Reasons to Bring Your Production to Northern Ontario

Our Production History

It’s now been over two decades since Northern Ontario began its film journey. From its initial expansion, our region has evovled into a filmmaker’s playground, where locations, infrastructure, skilled crew, and financial incentives make movie magic happen on every scale.

Men with Brooms (2002), dubbed Northern Ontario’s first ‘official’ feature film, signaled the start of something great. Now, in 2025, the region has been home to over 400 film and television projects.

Productions of all shapes and sizes flock to the North for numerous reasons: stunning locations, accessible wilderness, archetypal seasons, and lucrative incentives. Unifying these projects is a production landscape built to amplify quality storytelling.

Through the years Northern Ontario has evolved into a hotbed for some of Canada’s best loved TV series; home to New Metric Media’s side-splitting Letterkenny and Shoresy, and CBC sensations SkyMed and Essex County.

We take pride in our authentic, small-town scenery. But we’re far from a one trick pony.

For recent film successes, look to Chris Nash’s In a Violent Nature — the 2024 slasher that breathed new life into the genre and garnered a ringing endorsement from the Horror King himself. Or Megan Park’s My Old Ass: a coming-of-age comedy praised by Variety for its breathtaking Northern lakes and landscapes. And check out Molly McGlynn’s Fitting In, a fearless and frank exploration of modern femininity that’s certifiably fresh.

All signs are pointing toward a bright future for the northern industry. Quality projects are on the rise. Developers are shovel-ready or digging. Local crews are growing, gaining more experience with every new production.

Take the lead in Northern Ontario and become the next big thing.

My Old Ass
Shoresy
Essex County
My Old Ass (2023) – Shot in Parry Sound, Shoresy (2022-) – Shot in Sudbury, Essex County (2023) – Shot in North Bay

Financial Incentives

Built-in financing advantages and funding opportunities mean your investments go further in Northern Ontario.

NORTHERN ONTARIO HERITAGE FUND CORPORATION (NOHFC)

Receive up to $2 million of support toward production costs incurred in Northern Ontario through the NOHFC's "Film and Television Stream". In less than a decade, this fund assisted 166 projects with total grants amounting over $118,000,000.

FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL FILM AND TELEVISION TAX CREDITS

Combine federal tax credits (CPTC, PSTC) and provincial tax credits (OPSTC, OCASE, OFTTC, OIDMTC) with an additional regional bonus to offset production expenditures in Northern Ontario – secure refundable tax credits of up to 60% on qualifying expenditures in the North.

CULTURAL INDUSTRIES ONTARIO NORTH (CION) — MAPPED

Gain up to $10,000 of support toward crew costs if your production hires emerging talent in Northern Ontario through the Media Arts Production: Practiced, Employed, Developed program.

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Film & TV Project Pitch Exchange

This three-stage Film & TV production support and development program provides insider knowledge of Northern Ontario’s filmmaking infrastructure and locations. Connect with experienced stakeholders, municipalities, and potential partners as you plan your next project’s course.

Stage One: The Package

Download program documents here and submit your application to connect with someone who can answer your project-specific needs.

Stage Two: The Pitch

Join virtual location tours between your team and regional stakeholders who will let you in on lesser-known locations and support services across Northern Ontario.

Stage Three: The Discovery

Access program funds to support your boots-on-the-ground walkthrough of the Northern Ontario municipality of your choice, alongside CION and partners.

Applications for the Film & TV Project Pitch Exchange are open year-round. Send your Project Asset Package to CION at info@cionorth.ca to get the ball rolling.

Learn More and Plan Your Northern Exploration

Coveted Locations

From industrial landscapes to historical buildings, and old growth boreal forests to rural farmhouses in four distinct seasons, the North contains environments to match nearly any required look, all within minutes of one another.

We’re home to diverse creatives and crew, and provide language services in French and English, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for your team — whether international, domestic, or a bit of both!

  • When Hope Calls (2019-) Shot in North Bay
  • The New Romantic (2018) Shot in Sudbury
  • The Protector (2022) Shot in Sault Ste. Marie
  • My Animal (2023) Shot in Timmins
  • Like a House on Fire (2021) Shot in North Bay
  • Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2020) Shot in Sudbury
Greater Sudbury
Sudbury is the biggest city in the North and home to a vibrant arts culture.
North Bay
North Bay features abundant commercial, warehouse and office space for set constructure and production, and shooting locations both urban and rural.
Sault Ste. Marie
One hour’s flight from Toronto, right on the US border, and with its own Film, Television and Digital Media Coordinator, “The Soo” is eager to help your production.
Parry Sound
Northern Ontario’s southernmost community is 240km from Toronto on Highway 400, and comes equipped with its own fully stocked production studio.
Thunder Bay
Acres of gorgeous nature, urban scenes both historical and modern, and not one but two permanent 1800s period recreations — Thunder Bay is uniquely suited for filming.
Timmins
Timmins’ northern climate means a long winter, making it ideal for snowy scenes. It’s a bilingual city perfect for English and French productions, and a highly film-friendly community.

Talented Crew

From Northern Ontario’s rise as one of the fastest growing film and television production markets in North America comes an impressive roster of homegrown talent eager to support your projects. Regional crew numbers are perpetually fueled by acclaimed media production programs offered at colleges across the North, and complimentary training sessions facilitated by CION and its partners.

Crew Database

Your one-stop resource for finding and hiring skilled crew from Northern Ontario. Start assembling your team at any time.

  • #Couleurs du Nord (2022-) Shot in Timmins
  • Braided Together (2022) Shot in Thunder Bay
  • Hard Rock Medical (2013-2018) Shot in Sudbury
  • The Apostle Peter - Redemption (2016) Shot in North Bay
  • The Kid Detective (2020) Shot in North Bay
  • The New Romantic (2019) Shot in Sudbury

Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival

Recognized as a premiere film event in Canada, hosting 35,000 attendees annually, Cinéfest Sudbury celebrates and promotes diverse cultural exchange and open-mindedness, with a commitment of sharing the best international and domestic programming to a broad audience of film lovers, filmmakers, and industry delegates.

Your Production Belongs in Northern Ontario

Explore the resources available to your motion picture project and book a one-on-one consultation with CION today.