MELS is closing its photo-chemical film laboratory in Montreal, the only facility of its kind remaining in Canada [1, 2].

The closure removes the last domestic infrastructure for processing analog film, forcing Quebec filmmakers to seek services abroad. This loss represents a significant blow to the preservation and production of celluloid cinema within the country.

Owned by Québecor, the post-production company announced the shutdown of the facility [1, 2]. The lab is slated to close in the coming months [1, 2]. This decision follows a broader industry trend where digital production has largely replaced analog methods, making the maintenance of a photo-chemical lab economically unsustainable [1, 2].

Quebec film artisans have expressed concern over the disappearance of these specialized services. The shift to digital has reduced the demand for traditional film processing, creating a gap in the local production pipeline that cannot be filled by digital alternatives, a process that fundamentally changes how light and color are captured on screen.

While digital workflows offer speed and lower costs, the photo-chemical process remains a preferred aesthetic choice for many directors and cinematographers. Without a local lab, the logistical burden and cost of shipping raw film stock across borders for processing will likely increase for independent productions [1, 2].

The facility has served as a cornerstone for the Montreal film community, providing the technical expertise required to handle physical film strips. Its closure marks the end of an era for the physical chemistry of cinema in Canada [1, 2].

“The only one of its kind in Canada”

The closure of the MELS laboratory signals the complete disappearance of the analog film processing infrastructure in Canada. This forces a reliance on foreign labs, primarily in the U.S., which increases production costs and timelines for filmmakers committed to celluloid. It highlights the tension between economic viability in a digital-first industry and the desire to maintain traditional artistic mediums.