Winnipeg: The creative heart of the north video

In order to support Economic Development Winnipeg’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) team’s efforts to attract foreign companies in the creative industries, we developed a paid marketing campaign with this video as the signature component. It was positioned to show Winnipeg as the “creative heart of the north” and the ideal location for FDI attraction and expansion by companies in the film, gaming and interactive digital media sectors. 

Upon release, the video received widespread recognition from the local creative community who shared it. As a cornerstone of the paid campaign, it was effective in creating awareness of the film, gaming and interactive digital media sectors in Manitoba. The video achieved over 30,000 views over the period of the campaign, which is excellent given the niche B2B audience.  

The video was shown to creative industry decision makers (CEO, COO, etc.) at animation, VFX, and film and video gaming companies in target markets from L.A., Montreal and San Francisco to show Winnipeg’s major selling points in expanding and locating their businesses here. Winnipeg offers strong tax credits in the creative industries and direct flights to destinations, such as Chicago, are considered a major opportunity for investment attraction. 

It was important to maintain a balance of professionalism and creativity in this video to highlight both creative industry assets and quality of life. Winnipeg has lots to offer, including outstanding restaurants, family-friendly activities and close proximity to nature. Showing the city’s quality of life is a main highlight, as decision makers need to ensure they can both attract and retain talent here. 

Winnipeg’s creative community is incredibly diverse and this video was meant to showcase what we can share with the creative industry world. We were intentional in ensuring every frame of video featured was shot and produced in Manitoba, and we were meticulous when working closely with our production company to connect with companies and organizations in the industry to get access to their footage. 

This type of creative collaboration is typical of the city’s creative industry and makes Winnipeg an ideal place to expand and grow. Our city’s creative industry assets are one-of-a-kind and should be shared with those who want to make the most out of them.