French-language independent filmmakers in Quebec are getting a boost from Telefilm Canada’s provincial office: it is setting aside $1 million within its French-language feature film fund envelope for projects with budgets of $1 million or less.

The new, unnamed ‘sub-envelope’ is quietly being put into operation as part of the Quebec office’s feature film business unit.

Joelle Levie, director of operations for Telefilm’s Quebec region, says, ‘The industry had requested that such a fund be created.’ She’s hoping to support four or five projects this year, adding the initiative is designed to address the needs of low-budget experimental and artistic projects.

Each filmmaker will receive between $100,000 and $500,000 per project, with the total grant equivalent to no more than 49% of the entire project. ‘We want to keep it very simple,’ says Levie.

Suzan Ayscough, director of communications and public affairs for Telefilm, says unlike regional programs for independent filmmakers in Atlantic Canada and b.c., the only guideline for the Quebec program is that the film have a budget of under $1 million. ‘This goes along with our corporate objectives to support small and medium-sized companies. If the program works, we will make it official, but immediately, we are responding to the needs of the industry.’

This new support for independent filmmakers is a response to strong lobbying by individual Quebec filmmakers and the Independent Film & Video Alliance, which represents 7,000 independent filmmakers and video artists across Canada. ifva national co-ordinator Peter Sandmark says he’s encouraged by Telefilm’s increased funding for independents. But he says what’s needed is a national funding program for independent low-budget feature filmmakers.

Earlier this year, ifva/avci wrote to Heritage Minister Sheila Copps requesting a $5-million fund be created for independent filmmakers. As Sandmark puts it, ‘We want a national fund that’s somewhere between what the Canada Council offers [grants up to $60,000] and what [the Feature Film Advisory Committee] is proposing.

‘Heritage Canada and Telefilm have a cultural mandate to support works for Canada that are significant for culture, not necessarily commercial successes.’

Meanwhile, Sandmark says he’s waiting for more good news as he’s expecting sodec will soon announce it is also increasing its funding for independent filmmakers in Quebec.