The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA Labour Stoppages on Toronto’s Film Industry

This paper explores the profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing 2023 Writers Guild of American (“WGA”) and Screen Actors Guild (“SAG-AFTRA”) labour stoppages on Toronto’s film industry. As Canada’s largest production hub, the combination of these two disruptions caused significant instability and uncertainty for theatres, production companies, and film workers in the city as release and production schedules were significantly delayed, disrupting film supply at an unprecedented scale. Through a mixed-methods approach, this study analyses financial data, industry reports, attendance levels, and interviews to examine how these disruptions affected film production, exhibition, and distribution in Toronto. The study explains how lockdowns caused a dramatic reduction in production levels and theatre attendance, leaving many workers without income. Meanwhile, audience behaviour and consumption habits shifted causing permanent damage to theatrical exhibition. While production in the city has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, attendance levels at movie theatres remain below pre-pandemic levels, likely due to lingering film supply shortages and shifts in consumer behavior through the pandemic towards increased streaming adoption. These findings suggest that the future success of Toronto as a film hub depends on its ability to adapt to shifting distribution models and evolving audience behaviour.