Annual updates are posted here for general viewing.

FilmOntario Accomplishments since our inception in 2003 here

June 24, 2009: Letter and report from the co-Chairs of FilmOntario to the Ontario screen-based community Read the report.

January 15,2008: Letter and report from the co-Chairs of FilmOntario to the Ontario screen-based community Read the report.

2008 Key Accomplishments

• Enhancements to OIDMTC in March 25, 2008 Provincial budget. Read the announcement.
• FilmOntario lead the Ontario fight against Federal Bill C-10, and we succeeded! We were invited by the Federal goverment to speak to the Federal Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee on behalf of the Ontario screen based industry. We spoke out against censorship and the calamitous business climate that Bill C-10 would create. Our presentation is here.
• FilmOntario led the Ontario fight against the CRA changes to Producer fees calculations and we succeeded! We spoke out against negative changes, working closely with the Ottawa Head Office of the CFTPA and other provinces to push back. We also engaged the OMDC, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Revenue to protect Ontario's tax credit integrity and our Producers.
• While engaging in a formal review of our marketing investments in the LA market, we continued to co-fund and co-manage the LA Marketing office in conjunction with the OMDC and the City of Toronto.

2007 Key Accomplishments
Our accomplishments have been specific and targeted to enhancing Ontario’s competitiveness as a production centre for both domestic and service production and post production.  Most notably, those accomplishments include:

• We continue to co-manage and co-fund a fulltime LA marketing office in conjunction with the OMDC and the City of Toronto;
• Since the creation of the Toronto Film Board, we have developed a Toronto specific Strategic Plan for the screen-based industry, with all recommendations already approved by Council, which will inform our work going forwards;
• Since the development of a 5 year Strategic Plan and subsequent PwC Economic Study for the screen based industry, with members CFTPA Ontario Producers Panel, the Producers Roundtable of Ontario, and Interactive Ontario, it now forms the basis for government strategy for our industry, and has impacted the Ministries of Research & Innovation, Economic Development and Trade, Finance and Culture, informing their policies and developing partnerships with them to develop Ontario’s opportunities and prosperity in the global intellectual property marketplace.
• At the behest of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, FilmOntario was the sole Ontario stakeholder of any kind invited to attend the information sessions of the Economic Strategy to them, to engage them in promoting Ontario as a content creation jurisdiction, and reaching out to co-production and distribution networking opportunities for our industry.  Offices are currently in London (UK), Munich (Germany), NY (US), Toyko (Japan), New Delhi (India) and Shanghai (China).  New offices planned to come on line in 2008 are: Beijing (China), Paris (France) and New Mexico (US).  Now that this successful meeting has taken place, face to face, FilmOntario continues to work with the various worldwide offices; as these relationships deepen, so, too, will our successes.
• Our PwC Study recommendations also appeared in all three parties platforms, the Conservatives, NDP and Liberal parties at the recent election, as a result of our work with their strategists and team leads.

The Fall Economic Statement 2007, announced a $200 million commitment to our sector!

Domestic tax credits rose to 35% and Service tax credits rose to 25%.

December 2007 – McGuinty Government enhances both domestic and service tax credits to 2010.

Read the news release.

2006 Key Accomplishments

1. FilmOntario continued to co-fund and co-manage the LA development office. - According to the OMDC, the total number of projects shot in Toronto/Ontario from April 2005 - March 2006 were 18, with a direct spend of $196 million to the Province.

2. FilmOntario lobbied for and achieved a new Toronto Film Commissioner position. The Commissioner's 2006 accomplishments include:
- initiation of a priority planning process with the FB
- aiding the much needed Filmport development to overcome bureaucratic hurdles, and proceed
- traveling to LA to meet with screen-based sector industry leaders.
- initiating an Economic Strategy for the screen-based sector in Toronto, a first for the City
- initiating policy and financial incentives for the Studio District

3. FilmOntario succeeded in getting the Ontario Production Service Tax Credits extended for another year. Our thanks, once again, to Ontario Finance Minister Sorbara for supporting our sector!

