring efficient collaboration and production-friendly conditions.

Whether you are planning to produce a full-length or short film, a TV series or a documentary, the Saguenay Film Commission provides complete support every step of the way.

Our services

Location Scouting & Site Matching

We help you identify and visualize locations that fit your creative vision, backed by photo references and site visits. We identify and provide you with photos of filming locations that match your criteria. We also offer on-site assistance during your visits.

Accommodation & Catering Guidance

Access our regularly updated directory of local services tailored to your budget and production needs. Access to an updated directory of available services. We’ll help you find the best options that fit your project’s needs while staying within your budget.

Permit & Authorization Assistance

We manage permits, street closures, parking reservations, municipal park use, and coordinate with local authorities to ensure smooth logistics.

Promotion Support

Leverage our channels — social media, newsletter, and website — to showcase your project locally and internationally. We offer access to our social media channels, newsletter, and website for promoting local projects, as well as support with media relations and organizing regional premieres.

Our Team

Marie-Elaine Riou

Saguenay Film Commission Coordinator

After beginning her career at the REGARD Festival – including serving as its Executive Director until 2022 – Marie-Elaine now works as Coordinator at the Saguenay Film Commission, in addition to her role as Events Lead for Chicoutimi’s 350th anniversary celebrations. Her studies in Cultural and Media Production Strategy at the Université du Québec à Montréal nurtured her passion for event planning, leading her to contribute to several cultural organizations in the region. Having also studied film abroad, she maintains international connections, notably in Spain, where she is involved in the development of a new Québécois film festival. Marie-Elaine is fluent in English, Spanish, and Catalan.

marie-elaine.riou@saguenay.ca

Our story

The Saguenay Film Commission was created to respond to the growing demand for professional, coordinated film production services in the region.

Following a regional assessment commissioned by public and economic partners in 2012, the need for a dedicated film commission became clear: productions required a central point of contact capable of supporting crews, promoting the territory, and facilitating filming at every stage. Built within Promotion Saguenay — the region’s economic development agency and long-standing partner for film shoots — the Film Commission was designed to offer practical, production-focused services grounded in local expertise.

Since its creation, the Saguenay Film Commission has welcomed numerous film and television productions, supported local creative projects, and strengthened the region’s position as a reliable filming destination.

In 2023, its mandate expanded to include the management of the Short Film Development Fund, further reinforcing its role in supporting talent development and long-term industry growth in the region.

Quick links and documents

Looking for a location

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Two projects made possible through the Cultural Development Agreement

Saguenay Film Development Fund was created in response to the industry’s pressing need to develop projects professionally while remaining in the region. After two years of supporting only short films, the program was ultimately expanded to include all film formats.

Intended for production companies and artists residing in or headquartered in Saguenay – including graduating university students – the Fund supports film projects at every stage of creation: writing, production, or post-production, regardless of format or length. The program aims to foster the growth of local film production, support the professionalization of talent, and highlight the Saguenay territory on screen. Supported projects must help energize the regional audiovisual ecosystem by encouraging the formation of local teams, mentorship, internships, and professional training opportunities. A key component of the program is its mentorship element, which can represent up to 25% of the total amount awarded.

Among its priorities, the program seeks to support local artists and production companies in the development of their projects, encourage the professionalization of film-related professions, stimulate the creation of original works capable of reaching audiences beyond the region, and showcase the landscapes, talent, and resources of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. It can cover up to 90% of eligible expenses, including in-kind contributions.

Financial support can reach up to $30,000 for a project in production and up to $5,000 for a project in development.

Learn more

Contrechamp is an initiative born from the Saguenay film community’s desire to broaden access to Québec cinema screenings in the region. By supporting this project, the Saguenay Film Commission aims above all to engage with the local and provincial film community and contribute to this ecosystem.

Held at the CEM (Chicoutimi-Nord) one Wednesday per month, these cinema-conversation evenings highlight works by filmmakers from across the province – films that are rarely or never screened locally – presented in the presence of their creators.

Each screening is followed by a discussion with the audience, fostering dialogue in the spirit of the cinematic principle of shot/reverse shot: one perspective, then a reply. These encounters allow cinephiles to discover the richness, creativity, and boldness of Québec cinema on the big screen – because for local cinema to thrive, it must be seen.

Contrechamp also opens each evening with a short film selected from the programming of the REGARD Festival, adding a diversity of formats to every event.

This regional Québec cinema initiative is made possible thanks to the financial support and collaboration of the Saguenay Film Commission (Promotion Saguenay), Ville Saguenay, and the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications as part of the cultural development agreement.

Discover the program