From the eerie corridors of Friday the 13th: The Series to the warm vibes of North of North, each title spotlights not just a memorable film or TV show, but the invaluable work of DGC Ontario Members whose creative and technical contributions made these productions possible.
Whether cult classics, indie darlings, or Emmy and Oscar-winning sensations, these stories showcase the diversity, innovation, and excellence rooted in our province’s production industry.
Watch the countdown on Instagram, and scroll through below to learn how each project played a role in shaping Ontario’s screen story.
1990 – Friday the 13th: The Series
The perfect opener: a hit horror series with episodes directed by David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan, and early credits for many of our now-veteran Members, including Executive Director Victoria Harding in the Locations Department.
1991 – Degrassi Junior High
A formative Canadian series that launched countless careers – including Drake’s – and Ontario’s international reputation for authentic youth drama.
1992 – Highway 61
Bruce McDonald’s rock-n-roll road movie showcased a fiercely independent spirit and the bold voice of Canadian cinema.
1993 – Searching for Bobby Fischer
A poignant chess drama with early credits for veteran Members like 1st AD Walter Gasparovic and DGC Ontario Senior Business Agent Cynthia Clayton.
1994 – Exotica
Atom Egoyan’s enigmatic masterpiece, about a group of lonely people at the Exotica strip club, marked a turning point for Canadian auteur cinema and brought the global spotlight to Toronto’s creative scene.
1995 – Canadian Bacon
Michael Moore’s rare fiction film, featuring work from now-legendary Production Designers Tamara Deverell and Carol Spier, turned Ontario into a playground for satire.
1996 – Mimic
Guillermo del Toro’s chilling debut in English-language cinema was brought to life with Ontario crews, setting the stage for del Toro’s long-standing creative partnerships with many of our Members.
1997 – Cube
Vincenzo Natali’s sci-fi thriller proved that small budgets could yield big ideas and launched a new wave of genre filmmaking in Ontario.
1998 – Last Night
Don McKellar’s intimate apocalypse dramedy remains a Canadian cult classic for its quietly personal take on the end of the world.
1999 – Mansfield Park
Patricia Rozema’s literary adaptation brought a refreshingly bold perspective to period dramas and received rave reviews.
2000 – American Psycho
Mary Harron’s chilling portrait of yuppie madness was shot in Toronto, doubling seamlessly for New York with the help of expert local crews.
2001 – Ginger Snaps
A feminist horror touchstone and a classic coming-of-age story with a twist that proved Ontario’s genre films could push creative boundaries.
2002 – Bollywood/Hollywood
This romantic comedy from Deepa Mehta fused Indian culture with Hollywood style, highlighting the richness of Ontario’s diversity.
2003 – Chicago
This musical adaptation of the hit Broadway show dazzled audiences with its visual flair and choreography, winning the Oscar for Best Picture in 2003 and cementing Ontario crews as some of the best in the world.
2004 – A History of Violence
David Cronenberg’s gripping crime drama was filmed in southern Ontario and exemplified his long-running collaboration with DGC Ontario Members.
2005 – Where the Truth Lies
Atom Egoyan’s noir-infused drama spotlighted technical and artistic finesse in high-concept period work.
2006 – Silent Hill
A visually ambitious adaptation of the best-selling video game franchise with extensive contributions from Ontario’s Art and Post departments, featuring horror world-building at its finest.
2007 – The Stone Angel
Kari Skogland’s sensitive drama gave a new voice to a Canadian classic novel, brought to life by a deeply collaborative local crew.
2008 – Pontypool
Bruce McDonald redefined radio horror in this cerebral thriller, crafted in tight quarters and full of atmospheric dread.
2009 – Splice
A return to sci-fi for Vincenzo Natali, with creature effects, psychological tension, and a star turn from DGC Ontario Member Sarah Polley.
2010 – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Stylish, surreal, and utterly Toronto: Edgar Wright’s hit film based on the locally-written comic series was a love letter to the city and its culture scene.
2011 – Suits
A long-running, internationally beloved legal drama, made possible by Ontario’s consistency and excellence in episodic TV.
2012 – Stories We Tell
Sarah Polley’s deeply personal film blurred the lines between truth and fiction and remains a landmark of Canadian documentary.
2013 – Orphan Black
Genre-bending and globally celebrated, this series put Toronto at the centre of a sci-fi revolution and showcased Ontario’s world-class Art Departments.
2014 – Sleeping Giant
Andrew Cividino’s debut feature announced a new directorial voice, grounded in Ontario’s natural beauty and authentic storytelling.
2015 – Schitt’s Creek
What started as a quirky comedy exploded into a cultural phenomenon. Schitt’s Creek swept the Emmys and proved that Ontario-made comedies were fun, fresh, and relatable across the world.
2016 – Star Trek: Discovery
Boldly going into global franchise territory, Discovery brought epic scale and cutting-edge VFX to Ontario’s production stages.
2017 – The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning fairy tale was a high watermark for Ontario’s ability to deliver magic, from Production Design to Post.
2018 – The Handmaid’s Tale
A chilling dystopia anchored by stunning visuals and intricate production, winning Emmys for Picture Editing and Production Design crafted by Ontario’s creative minds.
2019 – What We Do in the Shadows
This mockumentary series about vampire roommates blended sharp writing with impeccable design from Production Designers Shayne Fox, Kate Bunch and their teams.
2020 – Akilla’s Escape
The late Charles Officer’s poetic crime drama brought bold visual language and socio-political resonance to the screen.
2021 – Crimes of the Future
Cronenberg returns with a visceral, provocative sci-fi body horror and a familiar, trusted team of DGC Ontario collaborators.
2022 – When Morning Comes
Kelly Fyffe-Marshall’s debut feature marked a powerful new voice and the next generation of storytelling in Ontario.
2023 – Brother
Clement Virgo’s deeply affecting adaptation of David Chariandy’s novel became a modern Canadian classic.
2024 – North of North
This CBC/APTN series is currently a massive hit on Netflix, amplifying Indigenous voices and representing a continued push toward inclusive storytelling.
