The following is the 1998 edition of Playback’s annual digest of national funding and investment sources available for Canadian independent film and television program development, production and/or distribution.

Key: Certified Canadian means projects must be certifiably Canadian under the criteria set out by the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office or the crtc, Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications regulator.

– A&E/Canal D Canadian Production Fund
Development/production $$$: a&e devotes the annual net proceeds from its programming agreement with Premier Choix: tvec to funding original Canadian programming for air on both a&e and the French-language service Arts et Divertissement in Canada, and on a&e in the u.s.
Contact: Barbara Treadwell (212) 210-9001
– Alliance Financial Corporation
A subsidiary of Alliance Communications, Alliance Financial Corporation provides interim production financing. The company has closed in excess of 20 transactions since its formation 18 months ago.
Criteria: Projects are required to have the budget covered by distribution contracts, equity investments, tax credits, etc. Gap financing may also be available on select projects where the producer has achieved a satisfactory level of presales and has an established sales agent attached.
Eligible projects: Film projects with budgets between $3 million and $10 million and tv projects with budgets from $5 million to $15 million are eligible.
Opps for outside producers: Available to companies worldwide.
Contacts: Jeff Rayman (416) 967-0682 or Robert Beattie (416) 967-0682
– Bank of Nova Scotia
Under its Innovation and Growth sector, the Bank of Nova Scotia offers production and distribution financing.
Contact: Audrey Vrooman (416) 933-2929
– Banque Nationale de Paris
A recognized international bank, Banque Nationale de Paris (Canada) has offices in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and Vancouver. Its Entertainment Finance Group provides interim funding for feature films and tv projects which are financed with presales, equity investments, and/or government-related programs, including provincial tax credits.
Contact: Diane G. Dube: Tel. (514) 285-6160; Fax (514) 285-2906; 1-888-831-FILM
– Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund
With $12 million to be distributed over two and a half years, the fund encourages the linkages between Canadian broadcast and new media sectors and the production of interactive content. The pot is divvied between English-language (60%) and French-language (40%) projects. In return for financing, Bell takes a first right to license the interactive content.
Production $$$: Grants provide a licence-fee top-up of 50% of total Canadian broadcast licence fees (up to $100,000) in addition to a grant of 50% of the cost of production of the new media component, capped at $250,000.
Criteria: Projects must have a broadcast licence and include a new media component. Broadcast and new media producers must be based in Ontario or Quebec and maintain a head office in one of these provinces. The new media production must be carried out principally in Ontario or Quebec.
Eligible projects: Broadcast portion must be a drama, variety, documentary, children’s, performing arts or educational program. The program must qualify under cavco guidelines at a minimum 6/10 on the point system, as opposed to the normal 8/10 funding triggers. Industrial, corporate or primarily promotional new media projects do not qualify. Animated video images or live action must be a significant component of the new media project.
Contacts: Andra Sheffer (416) 977-8154; Claire Dion (514) 737-1337
– Bravo!FACT
Production $$$: Sponsored by specialty broadcaster Bravo!, this program provides indie producers, artists and arts groups with up to 50% of the total production costs (to a maximum of $25,000 per project) in non-refundable grants for short Canadian arts videos (maximum length 6 minutes) for broadcast on Bravo! The fund is the greater of $600,000 per year or 5% of Bravo!’s gross revenues from the previous year.
Although the fund provides core programming for the broadcaster through non-exclusive broadcast rights, applicants retain copyright of their production.
Eligible projects: arts films such as spoken word, visual arts, architecture, and music
Deadlines: June 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 21
Contact: Judy Gladstone, executive director (416) 591-7400, ext. 2734 or bravofact@bravo.ca
– The Canada Council For The Arts
Grants to Individual Artists:
Production $$$: The Media Arts Section provides grants to individual artists.
Criteria: Artists must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents working in film, video and new media as a form of creative expression and experimenting with form, content or technology.
Eligible projects: All genres qualify but instructional projects and conventional tv programs are not eligible.
Grants for First Productions In Media Arts:
Production $$$: Supports emerging artists’ first professional film, video or new media projects with grants capped at $16,0000.
