Now with a rolling deadline -- get in touch and start exploring the North any time!

The Northern Ontario Film & TV Project Pitch Exchange is a three-stage motion picture production support and development program inviting film and television producers to connect with municipal stakeholders and explore the amenities, incentives, and locations that Northern Ontario has to offer.

Stage One: The Package

Applicants must represent and/or own a majority of the rights for a film or television project in development (ideally scheduled to begin production within 12 months of a given application) to effectively submit a Project Asset Package. Projects submitted to the program must display a sound financing plan and proof of concept.

Project Asset Packages can be submitted via email to CION’s Lead of Film Sector Development, Michael Naphan (mnaphan@cionorth.ca).

Required submission materials include:

  • Producer Overview (available for download below)
  • Project Treatment
  • Project Look Book and/or Script
  • Production Timeline
  • List of Priority Locations
  • List of Production Needs (crew, infrastructure, vendors, etc.)
  • Municipal or Regional-specific Questions to Inform Stage Two Meetings
  • Project Top Sheet
  • Confirmation of Project Funding or Financing Plan

Learn more about required project documents through the program Summary & Guidelines below.

CION will distribute eligible Production Asset Packages to representatives of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Coproration (NOHFC) and film-friendly cities from Northern Ontario, the latter of which will consider project needs and prepare custom, locations-based pitch sessions for respective applicants.

Stage Two: The Pitch

CION and its partners will schedule virtual meetings with successful applicants to determine synergies between projects and cities, while working together to facilitate effective filmmaking within the region.

Following the initial pitch, producers will have the opportunity to ask regional-specific production questions, learn about available funding incentives, infrastructure, and service-based support, and schedule the next steps toward their journey to the North. 

Stage Three: The Discovery

With information acquired during Stage Two, CION and its partners may assist program participants in applying for funding support toward an in-person location tour of Northern Ontario.

This stage of the Project Pitch Exchange may include support from Ontario Creates in the form of reimbursements for eligible expenses incurred by the Production Team and Location Scout (up to a maximum) during approved tours.

Successful candidates for Stage Three will be notified and provided with further details, following a competitive selection process.

"This is an excellent program and extremely helpful. It's a fantastic opportunity to do essentially a 'pre-scout' from home - and with the region reps as point contacts, it's much more interactive and helpful than trying to navigate a locations library."

"Building relationships is vital, and this opportunity allowed us to connect with the individuals who will assist us in making our project(s) come to fruition."

"I’m relatively new to Ontario so this was very helpful & informative to me. This would be an extremely valuable program to producers from even further out like the States."

"Everyone who I've met with during the sessions are extremely helpful, excited and eager to help me move forward with my projects. All of the information provided are important and makes it less stressful from my side."

"It's no exaggeration to say that all of our sessions exceeded expectations. Everyone we met was well-versed in the script and provided visuals to match our locations along with an honest assessment of what logistics would look like in each location."

For additional information, please contact CION by email at info@cionorth.ca or by phone at (705) 885-9889. 

Download the resources below to learn more about the Film & TV Project Pitch Exchange application criteria. 

Program Summary & Guidelines (PDF - 149.3kb)
Producer Overview (PDF - 223.3kb)