4. This year, FilmOntario, together with the Ontario Producers Panel (CFTPA), Producers Roundtable of Ontario(PRO) and New Media Business Alliance (NMBA), developed an Economic Study for Ontario's Screen-based (film, television and interactive media) sector. We hired a team from PricewaterhouseCoopers and Nordicity to work with us to develop a blueprint outlining specific recommendations to both the Ontario government and screen-based stakeholders that will ensure national and international economic growth. This is the first of its kind in Canada, and speaks to a variety of Ministries, including Finance, Economic Development and Trade, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Research & Innovation and Culture. This industry led study was equally co-financed by the stakeholders, and the Ontario government.

5. In 2006, FilmOntario's emphasis was also on increasing the depth and breadth of our relationships and discussions with both political and senior bureaucratic folks in several Ontario ministries. We also began to strengthen and build relationships on the Federal file, resulting in an invitation to weigh in on a range of national screen-based policy issues with our unique perspective.

2005 Key Accomplishments

PROVINCIAL FILE - FINANCE MINISTRY

• FilmOntario now meets regularly with the Finance Minister, his political staff and senior bureaucratic staff in order to maintain the tremendous partnership developed, facilitate continued awareness of the successes of our industry thanks to the tax credit increases, and protect our mutual investment in our sector as we develop strategy together to meet the future challenges of our industry.

A COMMON BRAND FOR ONTARIO - "You Belong Here" "

• After 2 years, FilmOntario has finally been able to broker a common brand phrase and design template for all marketing and promotional materials for the screen-based sector ( film, television and interactive media industries) from both the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto. "You Belong Here" went through final approvals with the City on October 20, 2005.

PROVINCIAL FILE - LA OFFICE

• We have renewed our private/public initiative with the Province to maintain the LA office and staff for another year.
• This year we have instituted a co-management agreement for the LA office with the Provincial agency, OMDC, and the City of Toronto, which strengthens our leadership role in this ground-breaking initiative.

FEDERAL FILE - NATIONAL REPORT and FOLLOW-UP

We have completed our National Study "International Film and Television Production in Canada: Setting the record straight about U.S. "runaway" production."

This Study was financed by:

CFTPA (Canadian Film & Television Production Association)
Directors Guild of Canada, National
ACTRA Toronto (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists)
IATSE 873 (technicians) Toronto
SCTVQ (Syndicat des techniciennes et techniciens du cinema et de la video du Quebec)
FilmOntario

And prepared by: Garry Neil of Neil Craig Associates

We believe that this well researched report will aid in clearing up misconceptions and incorrect assumptions that have been touted as fact on the subject, vis a vis production activity in Canada. *

International Film & Television Production In Canada - October 2004

In October 2005, as a follow-up to our strongly received National Report from last fall, FilmOntario commissioned an updated stats report from Neill Craig Associates "Reframing Runaway Production"

Additional studies, reports, updates are available in the Members Only section.

2004 Key Accomplishments:

Since FilmOntario's inception in the fall of 2003 to December 2004, we have achieved 3 very real goals:

1. Co-funding a full-time LA Development office with the OMDC, and the City of Toronto, where FilmOntario participated in the hiring and performance measurements.
2. Worked with the Mayor of Toronto to shut down FLIC and replace it with a City of Toronto Film Board, which he co-chairs along with FilmOntario Board member, Sue Murdoch. As well, FilmOntario has a permanent seat on this Film Board, as approved by Council.
3. Worked with the Provincial Premier and Finance Minister to enhance film and television tax credits for both domestic and service sectors of our industry. As well, FilmOntario now has periodic meetings with Finance staff to review and revise all policies specific to film and television. Our lobbying efforts have also resulted in strengthened relationships with all political parties at Queens Park, ensuring a consistent presence on the floor.

FilmOntario has proven the concept that with a focussed, educated industry voice, governments will listen, and include us in the process in a much more meaningful way.

The 2005 sharp increase in production activity in Toronto and Ontario was directly as a result of our industry working together at marketing and lobbying Toronto and Ontario as a film and television production centre. FilmOntario works.