The City of Cambridge welcomes film productions large and small! We have many great filming locations for you to discover and explore. All filming in Cambridge must meet the regulations of our Special Event Policy and the Regional Film By-law. This ensures the safety and consideration of our residents, businesses and motorists.
The City of Cambridge is registered with Ontario Creates (formerly, the Ontario Media Development Corporation or OMDC), which offers promotional resources and other services to help production companies select Ontario sites for their film projects. If you don't find what you're looking for in their digital library site, feel free to contact our office to discuss your needs. Our knowledgeable staff are aware of the numerous assets in Cambridge, just waiting for the opportunity to be discovered!
Looking to film in Cambridge?
We invite filmmakers to contact 519-623-1340 or e-mail us at invest@cambridge.ca to start discussing your next project directly with our film officer.
- Film Permits
- FAQs
- #CaptureCambridge
- Interactive Story Mapping
- Previous Projects
- Stay Up to Date
Film permits
All projects, regardless of size or the property class where you are filming, must complete a Production Information Sheet. This form allows our staff to ensure the appropriate parties are aware of your project and there are no conflicts with upcoming festivals, events or roadwork. If your project will affect city streets, parking or other municipal assets, you will need to apply for a film permit before you can start your film production in Cambridge. Apply for your permit at least 20 business days before you plan to start filming. If your project involves a road closure or hazardous activities, such as gunfire, vehicle stunts or extreme special effects, a longer approval period may be necessary.
Have shorter filming timeline? Contact our office to discuss your proposal and we'll do our best to accommodate your project.
The City of Cambridge Economic Development Division helps you throughout the application process. You need to have a project outline available for review, including proposed number of filming days, potential road closure requests, parking needs, and a project timeline.
View our Production Companies' Checklist to learn more.
Learn more about applying for a Film Permit Interested in making your next film project in the city of Cambridge? Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about getting a film permit in Cambridge.Filming Incentives
Cambridge is located just outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) zone. Productions shooting here may qualify for an additional 10% Regional Bonus on top of other available credits. This means that a producer could get up to a 45% labour-only tax credit when using the Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) while filming in Cambridge. The Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC) and Ontario Computer Animation & Special Effects (OCASE) can both by utilized for filming in Brantford. However, a producer must select either the OPSTC or the OFTTC - not both. The OCASE can be used in conjunction with either the OFTTC or OPSTC.
Industry Incentives and Tax Credits-
Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit: The Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) is a refundable tax credit available to eligible Ontario-based Canadian corporations of 35% of qualified Ontario labour expenditures for eligible film and television production.
- OFTTC Regional Bonus: Qualifying OFTTC productions that are shot in Ontario entirely outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), or that have at least five location days in Ontario (or in the case of a television series, the number of location days is at least equal to the number of episodes), and at least 85% of the location days in Ontario are outside the GTA, receive a 10% bonus on all Ontario labour expenditures incurred for the production. Wholly animated productions which create at least 85% of key animation in Ontario outside of the GTA qualify for the regional bonus.
- Ontario Production Services Tax Credit: The Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC) is a refundable tax credit to eligible Ontario-based Canadian and foreign-controlled corporations of 21.5% of qualified Ontario production expenditures for eligible film and television productions.
- Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit: The Ontario Computer Animation & Special Effects (OCASE) Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit to Ontario-based Canadian and foreign-controlled corporations of 18% of qualifying Ontario labour expenditures for digital animation and digital visual effects created in Ontario for film and television productions.
- Federal Tax Credits: Federal incentives can add up to a 16% labour tax credit, depending on the level of assistance the project received from provincial and other sources. This commonly works out to 2-4% when added with other incentives.
FAQs
Have you ever wondered how your property could be considered for filming, or do you have concerns with film crews in your neighbourhood? We've attempted to capture the most common questions to our office here!
How can I get film companies to consider my property? The provincial film commission (Ontario Creates) maintains an online resource of locations across Ontario. This digital library is used in a number of ways: to attract foreign production to Ontario, to promote the unique views and vistas found in communities (including private assets like buildings and land), but most importantly it is a location manager’s first stop when breaking down a script and looking for locations. By including your property on the site, it allows you the ability not only to attract film projects to your property, but to assist our office in attracting projects to our Cambridge community. Please visit their website for more information regarding the Ontario Creates digital library. How do I stay up to date on what is filming locally? Subscribe to film notifications through our website to ensure you are aware of all projects that are filming locally and how they may impact travel around the city. Who should I contact if I have concerns with a film project? If you are concerned about work being undertaken by a film crew in your neighbourhood, please contact our Economic Development staff at invest@cambridge.ca or by telephone at (519) 740-4685. Our staff can confirm whether we are aware of and have approved a project for filming, and can support you if you have questions and concerns. How can our community support this industry?- Celebrate! Share information regarding upcoming projects on social media using #cbridge and #film, the more residents and businesses that know a project is occurring, the more smoothly a project will go.
- Please give crews their space. Film locations are workplaces and should be respected as such. Outdoor location filming is some of the safest activity for this industry and we all need to do our part to ensure we all remain healthy.
- Contact Economic Development with any concerns. Our staff cannot address problems if we are unaware they exist. We want to hear from you to ensure that the film industry has a successful return. Contact our staff at invest@cambridge.ca or (519) 740-4685.
#CaptureCambridge crowdsource project!!
We want your input! In an effort to expand our database of local film assets, we need you to get out and explore our community! We want to see original photos of our picturesque landscapes, historic streetscapes, alleys, industrial areas and everything in between! Upload your photos to our #CaptureCambridge story map, discover the hidden nooks within our municipality that would look great on film and help us show the film industry that Cambridge is so much more than just the Main Street Bridge! Grab your camera and comfy shoes - and get ready to #CaptureCambridge!
Interactive Story Mapping
Have you ever wondered which locations in Cambridge are used for filming? Take an interactive tour of the film projects that have taken place in Cambridge! Are you only interested in learning where the critically acclaimed Handmaid's Tale has filmed locally? We have a map for that too!
All Film Projects
The Handmaid's Tale
Do you want to know more than just where something has filmed? Are you looking to discover the unique history of the locations that were used to build the fictional backdrops? Use our Handmaid's Tale Walking Tour to learn about Cambridge's rich history and go beyond Gilead.
Previous projects
Previous productions filmed in Cambridge include:
- The Queen's Gambit
- Reacher
- The Handmaid's Tale (Winner of 2 Golden Globes and 15 Emmy Awards, including the first ever Outstanding Drama Series win for a streaming service original series)
- Murdoch Mysteries
- The Hardy Boys
- American Gods (Nominated for both Emmy and Critics' Choice Awards)
- Designated Survivor
- The Good Witch
- The October Faction
- V-Wars
- Flatliners
- Terrific Trucks Save Christmas (Nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award)
- 11/22/63 (Stephen King Miniseries)
Looking for Updates?
Be sure to subscribe to News and Public Notices to stay on top of what's filming locally and how it may affect your travel around the city!