Criteria: Artist must have completed basic media arts training and provide support material showing their ability in the field.
Grants to Film/Video/New Media Artists:
Development $$$: Grants support film/ video/new media makers to undertake work programs or travel that advances their creative development (e.g., research, scriptwriting). Fixed amounts of $5,000, $10,000 $15,000 or $20,000 are available.
Production $$$: Grants are available to a maximum of $60,0000 for film, $50,000 for video, and $35,000 for new media.
Criteria: Filmmakers must have completed one film/video/new media production over which they maintained complete creative control. Scriptwriters must have had one work professionally produced.
Other $$$: Travel grants to present work at festivals or exhibition venues and professional development travel (workshops, conferences) are available.
Deadlines: April 1 and Nov. 1 for film and video; Nov. 1 for New Media; travel grants, at least four weeks prior to event.
Contact: David Poole, Media arts officer 1-800-263-5588 or david.poole@canadacouncil.ca or Yasmin Karim, Media Arts Officer Video, New Media and Audio
– Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit
A fully refundable tax credit for eligible film and video productions owned by qualified taxable Canadian corporations. The credit covers 25% of eligible salary and wage expenditures not exceeding 48% of the total budget of an eligible production, meaning the credit will provide assistance of up to 12% of the total cost.
Contact: Robert Soucy, Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (819) 997-6861
– Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
Development $$$: Up to a maximum of 10% of the estimated production budget or $10,000.
Production $$$: Up to 49% of a production’s budget in the form of non-equity financial participation to a maximum of $50,000.
Eligible projects: The fund is geared towards educational/informational projects, documentaries and interactive multimedia programming. Projects should be designed for use by educational, institutional, business, cultural groups or educational or specialty channels. There is a linguistic and regional quota system.
Deadline: Nov. 18
Contact: Robin Jackson, executive director (613) 729-1900
– The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
the Development Information Program encourages Canadians’ understanding of international development issues with an emphasis on the role Canadians make in developing countries. Guidelines are available at the Website: w3.acdi-cida.gc.ca/dip
Development $$$: Depending on availability of funding, $5,000 to a maximum of $250,000 can be applied for.
Production $$$: Up to 50% of total production costs can be financed.
Criteria: Film and video productions with a broadcast and distribution guarantee are eligible.
Contact: Paul Turcotte, manager (819) 977-1663 or Paul_Turcotte@acdi-cida.gc.ca
– Canadian Television Fund
A government/industry partnership, the Canadian Television Fund, formerly known as the Canada Television and Cable Production Fund, is a $200-million per year funding initiative which is meant to increase the quantity and quality of Canadian television programming.
New funding policies are currently being established for the 1999/2000 fiscal year.
For more information contact (toll free) 1-877-975-0766 or check out the fund’s Website (www.canadianTelevisionFund.ca).
Equity Investment Program: *Note this program is under review and is subject to change.
approximately two-thirds of the eip resources are earmarked for English-language production, and between 45% and 55% are available each year to indie producers with a broadcast agreement with the cbc. Children’s, docs, variety and performing arts programs are to receive 20%, and feature films (with a broadcast window) can receive up to $15 million. An aboriginal-language envelope is also available.
Criteria: Eligible applicants are Canadian-controlled corporations as determined by the Investment Canada Act and as defined in Section 1106(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, which are Canadian-controlled, situated in Canada, are financially stable and own the copyright in a production.
Eligible projects must have a minimum of eight out of 10 cavco points, have a commitment from a licensed Canadian broadcaster to be broadcast during primetime within two years of completion, and are of ‘high quality,’ among other restrictions.

Contacts:
Head office (Montreal): (514) 283-6363
Toronto: (416) 973-6436
Vancouver: (604) 666-1566
Halifax: (902) 426-8425
– CanWest Global Development Fund
Development $$$: A $1-million per year fund offering development loans to bring projects to a stage where CanWest Global can assess if it will license the property. There are no caps per project, assessments made on an ad hoc basis.
Eligible projects: Earmarked predominantly for Canadian drama and comedy programming, but kids’ shows and documentaries will be considered.
