Grant
Provincial
Active
NOHFC Film & Television Program
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
Maximum Funding
Conditional contribution up to 50% of eligible Northern Ontario...
Four competitive intake rounds per year: February 1 – April 30, May 1 – July ...
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
NOHFC Film & Television Program provides up to Conditional contribution up to 50% of eligible Northern Ontario costs, tier-capped: up to $500,000 for budgets up to $5M; up to $1,000,000 for $5M–$10M; up to $2,000,000 for $10M and above. Canadian-controlled production companies can receive a conditional contribution of up to 50% of eligible Northern Ontario costs for theatrical features, scripted television series, made-for-television movies, and documentaries, with tiered caps up to $2 million. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Four competitive intake rounds per year: February 1 – April 30, May 1 – July 31, August 1 – October 31, November 1 – January 31..
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Canadian-controlled production companies can receive a conditional contribution of up to 50% of eligible Northern Ontario costs for theatrical features, scripted television series, made-for-television movies, and documentaries, with tiered caps up to $2 million.
Eligibility Requirements
- The production company must be a Canadian corporation which is Canadian-controlled
- The production company must own all, or a majority of, the rights necessary to exploit and produce the production
- Applicants must receive a producer credit on the project
- Eligible formats are theatrical feature films, scripted television series, made-for-television movies, and documentaries
- NOHFC funding is based on the project's total level of spending in Northern Ontario, and is a conditional contribution of up to 50% of eligible costs
- The maximum is tiered by total production budget: up to $500,000 for budgets up to $5 million, up to $1,000,000 for $5 million to $10 million, and up to $2,000,000 for $10 million and above
- Applicants must provide evidence of the availability of all other project financing, with terms and conditions satisfactory to NOHFC, at the time of application; NOHFC prefers the majority of financing to be in place or confirmed
- The project must have secured a written commitment letter from a qualified and experienced distributor or broadcaster, satisfactory to NOHFC, at the time of application
- Only labour costs for individuals who live in Northern Ontario are eligible — 'deemed labour' is no longer allowed
- Only equipment rentals from vendors located in Northern Ontario are eligible; vendors not on the Northern Ontario Vendors List may still be considered case by case
- Applications are evaluated in four competitive intake rounds per year and not all applications will be supported
- Productions must meet appropriate quality-acceptance standards for broadcast and distribution, and documentaries must strive for journalistic integrity
- Applicants must submit evidence of a complete and clear chain of title, including the production's development history and all third-party agreements
- Northern Ontario is defined by NOHFC as all areas north of, and including, the districts of Parry Sound and Nipissing — the spend must be there, though the production company need not be
- Cannabis manufacturing and retail companies do not qualify for NOHFC programs
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
High
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Conditional contribution up to 50% of eligible Northern Ontario costs, tier-capped: up to $500,000 for budgets up to $5M; up to $1,000,000 for $5M–$10M; up to $2,000,000 for $10M and above.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Four competitive intake rounds per year: February 1 – April 30, May 1 – July 31, August 1 – October 31, November 1 – January 31.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
High
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win NOHFC Film & Television Program
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 11-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipSecure a written commitment letter from a qualified distributor or broadcaster before applying, ensure labour costs are only for individuals living in Northern Ontario, and avoid excluded content such as unscripted/reality, news, or advertisements.
Evaluation Criteria
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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7 steps
11 docs
Application Steps
1
Confirm the production company qualifies The production company must be a Canadian corporation that is Canadian-controlled, must own all or a majority of the rights necessary to exploit and produce the production, and the applicant must receive a producer credit on the project. The company itself does not have to be located in Northern Ontario — the spending does.
Required Documents 11
✓ Script or screenplay
✓ Project synopsis
Eligible Expenses 5
Ineligible Expenses 8
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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Combined Funding Potential
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Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How NOHFC Film & Television Program Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOHFC Film & Television Program | up to $500,000 | Hard | Reimbursement | Four competitive intake... |
| SSHRC Partnerships | Up to $2.5M | Hard | Advance Payment | Partnership Grants:... |
| Canada Media Fund | up to $250K | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing (multiple... |
| Canada Council for the Arts Grants | Varies | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Multiple annual cycles.... |
| Canadian Heritage Funding Programs | Varies | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing (varies by... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about NOHFC Film & Television Program
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How is the funding cap actually calculated for a production?
NOHFC pays up to 50% of eligible costs, capped by total production budget: up to $500,000 for budgets up to $5 million, up to $1,000,000 for $5-10 million, and up to $2,000,000 at $10 million and above. Eligible costs are production expenses spent in Northern Ontario.
Does our production company have to be based in Northern Ontario?
No. The company must be a Canadian-controlled Canadian corporation that owns the rights and receives a producer credit — the spending is what has to be in Northern Ontario. Only labour costs for individuals who live in Northern Ontario are eligible, and 'deemed labour' is no longer allowed.
When can we apply, and is there a fixed deadline?
There are four competitive intake rounds a year: February 1 – April 30, May 1 – July 31, August 1 – October 31, and November 1 – January 31. Applications are compared against others in the same round, and NOHFC states not all applications will be supported.
Do we need a distributor or broadcaster attached before applying?
Yes. A written commitment letter from a qualified and experienced distributor or broadcaster, satisfactory to NOHFC, is required at the time of application. NOHFC also prefers the majority of your other financing to be in place or confirmed when you apply.
What content does NOHFC refuse to fund under this stream?
Unscripted content such as reality TV, live sports, news or improvisational comedy; advertisements, partisan content, fundraising videos and industry videos not meant for broader consumption; and productions with excessive violence or sexually explicit content.
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Full Playbook: NOHFC Film & Television Program
7 steps · 11 docs · reviewer insights