Looking for great video and film locations in Montreal? Stark Crew’s corporate video production specialists in Montreal are happy to help scout locations in Montreal for your company’s next video production.
Geographically, Montreal may be a landlocked city, but Canada’s large expanses of land make it an urban island. In this cultural oasis, French and English speakers coexist and European and American cultural influences set a unique scene. The city’s famous “free spirit” has made Montreal the adoptive home of a number of impressive, world-class artists, who are supported by a receptive public.
It should, therefore, come as no surprise that Montreal has been an officially designated a UNESCO City of Design since 2006. And if anyone knows the perks of living in a city where design is king, it’s Robert Boulos, head of Stark Crew – Montreal.There is no shortage of beautiful locations at which to film in this Quebecois city, but here are Robert’s top 10 picks:
1. Palais des Congrès de Montréal: Located at the heart of Montreal’s business center and walking distance from Old Montreal, the Palais is a luminous space at the crossroads of modern and classical architecture. The nearby park and Riopelle’s fountain are also excellent locations for filming when the day is nice.
2. St. Helene’s Island: Located in the middle of the Saint-Laurent River, St. Helene’s provides an impressive skyline view of Montreal’s center and its skyscrapers. It is also a testament to the importance of Expo 67, featuring the Biosphère, the United States’ campus during the Expo. Next to the maritime shuttle port, visitors can access the water’s edge; the ideal location for filming. St. Helene Island is a popular spot for pedestrians, families, picnickers and fishermen.1. Palais des Congrès de Montréal: Located at the heart of Montreal’s business center and walking distance from Old Montreal, the Palais is a luminous space at the crossroads of modern and classical architecture. The nearby park and Riopelle’s fountain are also excellent locations for filming when the day is nice.
3. Habitat 67: Considered one of the city’s most beautiful and singular buildings, Habitat 67 is an iconic part of Montreal. A symbol of one of the world’s largest universal expositions, Expo 67, and the 1976 Olympic Games, the building was designed in the avant-garde style of the period and predicted a glorious future for the city.
4. Olympic Stadium: One of the city’s most emblematic structures, the stadium was erected for the 1976 Olympic Games and was intended to accentuate Montreal’s vibrancy and modernity. It later became the home of the Expos, Montreal’s beloved baseball team. The many open spaces that surround the stadium are perfect for filming.
5. The Mount-Royal: Another iconic Montreal location, the Mont-Royal is one of the city’s lungs, providing a natural escape for urbanites. The always buzzing mount, comes alive with its Sunday Tam Tam and the barbecues held near Beaver lake. However, by far the most popular activity is admiring the view of the city from the mountain top both day and night. The Mont-Royal also splits the eastern and the western sides of the city, originally known as the French and English sections.
6. Montreal’s Old Port & Jacques Cartier’s Place: Found at the center of the Old Port, Jacques Cartier’s Place is a summer meeting point that quickly crowds with tourists and street performers. Although the main drag is lined with renowned restaurants, it is most interesting to wander the narrow streets, which are home to both tourist shops and designers boutiques. The view of the old and abandoned port buildings and the St-Lawrence River are particularly popular with photographers.
7. Botanical Garden: In the northern area of the city, the Montreal Botanical Garden is without a doubt an enchanting discovery. It is ranked the second largest botanical garden in the world with more than 22,000 plants species and 10 exhibition greenhouses. This location is a favorite among couples and families with children, and of course, the thematic gardens are the scene of numerous wedding pictures.
8. Plateau and Mile-End Neighborhoods: As two of the most popular areas in Montreal, Plateau and Mile-End are rife with local coffee shops, bars, second-hand clothing shops and other artsy hideaways. The neighborhoods are home to a young and stylish crowd and an intense nightlife.
9. Montreal Festivals: Montreal is particularly well-known for its many yearly festivals that bring life and color to the city, even in the winter. During the summer there’s the International Jazz Festival, the Francofolies, the Just for Laughs Festival, among others. In fall, M for Montreal brings together underground music fans by presenting emerging bands. Montreal en lumière, held in February, challenges citizens to face the cold and rewards them with art exhibitions, concerts, gastronomic events and more.