Cultural Industries Ontario North (CION) News April 2026

NATIONAL CANADIAN FILM DAY WITH CION & THE SUDBURY INDIE CINEMA

It’s a double-header-rom-com-extravaganza in Sudbury for #CanFilmDay!

In support of the Sudbury Indie Cinema’s annual fundraiser and the upcoming Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards, CION is teaming up with the Indie and REEL CANADA on a special evening presentation of THE NEW ROMANTIC and MILE END KICKS on April 15, 2026.

💌 6:00pm – Free screening of THE NEW ROMANTIC (filmed in Sudbury!)
👟 8:15pm – First 50 tickets free for MILE END KICKS ($15 regular ticket)

Also in the programme is a film social between screenings, important NOMFA updates, plus limited time offers. And with the option to donate directly to the Indie, there’s no better way to salute Canadian cinema in Sudbury on #CanFilmDay.

TICKETS: THE NEW ROMANTIC
TICKETS: MILE END KICKS

THE JUNOS: AYSANABEE MAKES MUSIC HISTORY AGAIN IN 2026

Aysanabee earned another two JUNO awards this year, bringing the northern musician’s career total to four. Credit: Nick Iwanyshyn.

Last weekend, the multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter added awards for Alternative Album of the Year and Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year with Edge of the Earth at the 2026 edition of the Juno Awards Ceremony, held in Hamilton, Ontario.

Aysanabee, who made history in 2024 as the first ever Indigenous Artist to win the JUNO for Alternative Album of the Year with Here and Now, hails from Sandy Lake First Nation – a remote fly-in community in the far reaches of Northwestern Ontario. Aysanabee also won the highly coveted JUNO for Songwriter of the Year in 2024.

Catch Aysanabee in Sudbury on April 18 before his Timelines Tour sees him overseas this spring, with stops in the States before heading to Germany.

TICKETS: APRIL 18

CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS: 19 NOMINATIONS FOR NORTHERN FILMS

R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres earned ten nominations!

Last week, The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced the nominees for the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, recognizing excellence across 146 categories in film, television, and digital media.

Highlighted this year from Northern Ontario are DEATHSTALKER, ALL THE LOST ONES, PEAK EVERYTHING and 40 ACRES – which leads all Canadian feature films in nominations, including for Best Motion Picture and Achievement in Direction!

Congratulations to the talented crew & creatives who worked on these exceptional films that came from the North!

NORTHERN NOMINATIONS

COMING TO SUDBURY: CMI’S FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM FOR MUSICIANS

Developed in collaboration with Sprackman Terrence, this program fills a longstanding gap in practical, understandable, and accessible financial mentorship specific to the music industry.

With stops across Canada in 2026/2027, CMI’s Financial Literacy Program is offered to 20 active musicians and music industry pros per session. Next up is Sudbury, Ontario – in partnership with CION!

When? Saturday, April 25 – Sunday, April 26
Where? Laurentian University
Time? 10:00am – 4:00pm

Applications are open until April 13, 2026!

PROGRAM DETAILS

FUNDING DEADLINES: MAKE FILMS IN NORTHERN ONTARIO

Upcoming deadlines for Bell Fund, Telefilm, Independent Production Fund (IPF), Ontario Creates (OC), and Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) film programs!

April 7 – Bell Fund: Production Program (Selective Stream)

Supports the production of high-quality, market-driven, Canadian series in eligible genres (Long-form documentary, Informal Education, Drama & Comedy, Reality TV).

April 14 – Telefilm: Production, English-language Projects

Supports Canadian audiovisual production companies that are looking to finance Canadian feature-length films at the production or post-production stage.

April 15 – IPF: Cogeco TV Production Program

Provides Canadian independent producers with financing (determined on a case-by-case basis) to produce scripted television series.

April 21 – OC: IP Fund – Linear Content Stream

Supports Development and Production phases for feature film (drama and documentary) and digital series through non-repayable contributions.

April 28 – Telefilm: Talent to Watch Program

Supports emerging filmmakers looking to finance the production stage of their first feature film project(s).

April 30 – NOHFC: Film & Television Program

Funding is determined by how much your project spends in Northern Ontario. Conditional contributions of up to 50% of eligible costs are available to a maximum which is capped on a tiered basis.

FUNDING DEADLINES: MAKE MUSIC IN NORTHERN ONTARIO

Upcoming deadlines for Ontario Arts Council (OAC) and The Foundation Assistant Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) music programs!

April 21 – OAC: Music Recording Projects

Supports the recording of music by Ontario-based musicians including composers, songwriters and beat producers.

April 23 – OAC: Indigenous Arts Projects

Supports professional Indigenous artists, ad hoc groups, collectives, and organizations to research, develop, and create new work.

April 30 – OAC: Northern Arts Projects

Supports the creation, production and presentation of artwork; professional development; and community-engaged arts initiatives that benefit communities in Northern Ontario.

May 7 – FACTOR: Artist Development

Offers 75% of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $5,000 towards a year of artist development activities including sound recording, touring, showcasing, video content production, and marketing.

May 14 – FACTOR: Juried Sound Recording: Single/EP

Provides 50% of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $25,000 to artists creating new recordings for a single and/or EP format, within a fiscal year.

What’s New with the Northern Music & Film Sectors?
Film & TV Production Resources

Music Industry Resources

Scout the land efficiently so you can hit the ground running. This program helps producers find the right fit in Northern Ontario.

Find streaming leads for over 400 features and episodes that were produced in Northern Ontario.

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