The Cogeco Program Development Fund is adding $200,000 in annual support for feature films to its dramatic tv series and mow development program.

The new money can be accessed by production companies with a slate of at least three feature films in development. Each production company can apply for up to $35,000 in the form of interest-free advances to be used for any phase of development on any of the film projects submitted for review by the fund.

Other eligibility criteria require that the applicants be independent Canadian producers who have made at least three theatrically released or broadcast feature films, mows or miniseries. At least one of the projects must have had a theatrical exhibition.

Cogeco Fund executive director Andra Sheffer says the support will be awarded based on the feature film track record of the producer and the key creative (writer, story editor), as well as the script synopsis. Also to be taken into consideration are the amount of financing already in place on the projects, the likelihood of the scripts being greenlit for production, and the innovation of the producers’ development plans.

As for the repayment schedule, 50% of the advance must be reimbursed on the first day of principal photography of any of the films submitted, and the balance when shooting begins on any of the other projects.

The feature film development funding will be awarded annually. The 1999 deadline for applications is July 1.

The Cogeco Program Development Fund was launched seven years ago with a $5-million endowment from Cogeco Cable. The revenues generated by the endowment and repayment of loans provide the development advances. Over the past seven years the Cogeco Fund has invested over $1 million in dramatic tv series.

Last year, a program to provide production financing for mows, miniseries and drama pilots was announced, with a $1-million annual contribution from Cogeco Cable as part of its broadcast distribution undertaking requirements. Seven mows and one pilot have received equity financing during the first six months of the program.