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Minister announces AFDP changes
Lindsay Blackett, Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, announced welcome changes to the Alberta Film Development Program at a Calgary reception Thursday evening.
The changes include the removal of the requirement for a broadcast licence to trigger the AFDP, a project development fund, export marketing funds and a training and mentoring fund, with $800,000 to be available 1 April 2010.
The announcement follows news earlier in the day of development support by the province, in partnership with CBC, of a television movie based on the life of Sir Sam Steele, following up on the provincial government's acquisition and repatriation to Alberta of the Sir Samuel Benfield Steele Collection in 2008. The project will be produced by Knight Enterprises.
The Minister was speaking at a reception celebrating Alberta's 2009 Gemini Nominees, hosted by the Host City organizing committee. The full text of the press release follows.
November 12, 2009
Film development program aims to keep pace with evolving industry
Calgary... To further support Alberta’s evolving film, television and digital media industry, the Alberta government has modified the Alberta Film Development Program (AFDP). The changes will help encourage digital media productions, support professional and project development, facilitate export opportunities for industry members, and tell Alberta’s stories around the world.
The film development program’s mandate has been modified to recognize the increasing use of digital media in screen-based productions. The requirement to have a broadcast license in order to pursue funding has been removed. This will help encourage and support the development of forward-thinking and innovative productions and business models in Alberta.
"From IMAX to iPods, people are viewing video in ways unimaginable just a couple decades ago," said Lindsay Blackett, Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. "These changes will position Alberta as a leader in the next generation of production in our digital world."
In addition, new grant options will be created within the AFDP to further support and encourage screen-based productions in Alberta. Alberta Stories will encourage the production of stories that are Albertan in content and expression; Project Development will provide Alberta producers and writers assistance in creating marketable, production-ready projects and scripts; Export Market Development will assist Alberta producers in selling, marketing and creating business relationships in national and international markets; and Training and Mentoring will support the next generation of Alberta producers and filmmakers by offering workshops, courses and mentoring programs. The grant options will be available April 1, 2010. Up to $800,000 of the AFDP budget will be allocated to support these programs.
"Our province’s film development program builds on the four pillars of our province’s cultural policy, The Spirit of Alberta: excellence, capacity, access and supporting cultural industries," added Blackett. "These changes will help ensure Alberta’s stories and Albertans working in the film industry are encouraged, supported and celebrated."
Alberta’s film and television industry is a knowledge-based, environmentally friendly industry that supports rural economic development, promotes tourism, employs thousands of Albertans and brings diversity to Alberta’s economy.
The AFDP provides funding support for the development of a strong Alberta production industry, helping Alberta compete in motion picture production and investment within the national and international marketplace. The program encourages development of local production expertise and talent; sustained industry development; increased investment in Alberta-based production; and the use of Alberta as an international film location. For more information, visit www.culture.alberta.ca/filmdevelopment.
The Government of Alberta has a clear plan for a strong economic recovery. The Way Forward will bring Alberta back into a surplus position in three years by trimming government spending; using cash reserves to protect key programs; continuing to invest in public infrastructure; and ensuring that our province's industries are competitive and continue to attract investment to provide jobs and prosperity.
CanWest Alberta Fund (CAF) Lives on as Canwest Alberta Legacy Fund (CALF)
A History
The $10.5 million CanWest Alberta Fund ("CAF") was established in 2007 by CanWest MediaWorks, a division of CanWest Global, as a result of CRTC Decision 2007-168.
In the decision, the CRTC agreed to allow CanWest Global to extend the signal of their television station in Red Deer, Alberta, by establishing transmitters in Calgary and Edmonton, giving CanWest Global lucrative simultaneous program substitution across the entire province.
As part of the CRTC decision CanWest Global agreed to support Alberta’s independent production community by financing the production of priority programming produced by Alberta production companies for any Canadian broadcaster.
That was then…
The CAF fund is now over, but and the Canwest Alberta Legacy Fund (CALF) is now in place.