Contact: Loren Mawhinney, vp of Canadian production (416) 446-5415
– CIBC Wood Gundy
CIBC Wood Gundy underwrites public equity issues and provides private equity capital to non-public companies. It also provides corporate finance and advisory services.
Criteria: A company would typically have to be capable of raising upwards of $5 million on the public side and over $2 million on the private side.
Contact: Shubo Rakhit, director, corporate finance (416) 594-8023.
– Cogeco Program Development Fund:
Development $$$: The Cogeco fund is administered by, and is a complement to, the Independent Production Fund. It provides development financing in the form of loans Ð repayable on the first day of principal photography. Loans cover series bibles, treatments for first episodes, first and final draft scripts (a minimum of three episodes).
Criteria: Applicant must be a Canadian indie producer with a minimum two years’ production experience and one previous credit as a tv drama producer. A commitment from a Canadian broadcaster is required.
Eligible projects: English- and French-language dramatic tv series.
Deadlines: Feb. 1, April 1, July 15, Oct. 15
Contacts:
Toronto: Andra Sheffer (416) 977-8966
Montreal: Claire Dion, (514) 737-9969
– Cultural Industries Development Fund
The cidf, administered by the Business Development Bank of Canada, can provide working capital loans ranging from $20,000 to $250,000 to producers of film and video. Loans are normally repayable over a five-year period.
Criteria: Companies must have been in business for at least two years.
Contact: 1-888-463-6232
– Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Other $$$: The Arts & Cultural Industries Promotion Division of the Bureau of International Cultural Relations administers grants to support film/tv and video producers participation in international events with a view to the sale of their products abroad and the stimulation of international coproductions.
The amount of funding per project depends on the availability of funds and generally covers the cost of international air fare.
Eligible projects: Preference is given to projects which will help professionals launch international careers and develop market potential.
Contact: (613) 992-1557
– Export Development Corporation
Other $$$: This fund is available to Canadian companies exporting productions globally by providing financing and risk management services, including insurance, guarantees, and financing to foreign buyers importing Canadian goods.
Contact: (613) 598-2500
– Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit
The Department of Finance has implemented the fvpstc to replace tax-shelter benefits previously available. The tax credit is equal to 11% of salary and wages paid to Canadian residents or taxable Canadian corporations for services provided to the production in Canada. The refundable tax credit has no cap on the amount which can be claimed.
Opps for outside producers: The tax credit is available to foreign-owned companies with permanent establishments in Canada. The corporation must contract directly with the copyright owner or be the copyright owner of the production.
Criteria: The total cost incurred for the production must exceed $1 million. In the case of series, the total cost must exceed $200,000 per episode, except in the case of episodes under 30 minutes which must exceed $100,000 per episode.
The new credit may not be claimed where the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit has been claimed. cavco determines eligibility and issues an Accredited Film or Video Production Certificate.
Eligible projects: All genres qualify except news programs, talk and game shows, sporting and awards events, and reality tv.
Contact: The Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (819) 997-6861
– FYI/Fireworks/YTV Initiative
Development $$$: ytv and Fireworks Entertainment have created a $250,000 fund to support children’s programming from emerging producers.
Eligible projects: Kids’ programming of international appeal.
Other: The venture provides producers with access to development, production, broadcast, distribution and financing expertise of ytv and Fireworks.
Contacts: Sally Tindal, ytv media relations (416) 530-5121; Jennifer Cyr, Fireworks (416) 360-4321
– The Harold Greenberg Fund/Le Fonds Harold Greenberg (created by TMN-The Movie Network)
Development $$$: The script development and senior projects programs provide interest-free development loans repayable on the first day of principal photography. Up to $18,000 may be advanced for a first draft, up to $12,000 for a second draft, and up to $10,000 for a final draft.
Production $$$: The English- and French-language Equity Investment Program has $2 million available annually to Canadian production companies with a track record in the production of long-form drama.
Eligible projects: Feature-length, theatrical-release dramas with a pay-per-view window.
Other $$$: The fund may advance up to $50,000 to projects of exceptional merit under the Senior Projects Program.
