News

$8 Million to Support Local Film and Television Production

NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing, announced that the Ontario government is investing $8 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) in 10 film and television projects in North Bay. The production industry is a growing part of the Northern economy, and as part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, the province is funding projects that help create jobs in the industry, showcase Northern talent, and raise the profile of top-notch production companies in Nipissing.

“The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s Film and Television Stream is designed to increase production in Northern Ontario to create industry jobs and support the local economy,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “Today’s $8 million investment is achieving that goal, while also highlighting North Bay as a premier filming destination where these projects showcase local geography, talent, and filming infrastructure.”

Local projects include:

• $2,000,000 for Hideaway Pictures Inc. to produce Season 3 of When Hope Calls, a series that tells the story of orphaned sisters who were separated as children and reunite as adults to open an orphanage in a small northwestern Canadian town
• $2,000,000 for Piazza Entertainment to produce Season 4 of SkyMed, a medical television drama that follows the triumphs, heartbreaks and breakdowns of budding nurses and pilots flying air ambulances in remote Northern Canada
• $500,000 for Cutting Class Media to produce Not Safe for Work, an animated action-comedy series that follows one of the world’s deadliest assassins who discovers there’s a hit on her estranged father and is forced to take him and her brother on the run
• $500,000 for Kelly Martin Productions to produce the made-for-television movie Crown Jewel of Love. Ruby, the daughter of a world-renowned jeweler, is hired by the soon-to-be king of Gullion to curate the royal crown jewels for his Coronation
• $500,000 for Hideaway Pictures Inc. to produce the made-for-television movie Joy to the World, which tells the story of reclusive lifestyle guru Joy Edwards, who is forced into a live Christmas Eve television special featuring her supposedly perfect family, whom she completely fabricated
• $500,000 for Other Animal Entertainment to produce the feature film Last Moon, which is set in the frontier era of Northern Ontario and is about separation, redemption, fear, and evolution
• $500,000 for Vortex Media Ltd. to produce the made-for-television film Christmas at Uphill for Christmas (formerly titled as Candiac Lodge), a heartwarming holiday film that combines elements of comedy, romance, and family dynamics
• $500,000 for Cast North Productions Inc. to produce the feature film With This Ring, which follows the story of maid of honour Hayley, who enlists the bride’s handsome brother to help her find her best friend’s antique ring when she loses it a week before the wedding
• $500,000 for Comedy Camp Inc. to produce the feature film Hysterical, a mocumentary – featuring an all-star cast of comics – about a television pilot filmed deep in the wilderness of Killarney Provincial Park
• $450,000 for Watcher Pilot Productions Inc. to produce the made-for-television movie Watcher, an inspired-by-true-events story that follows a Woodland Cree tracker who reluctantly partners with a former city detective to solve a crime

The Ontario government is committed to prioritizing investments through the NOHFC that protect Northern industries and jobs, mitigate the impacts of U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions, as well as secure new opportunities for the long-term prosperity of Northern Ontario. The renewed focus is enhancing competitiveness and ensuring the North remains a leader in Ontario’s economy. This new direction is in addition to the province’s $30 million investment over the next three years, bringing the NOHFC’s annual budget to $110 million. Together, these initiatives will benefit communities of all sizes, both rural, urban, and Indigenous communities.

Quick Facts

• Through its funding programs, the NOHFC offers support to public and private sector economic development projects across Northern Ontario.
• Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $1 billion in 8,079 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 12,500 jobs.

Quotes

“Targeted investments like today’s $7.95 million commitment through the NOHFC are pivotal in strengthening Northern Ontario’s growing film and television industry,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “This funding will ignite new partnerships, boost local talent and create valuable opportunities in communities across the region as we continue to position the North as a prime destination for film and TV series makers.”

“SkyMed recently completed its fourth season of filming in the city of North Bay and greater Northern Ontario. With constraints on license fees affecting the entire world, it is even more imperative to have grants like the NOHFC to support the Canadian TV and Film industry. SkyMed’s fourth season would not have been possible without the $2 million dollar grant we received from the NOHFC. The series brought in approximately $13 million in Northern Ontario spending this season, including skilled labour, training, hotels and accommodations, and location rentals. This series has also put North Bay and Northern Ontario on the map as a viable film and television location for a series of this magnitude. SkyMed is a 10/10 Canadian Content series that has reached international success and audiences around the world, showcasing the beauty of Northern Ontario and Canada. We are so grateful for MPP Fedeli’s support of the film and television industry and look forward to bringing more business to the area and working with the great communities in the area.” – Vanessa Piazza, Executive Producer, SkyMed.

“The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund plays a vital role in making film production viable in Northern Ontario.  By investing in storytelling, the Fund fuels creative projects but also drives sustainable jobs, stimulates local and regional economy, and empowers young people with hands-on training opportunities — ensuring that talent can be developed, retained and celebrated right here in the North. Thanks to the NOHFC, film production is thriving in Northern Ontario.” – Kelly Martin, Producer, Crown Jewel of Love, Kelly Martin Productions.

“The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s support has been essential in bringing meaningful film and television production to this region. When a production chooses Northern Ontario, it’s not just cameras rolling — it’s jobs created, dollars spent in local hotels, restaurants, rental houses and small businesses, and long-term opportunities for our talented crews and creatives. With this backing, we’re not only telling great stories on screen, we’re helping strengthen the economic fabric of Northern Ontario and building an industry that contributes to job creation and community pride.” – David Anselmo, President of Production, Hideaway Pictures, Producer of Joy to the World and When Hope Calls Season 3.

“The quality of our latest film, Last Moon, is a testament to the talent of the outstanding northern crew and community. The NOHFC and local governmental support have made it possible to continue to develop talent and produce award-winning film & television in Northern Ontario.” -Ryan Keller, Producer, Last Moon, Other Animal Entertainment.

“We are very excited about the opportunity afforded to us by the NOHFC to help fund ‘Not Safe for Work.’ As the industry changes and traditional funding decreases, it has become increasingly difficult to produce content. The NOHFC allows us to fill critical financial gaps and gives us a competitive advantage, enabling us to produce shows for a global audience. Furthermore, the NOHFC has been instrumental in helping us build our Northern pipeline. Our goal is to make adult animated comedy a hallmark of both our studio and Northern Ontario.” – Josh Bowen, Co-Producer, Note Safe For Work, Co-CEO Cutting Class Animations.

“Our long-term goal is to build a world-class animation studio in Northern Ontario that can compete on a global scale and attract global buyers. We want to foster an environment that attracts and develops world-class animation talent. This would not be possible without the generous support of the NOHFC, who are an invaluable partner for us. We are so grateful for their support on this project.” – Carly Sacks, Co-Producer, Not Safe for Work, Cutting Class Media.

“At Vortex Media, we are thrilled to be continuing our long-term commitment to filming in Northern Ontario. The investment and support of the NOHFC have allowed Film and TV to become an established industry in this incredible part of Ontario.”- Bill Marks, Producer, Uphill For Christmas, Executive Chairman, Vortex Media.