For more detailed information on the Guidelines to the CALF and an application form,
The CALF Guidelines and Application Form can be found at www.ipf.ca
For more information, please contact Jane Bisbee at 780-468-9304 or jbisbee@ipf.ca
CityTv Television's Commitment:
CityTv actively supports Canadian independent production companies with early development support for writing and research and, later on, with pre-license commitments for production. A proud supporter of innovative and unique voices in the Canadian independent production community, CityTv not only assists established filmmakers but enthusiastically nourishes and develops emerging talent. CityTv is also conscious of the shifting paradigms of audiences across Canada, and has long nurtured and encouraged Canadian writers, directors and producers from a wide variety of backgrounds which are reflective of our diverse, multicultural society.
CityTv Prairie Bridge Finance Program:
Access to term loans and operating funds during the production phase is a chronic problem for independent producers. Started in October, 2005, CityTv Prairie Bridge Finance Program (CPB) provides recoupable loans for Rogers Television supported projects. The program provides $500,000 in total to Prairie-based production companies. As loans are repaid, monies will revolve and be made available to assist new projects.
Applicant companies must be owned and controlled by residents of either Alberta or Manitoba. Such companies can access up to $50,000* per film or television project. A Producer Group (defined as a group of production companies controlled by one or more of the same individuals) will be limited to two (2) separate loans at a time. Projects with bank financing will not be eligible nor are international or interprovincial co-productions. (NOTE: Preferences will be given to projects with broadcast licenses from Rogers)
Loans are repayable and must be re-paid within two (2) years. Set-up fees are not charged. The Producer will be responsible for third-party legal expenses. Interest rates charged on loans will be Prime + 1%. The producer must assign its federal tax credit refund to CityTv as well as provide a first priority security interest against all the assets of the production company. Parent company must guarantee the loan. The producer shall also provide a visual credit to CityTv on the program and on all printed and electronic promotional materials.
Funding Through ACIA:
The Alberta Cultural Industries Association (ACIA) created the Cultural Industries Guarantee Fund with funds from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) and from the federal government through the Ministry of Canadian Heritage. This funding is designed to provide guarantees to financial institutions for the growth and development of companies working in 4 specific cultural industries - film/video producers, book publishers, sound recording companies and magazine publishers.
The Board of the ACIA manages a revolving fund of approximately $2 million dollars divided equally between the 4 separate cultural industries. AMPIA represents the film/video producers. In addition to providing guarantees to financial institutions, the ACIA Board also provides direct loans and short term interim financing with reasonable interest rates.
The specific objective of the ACIA Fund is to assist “cultural industries companies in corporate development which includes, but is not limited to, improvement of human and/or technological resources in order to achieve sustainable company growth and/or better fiscal performance. Expenses associated with such corporate development may include marketing and/or distribution capacity, upgrading computer/network infrastructure, new office equipment, acquisition of strategic properties specific to a cultural industry, etc.
AMPIA Producer members making application to the fund must demonstrate that the use of these funds will result in “improved corporate performance that is sustainable” after use of the funds.
A Selection Committee of experienced professionals, appointed by ACIA’s member organizations, and the Fund Manager, review applications for recommendations for funding. For Complete Guidelines CLICK HERE
Applications should be sent to
Alberta Cultural Industries Association
10670 52 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T6A 2H2
For information call:
780-468-9304
The Rocket Fund:
Created by Canadian Cable giant Shaw Cable, the Rocket Fund is a permanent, independently governed, not-for-profit corporation which provides financing for the production of high quality Canadian children's, youth and family television programming. The Rocket Fund was created in 1998 under the name Shaw Television Fund and, to date, has invested $35 million towards Canadian children's programming.
For more detailed information, guidelines and financing options, click-on
www.rocketfund.ca
Other Canadian Funding Sources:
There are also many excellent funding sources available on a national basis for film and television production in Canada. For a complete, detailed and comprehensive guide, visit the website for the Canadian Film and Television Producer's Association (CFTPA) at www.cftpa.ca and click on the Header "GUIDE" to obtain the most recent information.
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