SUDBURY – The Ontario government is providing more than $3.2 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to five Sudbury film productions. This investment will create good jobs and raise the profile of the production industry in Northern Ontario.

“Today we are not only recognizing the successful partnerships supported by the NOHFC – we are celebrating the growth of the local film industry here in the Northeast,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development. “The NOHFC’s modernized programs are attracting production partnerships in the industry that give communities like Sudbury the opportunity to showcase their natural beauty on screens worldwide, all while supporting our government’s commitment to create lasting economic activity for the North.”

The NOHFC is funding the following projects:

• $1 million for Fella Films Inc. to produce Ballistic, a feature film about a father who works in an ammunition manufacturing facility
• $1 million for Woods Entertainment Canada Inc. to produce Violence, a feature film about a boyfriend trying to protect his girlfriend from the chaos of a town divided by drug kingpins
• $500,000 for Hangar 18 Media Inc. to produce Deathstalker, a feature film about a warrior who wanders the fantasy war-torn kingdom of Sardatia
• $500,000 for Next Phase Motion Pictures to produce Ripping Off Othello, a feature film about a young lawyer who reveals how the American justice system is overwhelmed by bias and racism
• $227,206 for Fittonia Productions Inc. to produce Rêver en Néon, a feature film about a young girl searching for her ballerina mother.

The NOHFC promotes economic growth, job creation, and workforce development across the North in communities large and small, rural and urban, including Indigenous communities. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $790 million in 6,464 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 9,930 jobs.

Quick Facts

• The Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the North.
• The NOHFC’s Cultural Supports Program showcases Northern Ontario culture, geography and talent through event partnerships and support for the production of films and TV series.

Additional Resources

• The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres are available to support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and assist in accessing government funding programs.

Quotes

“The NOHFC has become one of the most reliable and relied-upon supporters of Canadian independent film, including our movie, Ballistic. I am so grateful to them and look forward to many more collaborations ahead.” – Thomas Michael, Producer, Fella Films Inc.

“Violence was a movie without a home. When looking around at potential shoot locations, Sudbury not only became an obvious perfect fit, but also an inspiration for many of the spaces we needed to turn a mythical punk rock milieu into a reality. Combined with the financial support provided by the NOHFC and the welcoming community of Sudbury, the North was yet again a pleasant, creatively perfect and financially prudent region to shoot an independent feature film.” – William Woods, Producer, Woods Entertainment Canada Inc.

“Our film, Deathstalker, was made possible in large part due to the fantastic support offered to us by the Ontario government through the NOHFC. We are extremely grateful for the financial contribution as well as continued support throughout the production, which took place in Sudbury.” – Pasha Patriki, Producer, Hangar 18 Media Inc.

“The production of our feature film, Rêver en Néon, would not have been possible without the support of the NOHFC. This funding encouraged us to seek new filming locations in Northern Ontario and make new connections within the Ontario film industry.” – Marie-Claire Marcotte, Producer, Fittonia Productions Inc.

Media Contacts

Curtis Lindsay, Minister’s Office — 437-240-7317 — curtis.lindsay@ontario.ca

Media Desk, Communications Branch — mediadesk.ndm@ontario.ca