Contacts:
English-language programs: (416) 956-5431
French-language programs: (514) 939-5094
– Independent Film Financing
A private company offering film financing services including interim production and deficit financing; structuring of Canadian content and coproduction deals involving cavco and tax credits, Telefilm Canada and treaty coproductions; and the financing of Canadian content and production service credits.
Contact: Laura Polley, (416) 598-3270
– The Independent Production Fund
Production $$$: A private charitable foundation with a capital endowment of $33 million, established in 1990 by Maclean Hunter Limited but operating independently of its original benefactor.
The fund has about $3 million a year in equity investment.
Criteria: The majority of production financing must be confirmed before application is made, and projects must have a licence from a Canadian private broadcaster. Producers must be independent and Canadian, and the project must be at least 51% Canadian.
Eligible projects: Canadian dramatic tv series or pilots for private broadcasters.
Other $$$: ipf also provides grants to recognized trade organizations for special projects such as training programs, conferences, research, and workshops targeted at industry professionals.
Deadlines: Feb. 15, April 15, Aug. 1, Nov. 1
Contact: Andra Sheffer (416) 977-8966 or Claire Dion (514) 737-9969
– Kick Start
Production $$$: Jointly administered by the Directors Guild of Canada B.C. District Council and Telefilm Canada, Kick Start is designed to assist emerging filmmakers. The program is currently under review and a decision on its future has not yet been made.
In previous years the program provided support of up to $10,000 per short film (with a maximum budget of $25,000) or video project produced by filmmakers from Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and the Northwest Territories).
Contact: Bill Hurst, Telefilm Vancouver, 1-800-663-7771 or (604) 666-1566
– National Film Board of Canada
Production $$$: The nfb participates as coproducer and full partner in the development and production of culturally relevant Canadian films, videos and multimedia productions with Canadian independent producers. The nfb retains copyright ownership in proportion to its participation.
Eligible projects: Certifiably Canadian documentaries, animation and multimedia projects.
Aboriginal Filmmaking Program: The nfb’s English Program has set aside $1 million for productions or coproductions with aboriginal filmmakers.
Other $$$ Ð Filmmaker Assistance Program/Aide au cinema independent Canada: Assists emerging filmmakers with technical and equipment financing support.
Contacts:
English Program Production Centres:
Halifax: (902) 426-6000
Edmonton: (403) 495-3013
Toronto: (416) 973-3012
Vancouver: (604) 666-5410
Winnipeg: (204) 983-7996
French Program Production Centres:
Studio Acadie, Moncton: (506) 851-6105
Studio Ontario/West, Toronto: (416) 973-2226
– National Screen Institute
Each year, the National Screen Institute offers six teams of filmmakers the chance to produce their projects with $6,000 cash and $5,500 in service sponsorships. The value of each Drama Prize winner’s professional development package is $20,000.
Telefilm Canada, CanWest Global, cbc, Rogers Telefund, Shaw Children’s Programming Initiative and WIC Western International Communications each sponsor an award. Kodak, deluxe toronto, William F. White and Thompson, Thompson Insurance Brokers, and P.S. Productions Services are the service sponsors.
Eligible projects: Dramatic short film projects from emerging professionals with less than two hours’ credit in their discipline.
Deadline: Nov. 14.
Contact: Debbie Yee (403) 421-4084
– Program for Export Market Development
PEMD is the federal government’s primary international business development program designed to increase export sales of Canadian goods and services. pemd supports companies by sharing the costs of export market development activities they could not or would not normally attempt on their own.
The money invested is a contribution, and repayment is based on the new sales made by the company or the contracts obtained.
Criteria: Preference is given to companies with annual sales between $250,000 and $10 million, and/or with fewer than 100 employees.
Contact: (416) 954-4636
– Republic National Bank
With offices in Montreal and Toronto, Republic National Bank Ð under its commercial lending division Ð provides interim funding.
Eligible projects: Feature films and tv projects financed by way of presales, equity investments and/or government-related programs, including the federal and provincial tax credits.
Other: rnb counsels producers on how to identify and manage foreign exchange risk when incurring Canadian dollar production expenses against u.s. dollar revenue streams.
