Nicknamed "Hollywood North", Vancouver has been used as a filmmaking location for nearly a century, beginning with The Cowpuncher's Glove and The Ship's Husband, both shot in 1910 by the Edison Manufacturing Company. As a production centre for feature films shot in British Columbia, it has led Canada's other cities for feature films since 1999. In 2002, 75% of all Canadian foreign productions were based in British Columbia and Ontario. That same year British Columbia led the country in foreign film production receiving 44% of the Canadian total. Presently, Vancouver is North America's third-largest film centre, just after Los Angeles and New York. It is second to Los Angeles in television production in the world. Lions Gate Studios and Vancouver Film Studios are among the two largest special effects stages in Canada.

