Cinema Canada (Oct 1973-Jan 1974)

Co GD FILIYIN Canada Council announces new program to help independent filmmakers Ms. Penni Jaques, recently appointed film Officer of the Canada Council, came to Toronto in late October to explain the Council’s tentative Aid to Film and Video Artists program, which is already accepting applications. Her visit coincided with the Council’s series of open meetings held in this area, designed to gauge response to its programs from the art and academic communities across Canada. Director André Fortier revealed that the Canada Council gives away $45 million annually to the arts, humanities and social sciences, 36 per cent of it in Ontario. Film, photography and video might get up to one million dollars of this amount during the coming year. We suspect that this is still disproportionate to what other art forms are getting, but then certain staunch classicists refuse to recognize them as such. No comparable grants are planned in film, for instance, to the huge amounts of money given to established theatre, music, literature, and painting. Of course the real issue is that non-art allocations grossly outweigh the art ones. Still, grants in 1974 to individuals and non-profit organizations dealing with film, photography and video will most likely be double what they received this year. And the Council is making a great effort to communicate effectively with the people most likely eligible for these grants. Since an official brochure describing the new grants policy vis a vis film will not be available before February, we were asked to spread the word among filmmakers. We are unable to quote exact totals, however, since present figures are subject to change. The first thing Penni Jaques emphasized was that in order to be eligible, one had to be a professional. She added, however, that graduating students in certain high calibre institutions (Simon Fraser, York) would be considered. Her other major point was that no feature films would be acceptable, of whatever budget. The Canadian Film Development Corporation is there to invest in features, the Canada Council grants production funds for short or medium length films only. There are three categories in film 6 Cinema Canada Aan EW British Columbia production grants: up to $25,000, up to $10,000, and up to $5,000 will be given out to cover partial or total production costs. Ms. Jaques cautioned potential applicants against assuming that asking for the highest amount is the wisest course; in fact the $25 thousand grant will be the hardest one to get, with chances progressively improving as the budget is pared. Twice as many grants in the lowest category will be given out as in the highest, which is intended for filmmakers of considerable accomplishment. In addition, post production funds of up to $15,000 are available for works already in progress. And filmmakers, professionals in other related fields such as video, and writers wishing to buy time to write or develop a film script, may apply to the Senior Art Grant program (up to $15,000 to cover living expenses, production costs and travel, if required) or for a regular Art Grant (up to $4,000 to cover living expenses, plus $600 project cost allowance, plus travel if required to complete the project). Again, in order to be recognized as a “senior,” you have to be an artist who has made “a significant contribution over a number of years.’’ Other assistance available from the Canada Council for which filmmakers are eligible include Short Term Grants or either $550 or $350 per month, depending on your stature, plus $600 project cost allowance and any necessary travel; filmmakers and other professionals in related fields (film cameramen, video artists, set designers, producers, editors, and others) wishing to Michael Spencer of the CFDC and Penni Jaques of the Canada Council at the S.F.U. Forum in Photo: Greg Hulbert buy time to pursue a program of Apprenticeship Research or Advanced Study in their respective fields, may also apply for a Senior or regular Art Grant, or a Short Term Grant. Finally, Project Cost grants of up to $2,000 are available to the professional artist to help defray the cost of a particular project, with the exception of film or video production. However, projects such as exhibition costs (temporary rental of screening space), costs of sub-titling films of exception quality when they are invited to participate in national or international festivals, and transportation costs of films and equipment to international exhibitions do qualify under this program. If all this seems confusing, one must remember that the Canada Council is a very complex web of intricate interrelationships, and that not all the money comes from the same purse. Let’s just be thankful that Ottawa recognizes the need to fund the arts more generously than do governments of many other countries. Filmmakers wishing to apply for production or _ post-production grants should send six copies of the script or outline (5 will be returned upon adjudication), a curriculum vitae, list of professional achievements, proof of Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status (for at least 12 months prior to application), dates of tenure of grant, any other grants (no more than one Canada Council grant may be held within any twelve month period), two or three letters of reference, and other supporting materials, including a recent previous work.