shuts distribs out

Montreal: The chairman of the Canadian Association of Film Distributors and Exporters says Canadian distributors are effectively shut out from buying independently produced films for the domestic market due to the void in national distribution legislation. At the same time, says Rene Malo, broadcasters, such as the CTV Television Network, are free of Cancon obligations in the area of film.

According to Malo, chairman of Malofilm Communications, Montreal, the agreement between the Motion Picture Association of America and the Quebec government ‘is worth nothing.’

He says that deal has resulted in a proliferation of sub-distribution deals, not otherwise exclusive to Quebec, and has boosted market share for dubbed u.s. films, controlled by the majors.

Malo says the government’s deal with the mpaa and Bill 109 have reduced Quebec’s once rich and varied film culture to ‘the watching of American movies.’

The comments follow a hard-hitting speech by Malo at last month’s Montreal World Film Festival tribute in his honor.

In his speech, Malo said Canada’s political masters are selling the country short when they undervalue the historical contribution of Canada’s feature film industry.

He said feature film production represents a demonstrated net gain for the indebted, underemployed Canadian economy, and added that sweeping public cuts to cultural industries are counterproductive and shortsighted.

According to Malo, government is paying lip service to the Canadian feature film industry, which he termed ‘of vital importance’ in the assertion of Canadian sovereignty.

‘A national cinema is essential to the recognition of peoples, for themselves and for others,’ he said.

Malo said the lack of vision in the feature film domain is the result of an unfavorable comparison with television and a widespread underestimation of the average audience for Canadian features.

Taking into consideration a film’s release in theaters, on video, on pay-tv and on free tv, ‘it is reasonable to assume that, with effective national distribution, Canadian films are seen by at least one to three million Canadians,’ he said

Malo said in a country where politicians are obsessed with job creation, the film and tv production industry deserves special attention.

He pointed out that an investment of $36,000 is required to create a new, permanent skilled job in the production sector, one-third the average cost of creating a permanent industrial job in Canada.

About 500 guests from government, and the Canadian and foreign production and distribution industries, attended last month’s wff black-tie tribute.