Bringing the Magic of Indian Film to Ontario

Agreements Open Up New Opportunities for Ontario and India’s Film Industries

Premier Kathleen Wynne attended a Bollywood-style event in Mumbai today, where two new agreements were announced that will benefit Ontario’s film sector.

The City of Toronto and the Maharashtra Film Stage and Cultural Development Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on common interests in the creative screen industries, including studio production, post-production, visual effects and interactive/digital media. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) highlighted their collaboration on a boot camp to help Indian filmmakers bring their work to international film festivals.

These new partnerships will enhance the relationship between Ontario and India’s film industries and pave the way for more collaboration between producers, directors and artists from both regions.

The Premier also met with leaders from India’s film industry at the event to promote Ontario as an ideal location for future productions. Ontario is a leading North American film and TV production centre that offers decades of experience, high-quality infrastructure and generous tax credits.

In 2011, Ontario became the first location in North America to host the International Indian Film Academy Weekend and Awards (IIFA). The event drew tens of thousands of visitors to Ontario and showcased the province to hundreds of millions of viewers around the world, while generating millions of dollars for the provincial economy by stimulating tourism, trade and investment. The awards show provided valuable exposure for Ontario by boosting tourism and strengthening the province’s business ties with India.

Attracting new investment and helping the province’s creative sector compete globally is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan is investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.

QUOTES

“Ontario is one of the best locations in the world for film and TV production, and today’s event has reinforced our province’s reputation as a leader in the creative screen arts. With almost 700,000 people of Indian descent living in our province, and world-class production facilities, the partnership between Ontario and India’s film industries is a natural one. The agreements signed at today’s event will help bring Ontario and India closer — both on the screen and off.”

— Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario