Local film studios say they will endure after Trump renews vow to tariff foreign-made films

A local filming production company is confident that Hamilton’s film industry would be okay, after President Donald Trump renewed threats to tariff films made outside of the United States.

The U.S. President promised on Monday, to implement a tax on all films made outside of the United States.

The protectionist policy would upend Hollywood’s business model, but at least one Hamilton film business says the city’s movie industry would survive.

“For now, it’s business as usual at Hamilton Film Studios,” said Ken Woychesko with Hamilton Film Studios.

The co-head of Hamilton Film Studios says the lack of specifics in Donald Trump’s film tariff threat means there will be no immediate impact on studio business, and even if a tariff materialized, Woychesko says Hamilton’s industry would be okay.

“I just think that our product is so strong and so in demand across the world, because Hamilton and Ontario, in general, make really good, high-quality programs,” said Woychesko.

Lashing out Monday morning, Trump says America’s movie-making business has been stolen by other countries, “just like stealing candy from a baby,” vowing to impose a 100 per cent tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.

“I understand why the tariffs have been announced again — Hamilton has everything production companies are looking for at a fraction of the cost of filming in Los Angeles,” said Woychesko.

The Canadian Media Producers Association says about half of Canada’s TV and film industry works on productions destined for the U.S. market.

“Which represents tens of thousands of jobs,” said Reynolds Mastin, the President of the Canadian Media Producers Association.

Mastin says since Trump isn’t clear on how the tariff would be applied and implemented, the specific impact is also unclear.

But what he says is clear, is the importance of the domestic market to keep the industry healthy when American work dries up, like during the U.S. Writers Guild strike in 2023.

“We can’t control what the next tweet says coming out of the White House, but we do have a lot of tools at our disposal here in Canada that have helped us build a strong Canadian industry, and we have to further strengthen those tools,” said Mastin.

“There’s so many incredible performers and talented crew members here, and we really need to foster more of that spotlight on Canadian film here in Canada,” said Christopher Giroux, the Producer and President of the Hamilton Film Board.

The importance of the domestic market is echoed by Giroux, who questions how a film tariff could even be implemented.

“The movie was shot in Canada, but the post-production was done in America. How would the divide work?” said Giroux.

Premier Doug Ford expressed a strong opinion about this, and when asked during an announcement Monday, he said that Trump “drives him crazy.”

He said Ontario needs to focus on what it can control, which he said is making sure the business climate is such that it attracts continued investment in Ontario’s film industry, and all industries amid the continued tariff chaos.

WATCH MORE: Local film studios, Canada prepares for impact of Trump’s foreign-made film tariff