A new initiative aimed at growing the South Eastern Ontario film and television industry – which received strong initial support from local players – continues to grow.
A press release from the South Eastern Ontario Production Accelerator Fund announced this week that Unifor Nabet 700-M, DGC, ACTRA and William F. White International, as well as Loyalist College, have joined the long list of industry supporters and regional municipal stakeholders in supporting a new $25-million film-fund initiative that was first brought to the attention of Northumberland County council by filmmaker Albert Botha. That list, in addition to Northumberland, would include Renfew, Cornwall Belleville, Prince Edward County, Kingston, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes.
The proposed accelerator fund, which focuses on regional job creation and spending, has grown through the efforts of a volunteer industry committee consisting of South Eastern Ontario residents that includes Botha as well as fellow filmmakers J. Joly, Marion de Vries, Chad Maker and David Cormican. Also on board are Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board Executive Director Dug Stevenson and Kingston Film Commissioner Donnie McIntyre Co-chairing are independent producer Heather Haldane and Bell Media Executive Director of the Harold Greenberg Fund John Galway.
The SEOPAF will be asking the province's Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade to launch a separate film-stream fund under the Eastern Ontario Development Fund.
“Ontario Finance and Treasury advisors are actively interested in the SEOPAF initiative as a revenue generator for the province, but more specifically for South Eastern Ontario, which lags behind all other regions with the lowest rate of economic growth based on 10-year studies/data released by the Ontario government,” the press release said.
This venture is intended to mirror the success of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation's film-stream funding – in 2022, the Northern region generated more than $400-million in production revenue. Thanks to the positive results of this film-stream fund to both economic and industry growth, the Ontario government recently increased its annual investment to $40-million from $25-million.
Nova Scotia, following its own recently established $25-million Film and Television Incentive Fund, saw a quick revival of its declining film and television industry, and a direct return of $180-million in provincial revenues annually. With such immediate local impact, funding was topped up to $40-million after Year One, and is being considered as a permanent incentive funding level for the province.
For SEOPAF, the revenue-generation bar is set at $150-million in Year One for the region.
“As an independent producer of movies and mini-series, I understand the important balance of creative vision and financial incentives,” co-chair Haldane said in the press release.
“The working committee's valuation of South Eastern Ontario's revenue growth potential is based on our experience as filmmakers. A regionally focused incentive fund like SEOPAF is the secret sauce in expanding the film and television industry in Ontario.”
Living in Port Hope, Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini has seen what an impact filming can have on a local economy and culture – the blockbuster horror films It and It Part Two were filmed in its downtown district, just as one example, and the Murdoch Mysteries series occasionally does location shooting in that community.
“In order for Ontario to remain a competitive filming location, we must continue to support rural communities in their efforts to attract creative industry.”
Piccini is one of 15 MPPs over the region to have given his endorsement to the initiative, along with two MPs and more than 18 mayors and wardens, as well as economic-development departments from across the region. Among the list of founding county and municipality supporters are Brighton, Trent Hills, Port Hope, Cramahe Township, Cobourg and Northumberland County.
Among the founding chamber of commerce supporters are Brighton, Northumberland Central and Port Hope and District.
While an announcement of increased film-industry support is expected in the Ontario government's upcoming spring budget, work to grow engagement with other stake holders within the region (including Indigenous band councils and post-secondary training institutions) goes on.
Organizations and individuals seeking additional information (or wishing to provide support to the initiative) can visit www.seopaf.ca/learn-more
