Local Film Industry Resumes in Greater Sudbury

Sep 25, 2020

Film production is making a return to Greater Sudbury, showing a positive sign of economic recovery and growth for the sector following months of shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As part of Stage 3 of the province’s Framework for Reopening announced at the end of June, film and television productions have been slowly returning to work, with safety protocols in place for all productions. 

“I am very pleased to be able to celebrate the return of film and television production here in Greater Sudbury,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “This industry is a major driver of economic development and jobs in our community and the City will continue to work closely with industry partners to support a safe and smooth return to production.” 

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, productions are following numerous safety guidelines including operating within their own bubbles, ensuring physical distancing and the wearing of face coverings and masks, maintaining cast and crew accommodations at the same location, limiting shoot locations, and working closely with Public Health Sudbury & Districts to ensure community guidelines are being followed. 

Greater Sudbury continues to be a popular filming location in the north. Since the reopening announcement in June, Greater Sudbury has been host to two local productions, La Switch and The Boathouse, which have recently wrapped. Two other films are in pre-production and various others are in the scouting phase.  

Resident Evil, a reboot of the original, and the latest in the franchise, is scheduled to begin filming in Greater Sudbury in the next several weeks. The franchise has grossed more than $1.2 billion worldwide with movies, television and video games. 

LetterKenny and Carte Blanche Films Inc., long standing supporters of the local film industry, continue to contribute to the Greater Sudbury economy through their production work.   

“This will be the fifth production this year in Greater Sudbury and the fourth post-COVID-19 in northern Ontario,” said Meredith Armstrong, Acting Director of Economic Development. “We’re happy to support these productions in partnership with Cultural Industries Ontario North (CION), and we look forward to once again seeing our amazing community represent northern Ontario on a global stage.” 

In 2019, there were 13 film and television productions in Greater Sudbury, conducting 749 shoot days and accumulating more than $24 million in direct local spending. With a combined $43 million in production budgets, more than 55 per cent of these dollars were spent locally. 

The City of Greater Sudbury, together with the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation Board, continues to work with community partners, stakeholders and leaders to support local businesses and industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, which started over the weekend, has also adapted and is offering a hybrid festival integrating both an in-cinema experience at SilverCity and an at-home virtual experience. This flexibility further demonstrates of the resiliency of the local film and television sector.

In acknowledgement of the recent success of the film sector and in recognition of the 2020 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, Mayor Bigger has offered a video greeting.  This will be available for media, and includes links to testimonials from several film sector stakeholders. Members of the media are welcome to air all or portions of the video/audio and are welcome to share on social media platforms. 

For more information on economic support and recovery for businesses, visit www.greatersudbury.ca/COVID

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Mayor Bigger Video Greeting