Following are the key Alberta funding and investment sources available for Canadian independent film and television program development, production and/or distribution.

ALBERTA FILM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The Alberta Film Development Program can accommodate a broad range of needs for both local and guest producers. It is easy to understand, simple to apply, highly competitive and 100% bankable with most financial institutions.
Production $$$: The production grant ranges from 14% to 23% of all eligible Alberta expenditures (equivalent to a 25% to 42% labor tax credit). This contribution can be applied to all post-production and computer graphics activities. The level of contribution increases with Albertan ownership and the employment of Albertans in key creative positions.
Guidelines are available on the Alberta Film website.
Contact: Kim Evans
Tel: (780) 422-3827
Fax: (780) 427-0195
kimberly.evans@gov.ab.ca
www.albertafilm.ca

ALBERTA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is the provincial agency that provides financial support to Alberta’s artists and cultural organizations.
Project Grants Film and Video: This grant program supports the development of individual Alberta artists, or an ensemble of artists and organizations, in film and video by assisting with projects in one or any combination of the following categories:
• Production or post-production
• Training and/or career development
• Travel and/or marketing
• Research or development
The maximum grant under this program will not exceed $15,000, and may include up to $3,000 per month subsistence allowance.
Criteria: An individual must be a Canadian citizen or a landed immigrant, and have his/her primary residence in Alberta for one full year before applying for a grant.
Deadlines: Feb. 15, Sept. 1, 2009
Contact:
Tel: (780) 427-9968
www.affta.ab.ca

CITYTV PRAIRIE BRIDGE FINANCE PROGRAM
Launched in October 2005 the Citytv Prairie Bridge Finance Program provides recoupable loans for Rogers Television-supported projects. The program provides $500,000 in total to Alberta- and Manitoba-based production companies. As loans are repaid, monies will revolve and be made available to assist new projects.
Criteria: Applicant companies must be owned and controlled by residents of either Alberta or Manitoba. Eligible companies can access up to $50,000 per film or television project. A producer group (defined as a group of production companies controlled by one or more of the same individuals) will be limited to two separate loans at a time.
Loans must be repaid within two years, and are not available to international or interprovincial coproductions, or projects with bank financing.
Contact:
Alain Strati
Tel: (416) 764-3230
1-888-260-0047 (toll free)
www.citytv.com

CULTURAL INDUSTRIES GUARANTEE FUND
The Cultural Industries Guarantee Fund – a revolving fund of approximately $2 million – was created by the Alberta Cultural Industries Association with funds from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Canadian Heritage to provide guarantees to financial institutions for companies working in the cultural industries, including film/video producers.
The fund has been expanded to provide direct loans.
The objective of the CIGF is to assist companies in corporate development, including improvement of human and/or technological resources, in order to achieve sustainable company growth and/or better fiscal performance.
CIGF can provide guarantees to financial institutions (not to exceed $250,000) for corporate development loans or lines of credit for corporate operating, development and growth. The fund can also act as a direct lender to provide ‘micro-loans’ (generally not to exceed $25,000) for corporate development.
Criteria: The business must be 51% owned and controlled by an Alberta resident and have its head office in Alberta. It must demonstrate that the production and/or distribution of film/video is its main business activity, and that the use of fund capital will result in improved and sustainable corporate performance.
Deadlines: None. Applications accepted throughout the year.
Contact:
Tel: (780) 498-5536
www.bookpublishers.ab.ca/cigf

TELUS TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT FUND
The TELUS Television Development Fund was created by TELUS and is delivered by the Alberta Cultural Industries Association with three goals in mind: to contribute to the development of high-quality Canadian television programming; to encourage the creation of high-quality Alberta-made programs suitable for the conventional broadcast television market in Canada; and to encourage the growth and development of Alberta producers working in the Canadian conventional broadcast television market.
The fund will provide interest-free loans up to $10,000 per project to Alberta-based producers. The fund will not consider applications for equity investments or grants. These loans will normally be repayable on the first day of principal photography of the project, or on the date when the property is sold or assigned to a third party.
Allowable costs include: writer’s fees, office costs, story editor fees, union benefits, travel expenses, legal fees, research expenses, marketing costs, producer’s fees (capped at 15%) and producer overhead (capped at 15%).
Best bets: Preference will be given to the development of the following program categories: drama, music and variety, children’s, comedy, documentary, and stories specific to Alberta.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Alberta residents and derive their primary source of income from the independent film and video industry by writing, developing or producing television projects. A production company must be incorporated in Alberta or federally and registered in Alberta. The head office or principal place of business must be located in Alberta, and at least 51% ownership must be held by Alberta residents.
Contact:
Tel: (780) 498-5536