The Revenant highlights Alberta film industry and landscape

It took almost four years to lure the latest film from Birdman director Alejandro Gonzlez Irritu to Alberta, but excitement is building in the local film industry with the release of the first trailer for The Revenant.

"It was a long process to get here, but from what we can see right now it was worthwhile," saidLuke Azevedo,Calgary Economic Development'scommissioner of film, television and creative industries.

The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio,is based on the real-life tribulations of early 19th-centuryexplorer Hugh Glass, who was left for dead in the wilderness after a bear attack. It was shot using only natural light.

Azevedo is excited about the potential for the film to attract even more productions to the province.

"It gives us an opportunity to showcase the province in a manner that the large studios, the independents can see what can be done here, not just based on the backdrop, but also our crew and our talent," he said.

With construction underway on the Calgary Film Centre, support from the new government,a low Canadian dollar and a stunning natural backdrop, Azevedo is confident the sector will continue to grow.

"These days, we are one of the areas they look to first to see if they can find the necessities to do projects," he said.