Press Release: Cinesite, the Special Effect of Québec
Leading visual effects company Cinesite has announced excellent results since opening its new studio in Montréal in 2014. The company is delighted with the support shown by its international customers, who have placed amazing work on major films to get the benefit of the special effects of Québec and the amazing staff assembled at the Cinesite studio. The speed of establishing the facility and recruiting a full complement of staff has been achieved in double quick time. The Ministre de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et des Exportations, Mr. Jacques Daoust, stopped by yesterday to tour the facility and see for himself what has been achieved in such a short period of time. A plaque was unveiled marking the outstanding support received by the company from its partners in its Montréal venture.
Cinesite chose Montréal in 2014, after considering all the options available for inward investment in Canada, as the site of a new 27,000 sq. ft. studio. The new facility already has several major films to its credit, as well as establishing a feature animation facility. Through a multi-picture deal with 3QU Studios, an animation pipeline has been created which is supporting a slate of four films, the first of which, Charming (Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne) is set for release in 2016. Having surpassed its employment creation target of 200 jobs by 2017 nearly 18 months early, the company wanted to take the opportunity to thank its partners and staff on a job well done.
Cinesite set its sights on Montréal for two main reasons: the city’s reputation as a creative hotspot and the support available from the Québec Government and a variety of partners, led by Investissement Québec and Montréal International. It has proven to be a good and successful choice, as Cinesite continues to secure new projects and build the reputation of its staff, and of course the city of Montréal.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Cinesite Studios pledged to create 200 jobs within four years.
- Less than two years in, the company has already generated 220 jobs.
- After making its animation debut, the Montréal studio has started work on a major new animation feature, details of which will be announced soon.
- Since its inception, the studio has worked on major films such as X-Men: Days of Future Past, San Andreas, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., as well as upcoming releases The Last Witch Hunter, The Revenant, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and Now You See Me: The Second Act.
CITATION
“We’re delighted to see our Montréal operation exceed its employment target; the team of people that we have gathered together are very talented and growing in confidence. We wish to thank Mr. Jacques Daoust, Ministre de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et des Exportations, the team at Investissement Québec and Montréal International for their support and their understanding of the visual effects industry, which gives us the opportunity to dream big for our studio,” said Cinesite CEO Antony Hunt.
