Province injects $7.3M into northeastern Ontario film and TV projects

The Ontario government is investing $7.3 million to support 13 film and television projects in northeastern Ontario. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

North Bay -

The Ontario government is investing $7.3 million to support 13 film and television projects in northeastern Ontario.

The investment is expected to create jobs and promote economic development in North Bay, Sudbury and surrounding areas.

Funding for the projects is being delivered through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. More than $1.9 million will specifically to towards production in North Bay, including:

• $750,000 for Strategem RX to produce the feature film Lakewood.

• $500,000 for Christmas Films 2020 to produce the feature film Tiny Home Christmas.

• $500,000 for DNV Productions to produce the feature film A Dog Named Valentine.

• $200,000 for Game Theory Films Inc. in North Bay to establish a space for film productions.

“The financial support of the NOHFC and the beauty of North Bay was instrumental in bringing this Naomi Watts project to northern Ontario,” said Alex Lalonde, COO of Lakewood Producer and Stratagem Rx.

"We are grateful to the government's commitment to the film sector on all levels, to the NOHFC for financially supporting our film, and to the economic development office in North Bay for their unwavering support and help facilitating an amazing production experience."

"We look forward to coming back for several projects we have in the pipeline. We are also thrilled to announce that Lakewood has been accepted to TIFF and will screen in the special presentation Category this fall,” Lalonde added.

The other nine funding projects include:

• $2.8 million for Get‘er Done Productions 6 Inc. to produce season six of the Letterkenny television series.

• $530,000 for A Stellar Film Inc. to produce the feature film Stellar.

• $500,000 for Mulmur Feed Co. Ltd. to produce the feature film All My Puny Sorrows.

• $500,000 for Always a Pleasure Inc. to produce the feature film Door Mouse.

• $500,000 for Circle Blue Films Inc. to produce the feature film The Boathouse.

• $396,201 for Nortario Film Group Inc. to produce the feature film Fidelity.

• $83,550 for Black Rectangle Brand Inc. in Coniston to renovate, purchase new equipment and increase its marketing capacity.

• $64,968 for Red Square Motion Inc. to establish a post-production facility in Sudbury that focuses on serving and hiring northern Ontario residents.

• $50,000 for The Weengushk Film Institute – a not-for-profit organization and educational centre focused on building a strong role for aspiring Indigenous youth and visible minorities within the media arts industry in the M’Chigeeng First Nation, and to develop a feasibility study to create a world-class arts training facility on Manitoulin Island

“We are grateful for the unwavering support from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation,” said Mark Montefiore, president and executive producer of New Metric Media.

“Their continued commitment and investment in our production -- including Letterkenny -- over the past six seasons has been invaluable.”

Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $317 million in 3,134 projects in northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 4,850 jobs.

“Our government is proud to support the film and television industry in Northeastern Ontario, which continues to create good jobs and develop skilled local talent,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli. “As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, helping northern production and post-production projects succeed is more important than ever.”