Contact: Dan McMullen (416) 367-1710
– Rogers Telefund
A revolving $17-million fund available for interim financing to Canadian producers with fully financed tv projects and a Canadian broadcaster attached. There are no minimum or maximum loan amounts nor administration fees. Interest rates are favorable.
Production $$$ Ð Rogers Documentary Fund: With $1 million a year over the next two years, the core program supports three documentaries a year (two English-, one French-language) with a maximum contribution of $100,000. The balance of the fund is directed towards the top-up program, which has a maximum contribution of $35,000 per project.
Contact: Robin Mirsky, executive director (416) 864-2325
– Royal Bank of Canada
Provides financial services for film, tv, digital and new media producers, distributors and publishers through its national media and entertainment division. Royal offers production and operating loans, and deposit and payment products designed for producers of film and tv.
Criteria: Minimum requirements for standalone project financing are an experienced producer, a fully financed budget, weekly and monthly cash flow projections, a completion guarantee and standard insurance. Digital and new media producers are encouraged to contact Paul Stewart in Toronto.
Contacts:
Toronto: (416) 955-FILM
Montreal: (416) 874-CINE
Vancouver: (604) 684-FILM
Halifax: (902) 463-FILM
Winnipeg: (204) 988-FILM
Regina: (306) 775-FILM
Royal Bank Capital Corporation: rbcc provides corporate investment for established companies through private placements. rbcc has $350 million for equity play, targeting knowledge-based industries and exporters Ð film and tv producers qualify.
Eligible projects: Minimum deal size is $250,000 and ownership in projects would be in the neighborhood of 10% to 50%.
Contacts:
Toronto: (416) 974-5088
Montreal: (514) 874-5081
Vancouver: (604) 665-0460
RBC Dominion Securities: RBC Dominion Securities is an international investment bank with a specialty focus on media and telecommunications. Services include private placement of equity and debt, public equity, and strategic financial advice.
Criteria: For private placement, the focus is on seasoned, senior companies. Likely candidates for public offerings are companies with revenues over $35 million.
Contacts: Bruce Rothney (416) 842-7608; Dan Coholan (416) 842-7544
– The Shaw Children’s Programming Initiative
Shaw Communications has committed a total of $27.5 million to independent Canadian children’s production.
Development $$$: Top-up project development loans are capped at 25% of the development budget to a maximum of $30,000 per project and can be converted into an equity position.
Production $$$: An equity investment capped at 10% of the budget to a maximum of $200,000.
Other $$$: Multimedia loans and equity investments, versioning loans, and special program grants.
Eligible projects: The Shaw Fund is aimed at programming for children 8-12 years and the Dr. Geoffrey R. Conway Fund is targeted at shows for kids 3-7 years. Projects must licensed for Canadian private broadcast, specialty and pay-tv networks.
Contact: Gail Yakemchuk (403) 468-7115
– Stentor New Media Fund
The Stentor Alliance of Canadian telephone and telecommunications companies has launched a $2.5-million national fund for multimedia content and technology development.
Eligible projects: Multimedia and interactive projects national in scope and Canadian in subject matter or perspective. Live-action video or animation is preferred.
Criteria: Production teams and creative must be Canadian, with all production taking place within the country.
Contact: 1-888-386-5555
– Superchannel
Development $$$: An annual budget of $500,000 is made available for development loans.
Production $$$: Twenty percent of Superchannel’s gross revenues are reserved for equity investment and licensing.
Eligible projects: Series, movies and children’s programming.
Contact: Nic Wry (403) 430-2800
– Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to the development and promotion of the Canadian film, television and new media industry. The corporation acts as one of the government’s principal instruments for providing strategic leverage to the Canadian private sector.
Telefilm’s mandate is to encourage and financially assist the industry in producing culturally relevant, high-quality Canadian production, and to ensure the widest distribution possible in Canada and abroad. Telefilm will not normally invest in productions with fewer than eight out of 10 cavco points, and its participation is usually limited to the Canadian portion of the budget.
*Note: These are 1997/98 figures and are subject to change.
