LOCATIONS
Untapped. Unique. Unbelievable. The Kootenay region offers diverse cinematic locations for your next production.
From interior rainforest, rocky mountains, natural hot springs, glacier-fed lakes to farmlands, ranchlands and hundreds of heritage assets in between, there is a perfect location for your next film in the Kootenays.
Your project can benefit from our region’s stunning geography, small populations and a variety of communities that have their own charismatic personality and vibe.
Our communities, hugged by rugged mountains and dramatic valley bottoms, include small unincorporated towns, sunny family farms, rural areas with people living off the grid, and vibrant and busy mountain cities like Cranbrook and Nelson.
Get that one-of-a-kind shot in one of the final Canadian frontiers
Our unforgettable and awe-inspiring locations provide a real opportunity for you to get that award-winning shot. Old growth forests, alpine meadows, thunderous waterfalls and European and Western-style towns are just a few examples of what’s waiting to be discovered.
95 Provincial Parks & 2 National Parks
Home to the Ktunaxa and Sinixt First Nations
Thousands of Heritage Assets
Hot, dry summers and temperate winters with powdery snow
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Get your summer and winter shots in the same day
The high amount of precipitation in the winter makes for incredible film opportunities well outside of the normal “season”. Even in May and June, there are opportunities to ski and golf on the same day. Since our ski resorts and backcountry lodges are at higher and steeper elevations than the coast and other parts of BC, our champagne powder snow (which we have lots of and is unique to our region) stays around longer.
We also have multiple access points to the alpine, resorts and backcountry lodges with a plethora of lifts, helicopters and snow cats. You can experience multiple seasons in one day as our towns down below can either be snow-free in the spring and fall or have a lot less snow than the alpine during the winter months. With our typically milder winter temperatures in some parts of the region, crews also do not need to worry as much about hands and equipment freezing.
Summers in the region are generally hot and dry, and winters vary from mild to severe. Winter temperatures are milder than our neighbours to the east. Precipitation varies considerably throughout the region. Areas with the least winter precipitation historically (less than 200 mm) include lower elevation valley locations. By contrast, the region includes several areas in the Selkirk, Purcell and Monashee Mountains with on average, winter precipitation over 500 mm and at the highest elevations over 1000 mm.
Thousands of heritage assets for your next Indie Film
In Nelson alone, there are over 350 heritage buildings and the beauty of these historic places has proven attractive to production companies in the past. Movies like Roxanne (1987), Housekeeping (1987), Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) and Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain (1995) have all been filmed here. Fernie, with its dramatic rocky mountain backdrop has attracted films like Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) and Cold Pursuit (2019). Heritage assets like this extend across the Kootenay region and offer a perfect opportunity for production companies looking to film their next Americana, Hallmark or Lifetime show or Indie Film.
We’re here to help you find the perfect location
Our unforgettable and awe-inspiring locations provide a real opportunity for you to get that award-winning shot. Old growth forests, alpine meadows, thunderous waterfalls and European and Western-style towns are just a few examples of what’s waiting to be discovered.
Contact John Wittmayer
Email: john@kootenayfilm.com
Phone: (778) 908-6012