The Independent Production Fund’s investment in Canadian drama in 2003 totaled $2.2 million, down 12% from $2.5 million the year before, according to the IPF’s recently released annual report. The fund also contributed $217,000 to professional development, down 27% from $296,350 in 2002.

IPF executive director Andra Sheffer has attributed the decline to falling interest rates. The annual allotment for the IPF, created by communications giant Maclean Hunter (now Rogers Media), is generated from interest on a $35-million endowment as well as recoupment on investment. The IPF invests in Canadian drama series for private broadcasters, and is administered by an independent board.

Last year saw cableco Mountain Cablevision direct 20% of its required BDU contribution to the IPF, allowing the fund to help finance one more series than it otherwise would have.

The IPF helped fund 13 Canadian series in 2003, contributing to 127.5 programming hours. Of its total allotment, $1.6 million, or 75%, went to English-language series, and $535,000 to French. The number of series it aided is unchanged over 2002.

Last year saw a growing amount of IPF funding going to primetime series as opposed to family shows – 79%, up 5% from 2002. This is further reflected in the fact that YTV had IPF funding for three projects in 2002, but none in 2003. Groupe TVA led all first-window ‘casters with four series funded through the IPF in 2003, followed by CTV with three.

By province, projects from Ontario received the most IPF funding in 2003, with 44%, compared to Quebec with 25%. Last year, Ontario received 53% of the funding, compared to Quebec’s 27%.

Some of the shows funded by the IPF in 2003 include the one-hour dramas The Eleventh Hour and Blue Murder, the latter of which has been canceled, and Annie et ses hommes.

In the report, IPF president Peter Mortimer seems to take a shot at broadcasters who increasingly favor simply acquiring U.S. shows or supporting productions shot locally that cater to American audiences. He observes ‘some dismay as some of the more established producers are clearly abandoning Canadian Content production for other, more profitable corporate activities.’ He also notes growing prodco interest in MOWs, which, for the IPF to consider supporting, would require a major shift in its mandate.

The next deadline for IPF funding is Oct. 1.

-www.ipf.ca