Abbotsford – (from Abbotsford City Council) 2025 was a very good year for Abbotsford Film Shoots – 41 Productions Add $2.1M to the Local Economy.
As the Christmas movie watching season begins, Abbotsford is getting ready for its starring role.
Abbotsford’s film sector is an important and growing part of our diverse local economy, and 2025 was another busy year for everyone involved. As of the end of October we’ve had 41 productions filmed in Abbotsford bringing more than $2.1 million into our community and creating more than 400 local full or part-time jobs.
Filming took place at 97 locations across Abbotsford over the course of 204 days. Our historic downtown was the single most popular site, but crews made use of our rural areas, including properties on Mt. Lehman, Sumas Mountain and in Arnold. Productions also made use of the old courthouse by City Hall and our Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities.
In fact, our broad range of filming locations for backdrops, from residential and commercial to industrial and agricultural, and natural scenery including parks, mountains and watercourses, is one of the reasons Abbotsford is such a desirable place to film. Other draws include our close proximity to the US border and the Abbotsford International Airport, parking availability, the possibility of receiving a Film Incentive BC tax credit, as well as our affordable filming fees. Productions also frequently comment on how easy, helpful, accessible and accommodating City staff are to work with.
So far most of this year’s productions were television series (15) and feature films and movies of the week (nine each), as well as five advertisements that were filmed here. Hallmark Christmas movies continue to be Abbotsford’s specialty, and starting this weekend and running through December, the Hallmark Channel will be airing several new series and movies filmed right here in Abbotsford.
Season 2 of Mistletoe Murders begins on Friday, Nov. 7, followed on Saturday, Nov. 8 by Christmas Above the Clouds, an airplane-themed (and therefore Abbotsford-appropriate) take on A Christmas Carol. Later this month, keep an eye open for familiar sights in Three Wisest Men (Nov. 15) and Christmas at the Catnip Café (Nov. 30).
With so much to offer in terms of unique settings and excellent customer service, the film industry has become a rising star in Abbotsford’s economy, and we are excited to see our city continue to get more time on silver screen.
