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Are you an independent producer using your credit cards to pay for your production? Have you tried to mortgage your parent’s home to finance a shoestring budget or to convince your friends to invest in your dream? Before you take these steps, you may want to consider the following funding sources available to British Columbia producers: British Columbia Arts Council Project Assistance for Media Artists Program Up to $25,000 available for artists with a minimum of 5 years experience and an accumulated body of work in their field. Less experienced artists eligible for maximum of $10,000. Support is capped at 50% of budget. Looking for innovative, experimental and non-industrial film, video and new media projects. Animation, documentary, experimental and drama qualify. Ineligible projects are those intended exclusively for theatrical release or primetime TV, industrial promotions or sponsored works. Deadlines are April 30 and October 31. Call 250-356-1728 email walter.quan@gems9.gov.bc.caor visit www.bcartscouncil.bc.ca British Columbia Film Television and Film Financing Program Offers recoupable advances for project development and production financing in the form of equity investments. BC Film acts as a financial investor in the projects, regaining its development advance when the script is produced, and recovering its production investment from sales and revenue of the completed project. Film Incentive BC A corporate refundable tax incentive program. When filing tax returns, production companies may claim a percentage of the BC labour costs incurred in making film and TV productions. Credits are applied to reduce tax payable, and any balance is paid to the company. The production must be distributed by a Canadian distributor or broadcaster within two years from completion of the production and must comply with “Canadian Content” points represented by key Canadian individuals in a production. Call 604-736-7997 or visit www.bcfilm.bc.ca Business
Development Bank of Canada Cultural Industries Develop-ment Fund
Provides specialized and flexible financing for small businesses
operating in film and multimedia production, sound recording, and
book and periodical publishing. Offers loans of up to $250,000 per
12-month period, and a total commitment of $1 million over time.
Terms of the loan can be spread over a maximum of seven years and
principal payments may be postponed during the first year. Term
loans and venture loans are also available to entrepreneurs. Call
1-888-INFO BDC (463-6232) Canadian Television Fund Equity Investment Program Funds drama, children’s, documentary, variety, performing arts for projects that have a license from a Canadian broadcaster. Advances of up to 50% of costs to a maximum of $100,000 per project or $250,000 per production company. A broadcaster financial contribution of at least 20% (drama) or 15% (other) is required. Successful applicants to the EIP receive a direct cash equity investment in the production, which results in an undivided copyright ownership interest in all versions of the production. License Fee Program Provides a “license fee top-up”, which supplements Canadian broadcaster cash license fees. Top-up will be 13% of the total production budget, subject to a cap of $750,000 for MOWs. Projects are ranked and scored by the LFP within their genre, category and language. Call 877-975-0766 or visit www.CanadianTelevisionFund.ca Global Development Fund A $1-million per year fund offering development loans to bring projects to a stage where Global Television can assess if it will license the property. No caps per project, assessments are made on an ad hoc basis. Fund is predominantly for Canadian drama and comedy series, and documentaries. Variety programs are considered. Proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis. There is no application form or deadlines for submission. Call 416-446-5526 Harold Greenberg Fund Equity Investment Program Funds up to $200,000 in feature-length (over 75 minutes), theatrical-release movies with available pay-TV and pay-per-view for Canadian producers and production companies with a track record. Evaluation based on creative and business merits. No deadlines for application. Call 416-956-5431 or visit www.tmn.ca Independent Production Fund Funds dramatic (sitcoms, animation, children and adult) series for independent producers who have a private broadcaster license agreement. Investment may be in the form of equity or debt, or combined. The fund seeks recoupment of its investment and profit participation. Terms and schedules of payment and recoupment, the producer’s responsibilities and reporting conditions are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Deadlines are Feb. 15, April 15, and October 1. Call 416-977-8966 or visit www.ipf.ca Movie Central Annual budget of $500,000 is made available for development loans. Also acquires and invests in Canadian dramatic programming (mostly movies with some series, thriller, mystery, action, drama, romance) in the form of pre-buys and license fees. Call 604-988-1602 Rogers Telefund Provides interim financing, advancing funds against secured commitments to eligible independent Canadian producers in order that production can be completed before all production financing payments are advanced. The size of the loan depends on the nature of the project (can be under $100,000) and the needs of the producer. Interest is always lower than financial institutions or other lending agencies, and there is no placement or administration fee. In order to qualify for this fund, must have a broadcaster attached. Revolving – funds available as monies are repaid. Call 416-935-2526 or visit www.rogers.com/english/ corporate/community/telefund Telefilm Canada Feature Film Fund For low-budget feature films. Supports production and post-production/completion of high quality, original and culturally relevant films by emerging and established filmmakers. Provides financial assistance in the form of non-interest bearing advances up to 65% of the total project budget to maximum dollar participation per project of $200,000. Call 800-567-0890 or visit www.telefilm.gc.ca Telus
BC New Media and Broadcast Fund Provides interim financing to projects
that have broadcast, distribution and funding agreements. The limit
is $250,000 (which often is insufficient for feature projects).
Money is paid out in accordance with a draw down schedule negotiated
with the producer. No deadline for applications, but the fund is
a revolving fund and available monies depend upon the repayment
of existing loans. Call 604-432-2041 or visit www.telus.com/community/telusfund
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