Thursday, May 5, 2022

Northern Ontario Film Studios and Near North District School Board strike a long-term deal for film training in Northern Ontario

The Northern Ontario Film Studios (NOFS) is delighted to announce a new partnership and filming initiative with Near North District School Board (NNDSB) to provide on-the-job training opportunities to NNDSB students in conjunction with NOFS film productions filming in Northern Ontario. This learning cooperative will play a crucial role in engaging students in exploration of the multitude of career pathways available within the Northern Ontario film industry by creating awareness and interest in the variety of careers immediately available for them once they graduate. This hands-on training will give students the foundational building blocks to enter this exciting and growing industry.

Northern Ontario Film Studios is the largest full-service film studio in Northern Ontario, providing both creative and production services to a wide range of clients in the film and television industry. With a vast array of film production experience, unparalleled in the region, the Northern Ontario Film Studios has created award-winning film and television content around the world.

With its sister company Hideaway Pictures, they have produced more than 60 films and provided production services, studio space and equipment rental for more than 100 film and television projects in Northern Ontario. Having three studio spaces in the North Bay and Sudbury area, they have created more 3,000,000 hours of work for Northern Ontario residents, amounting to more than 2,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the North. The gross economic impact to the Ontario economy is well over $150,000,000 in direct spend.

In 2019, NOFS built a permanent $2,000,000 turn-of-the-century town in Powassan, ON. It is the only one of its kind in the province which has garnered attention from the industry abroad and is sought after as a future filming location.

In 2021, NOFS and Hideaway Pictures announced a new $125,000,000 deal to bring over 25 new film and television projects to Northern Ontario in the next 5 years. President of Production David Anselmo says, “This partnership is the first step to developing the young talent we have in our region and keeping them at home to work and grow in a new and exciting industry. Twenty years ago, when I chose to pursue my passion as a filmmaker, I never had the opportunity to do it in Northern Ontario. This partnership is just another way NOFS can fulfill its mandate of creating long lasting cinema in the North.”

NNDSB is responsible for the public education of approximately 10,000 learners from across the Almaguin Highlands, North Bay, Mattawa, West Nipissing and Parry Sound areas. The board serves a wide variety of communities within a 17,020 square km area and operates 27 elementary schools, six secondary schools, and a variety of alternative and continuing education programs and services.

NNDSB engages with organizations from many sectors to enhance student success, professional learning and the educational environment. Partners include community organizations, post-secondary institutions, businesses, charitable foundations, health agencies, arts organizations and social service agencies.

Board Chair Jay Aspin says, “Our board is truly excited about this new dynamic connection. Transforming and enhancing our board through innovation and the advancement of new relationships form a key pillar of our recently created multi-year strategic plan. This partnership will assist us in achieving these goals as we engage with the Northern Ontario Film Studios resulting in opportunities to improve student success, professional learning and broaden our educational environment.”

Of the initiative, NNDSB Director of Education Craig Myles says, “It is important to Near North District School Board to continue to create innovative pathways that help students to make connections with the workforce and the community. This exciting new partnership with Northern Ontario Film Studios provides our students with an opportunity to explore the burgeoning film industry and seek further study and or employment in an exciting career in their home communities.”

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For more information, please contact studio manager Kaitlyn Greenough at 705.885.1660 or kaitlyn@hideawaypictures.com.