Criteria: Eligible applicants are Canadian-controlled corporations as determined by the Investment Canada Act and as defined in Section 1106(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, which are Canadian-controlled, situated in Canada, are financially stable and own the copyright in a production.
Eligible projects must have a minimum of eight out of 10 cavco points, have a commitment from a licensed Canadian broadcaster to be broadcast during primetime within two years of completion, and are of ‘high quality,’ among other restrictions.
Feature Film Fund ($19 million): Telefilm may finance up to 49% of a project’s production budget, but will normally invest no more than $1.5 million. Telefilm’s participation may take the form of equity investment, secured loans, or non-interest-bearing advances. Eligible productions must have a Canadian distribution agreement for release within one year of completion.
Feature Film Distribution Fund ($9.5 million): The distribution fund has a principal fund (which allocates annual lines of credit to established distributors) and a contingency fund (which provides project-by-project help to developing producers).
The principal fund may be used to acquire rights to Canadian films, to pay for marketing of Canadian films, or to secure corporate loans.
To be eligible for the contingency fund, a distributor must Ð in the preceding 24 months Ð either have been deemed eligible to trigger Telefilm’s Feature Film Fund and distributed two admissible Canadian films, or have acquired the rights to two arm’s-length productions financed under the Feature Film Fund.
Versioning Assistance Fund ($2.5 million): Telefilm may advance up to 100% of the costs of dubbing or subtitling Canadian productions with eight or more out of 10 cavco points into one or both of Canada’s two official languages, expecting to recoup 40% of its advance for Canadian film productions, 50% for Canadian tv.
Canadian Production Marketing Assistance Fund ($2 million): Telefilm may assist private-sector Canadian distribution or foreign sales companies in marketing certified Canadian productions, official coproductions, or those projects which have currently received Telefilm production financing.
Eligible applicants must hold all necessary rights for maximum distribution of the production in Canada and/or abroad, and have a proven track record in those markets.
Loan Guarantee Program: A program designed to provide Canadian financial institutions with loan guarantees and appraisal of loan applications submitted by Canadian production, distribution and foreign sales companies.
The program is intended primarily for companies or projects which would otherwise be unable to obtain loans in the private sector. Telefilm can guarantee 85% of the maximum amount of the loan, not to exceed $1 million per project.
Contacts:
Montreal (head office): (514) 283-6363
Toronto: (416) 973-6436
Vancouver: (604) 666-1566
Halifax: (902) 426-8425
– TMN-The Movie Network
Production $$$: TMN Network contributes $10 million annually to the film and tv production industry through prebuy commitments, licensing fees and/or equity investments.
Eligible projects: Feature-length dramas for theatrical release and pay-tv windows.
Contact: Kathy Smith, vp, programming (416) 956-2010
– Toronto-Dominion Bank
TD has dedicated media specialists who offer producers, distributors and broadcasters interim financing, revolving lines of credit, term loans, cash management and payroll services.
TD Securities provides integrated investment banking, merchant banking, fixed income, institutional equities and brokerage services. This includes the placement of equities on a private or public basis, and merger and acquisition advisory services.
Contacts:
Toronto: Laurence Goldstein (416) 9TD-FILM
Montreal: Sylvain Perras (514) 289-8327
Vancouver: Kevin French (604) 654-3513
Halifax: Paul O’Hearn (902) 420-8530
– VideoFACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent)
Production $$$: Sponsored by MuchMusic and MusiquePlus, financial assistance of up to 50% of a production budget (to a maximum of $15,000) is available.
Eligible projects: Music videos. Requests may come from record companies, producers, directors and artists.
Criteria: Board decisions are based on creative presentation and financial requirements. Applicants must submit an audio cassette or cd and a detailed visual concept proposal with a production budget.
Deadlines: May 15, July 15
Contact: Beverley McKee (416) 596-8696
– Yorkton Securities
The entertainment and leisure division of the Knowledge Based Industries Group Yorkton Securities raises equity capital for information technology companies including film and tv producers, distributors and broadcasters.
Contact: Nelson Smith (416) 864-3585.