$6 million dollars is coming to northern Ontario from the province to support the local film industry.
Officials say the investment, which is being made through The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, will help create jobs, attract talent and boost economic growth.
Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing, Â says the Film and TV industry has grown in Ontario from $2 billion a year to nearly $3 billion and they want to see further growth.
“The Premier wants to hit $5 billion a year. He said when we saw Georgia do it, we can do it here too,” Fedeli says. “I think northern Ontario has been a big part of that, certainly North Bay has been the centre of that as well.”
The following projects are receiving funding:
- $2,000,000 for Essex Season 1 (FGM) Inc. to produce the five-part miniseries Essex County
- $2,000,000 for Sinking Ship Productions Inc. to produce the family television series Beyond Black Beauty
- $500,000 for Bloody Hell Productions Inc. to produce the feature film Bloody Hell
- $500,000 for HP Catering Christmas Productions Inc.to produce the feature film Catering for Christmas
- $500,000 for HP Winter Palace Productions Inc to produce the made-for-television film Winter Palace
- $500,000 for HP Homestead Christmas Productions Inc.to produce the holiday themed film Homestead for Christmas.
Christina Piovesan, one of the executive producers of Essex County, says they were surprised to find such quality locations here, noting the landscape is unique in our area.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $559 million in 4,748 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.82 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 7,500 jobs.
**With files from Richard Coffin
