State-of-the-art film studio opens on Wahnapitae First Nation

A huge, state-of-the-art film studio has opened on Wahnapitae First Nation in northern Ontario.

Film and TV production is a flourishing sector in northern Ontario.

White Owl Film Studios is a new facility that recently opened on the Wahnapitae First Nation to support the future of filmmaking in Canada.

“White Owl Studios is the largest Indigenous-led studio in Canada,” said Axel Green, White Owl Film Studios PR and acquisitions manager.

“It’s a key piece of infrastructure that has been a long time coming for Sudbury and it allows us the ability to shoot during the wintertime. It allows us now to cater to a larger series.”

The massive, state-of-the-art facility offers 20,000 square feet of space with 64-foot ceilings.

“It’s built like this for different sound and to have an open area so when productions come in there is nothing hindering them from building whatever they want,” said studio co-owner Roy Roque.

Partners in the studio said they wanted to give back to the community by building the large studio on the Wahnapitae First Nation and invest in the future of filmmaking in Canada.

“In a lot of our First Nation communities, we have gas stations cannabis stores, cigarette stores, different things like that,” Roque said.

“To have sustainable business with different educational things that are required, I feel that will really help our future generations to want to go to school to learn more.”

Officials with the studio said it’s ready to cater to films and television series while also supporting local young creatives starting out and that it’s a real alternative to traditional urban production centres.