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

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR FILM AND VIDEO INDUSTRY TAX CREDIT

The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador offers a Film and Video Industry Tax Credit, which is administered by the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation. It is a fully refundable corporate income tax credit based on the amount of the production budget spent on Newfoundland and Labrador labor.
The tax credit is calculated as 40% of the total eligible labor expenditures to a maximum of 25% of the total eligible production budget.
The tax credit has an additional feature – the ‘deeming provision’ – wherein amounts paid to non-residents in key positions may be included in the tax credit calculation when a qualified resident is not available and the non-resident serves as a mentor of a resident of the province. Deemed labor is out-of-province personnel who are deemed to be a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador for the purpose of the tax credit. Where the residency requirements have been waived, the eligible salary of the non-resident person shall be the greater of:
• 75% of the actual salary of the non-resident person; and
• the salary of the mentored employee.
Criteria: In order to be eligible for the tax credit, 25% of salaries and wages paid by the production company must be paid to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. If this requirement is met, then the applicant company must be incorporated in Newfoundland and Labrador or another province/territory of Canada; must be primarily in the business of film/TV/video production; and must set up a permanent establishment (production office) in Newfoundland and Labrador for the duration of the production.
Contact: Chris Bonnell, executive director/film commissioner
1-877-738-3456 (toll free)
Fax (709) 739-1680
chris@nlfdc.ca
www.nlfdc.ca

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR FILM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Equity Investment Program: The NLFDC administers the provincial Equity Investment Program. This program provides funding in the form of equity investment to eligible producers for the financing of film and television productions. The NLFDC will normally provide a maximum contribution of 20% of the total production budget.
Criteria: Applicant companies must be incorporated in Newfoundland and Labrador and must be owned 51% or more by a resident or residents of the province.
Opps for outside producers: Coproductions with other provinces are eligible for equity funding providing there is a qualified Newfoundland and Labrador producer who is sharing in the financial and creative risks and rewards throughout the development, production and distribution of the production. The Newfoundland and Labrador coproducing company must retain an ownership position in the copyright of the project equal to the value it brings to the project, but cannot be less than 33%.
In order for international production companies to access the equity fund, they would have to coproduce with a local producer who would share in the risks and rewards of the production. For international coproductions, the Newfoundland and Labrador coproducer must retain no less than a 20% ownership position in the copyright of the production.
Development Program (an element of the EIP): Included in the EIP program is a development loan program. The NLFDC will provide a development loan to qualified applicants to support the essential process of development, which takes an idea through the stages of research, writing, market analysis and costing.
The NLFDC will apportion its development funding in two phases for non-series projects as follows:
• Phase one – conception and development of first draft: At this stage, the NLFDC will normally advance a maximum of $15,000. The NLFDC’s contribution cannot exceed 33% of the budget.
• Phase Two – shooting script and production development: At this stage, the NLFDC will normally advance a maximum of $20,000. The NLFDC’s contribution cannot exceed 33% of the budget.
Contact: Chris Bonnell, executive director/film commissioner
1-877-738-3456
Fax (709) 739-1680
chris@nlfdc.ca
www.nlfdc.ca