Canadian Film Digest Year Book (1978)

GOVERNMENT a ee Applicants receiving assistance from other federal film agencies are not eligible for Canada Council grants for the same project. The maximum amount available for a single film production is $25,000 to cover total or partial production costs. Applicants receiving $15,000 or more may reapply for supplementary funds fora total not exceeding $25,000. Applications for amounts exceeding $10,000 must be received by a certain date in order to be considered at the next Canada Council meeting: March 15 for announcement in June; June 15 for announcement in September; September 15 for announcement in December; December 15 for announcement in March. Other grants Filmmakers may be eligible for assistance through other grant programs administered by the Canada Council. These include: Senior Arts Grants; Arts Grants; Short Term Grants; Project Cost Grants; Travel Grants; Video Production Grants; Long-term Grants for Writers; the Explorations Program. CANADIAN FILM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION C.P. 71 Tour De La Bourse. Ste. 2220 800 Place Victoria Montreal. Que. H4Z 2AS (514) 283-6363 Chairman: (Vacancy) Executive Director: Michael D. Spencer Legal Counsel: Joseph Beaubien Chief of Administration: Jacques Dick Production Supervisor: Pete Legault Production Personnel: Carole Langlois. Distribution Personnel: Armand Coumoyer. Paul Beaupre Members: Doris Anderson. Gary Duke. Donald Webster. Michel Vennat. Andre Lamy (ex-officio) Branch 111 Avenue Rd.. Ste. 602 Toronto. Ont. M5R 3J8 (416) 966-6436 Production Personnel: Ken Rosenberg, Denise Mulvey Distribution Personnel: Ken Rosenberg. Anne Brown Objects and Powers (1) The objects of the Corporation are to foster and promote the development of a feature film industry in Canada. and without limiting the generality of the foregoing. the Corporation may. in furtherance of its objects. a) invest in individual Canadian feature film productions in return for a share in the proceeds from any such productions: b) make loans to producers of individual Canadian feature film production of Canadian feature films: and c) advise and assist the producers of Canadian feature films in the distribution of such films and in the administration functions of feature film productions. (2) For the purposes of the CFDC Act. a “Canadian feature film” or “Canadian feature film production” is a feature film or feature film production in respect of which the Corporation has determined. a) that the completed film will. in the judgment of the Corporation. have a significant Canadian creative. artistic and technical content. and that arrangements have been made to ensure that the individue! and that arrangements have been made to ensure that the copyright in the completed film will be beneficially owned by an individual resident in Canada. by a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada, or a province. or by any combination of such persons: or 104 b) that provision has been made for the production of the film under a co-production agreement entered into between Canada and another country. (3) The Corporation shall not be regarded as a partner in any film production in which it may invest and its liability shall be limited to the amount of its investment in the production. (4) The Corporation shall, to the greatest possible extent consistent with the performance of its duties under this Act, consult and cooperate with departments, branches and agencies of the Government of Canada and of the governments of the provinces having duties related to. or having aims or objects related to those of the Corporation. Programs The Corporation assists Canadian feature film producers by investing up to $200,000 or 50 percent of the budget of a film, whichever amount is less, in projects that meet its criteria on Canadian content, financing, completion and distribution. The Corporation’s Special Investment Program provides an opportunity for filmmakers to demonstrate their talents in a first feature film. The maximum budget for films submitted under this program is $160,000 with the Corporation’s participation being 60 percent. The Corporation assists Canadian distribution companies by supplementing their budgets in the launching of Canadian feature films released in Canadian theatres. The Corporation assists Canadian feature film producers in developing screen plays. Its investment could cover the cost of securing an option on a Canadian novel, retaining an experienced screen writer and certain other expenses relating to the project. Co-Productions Since February 1976 the CFDC has been designated by the Secretary of State as administrator of co-production treaties between the Goverment of Canada and participating countries. Canada has coproduction agreements with the United Kingdom, France and Italy. A co-production treaty with West Germany is expected to be finalized by the spring of 1978. The treaty with France specifies a percentage limit of 80:20 for the proportion of involvement between the majority and minority partners in the co-production. The agreements with the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany specify 70:30. The terms of the co-production require that the artistic and technical input of each country, as well as the financial participation, should reflect its proportionate involvement in the film. Also spelled out in each co-production treaty is the minimum participation of the minorty partner. The finished film is considered a national film by both countries. As administrator, the CFDC receives all applications, studies and evaluates them and makes recommendations to the Secretary of State. When a film has been completed, the producer must provide an audited statement of costs and screen the film, after which a final recommendation is made to the minister. All co-production applications are forwarded to Joe Beaubien and Pete Legault at the CFDC’s Montreal office.