Canwest and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival have announced the 12 projects to receive $251,000 in grants and no-interest loans from the Canwest-Hot Docs Documentary Funds in their fifth round of disbursements.

The Funds, which were established in 2008, consist of a $3-million completion fund and a $1-million development fund which provide Canadian documentary filmmakers with financial support at critical stages in their work.

‘I think what stands out across this funding round is the diversity of storytelling styles, from classical vérité to character-driven narratives and conceptual essays,’ says Sean Farnel, director of programming at Hot Docs. He adds that the committees behind the funds – which include Lynne Carter, production executive, factual content for Canwest Media Inc.; Aynsley Vogel, head of creative, Factual at Paperny Films; Ric Bienstock, producer/director/writer for Associated Producers Ltd.; Samantha Linton, director, factual content at Canwest Media and Farnel – believe the works will be embraced by Canadian audiences in the coming years.

‘Still,’ he says, ‘it is also clear that producers are facing a funding crisis for creative documentaries in this country, a shame given the incredible rise in the popularity of the form that we’ve seen at Hot Docs over the past decade.’

The Canwest-Hot Docs Funds have given a total of $1,369,000 in completion grants and no-interest loans to 55 projects since their inception.

Six completion grants totaling $182,000 from the Canwest-Hot Docs Completion Fund were awarded to the following projects: At Night, They Dance (Les films du tricycle), Beauty Day (Primitive Entertainment), Cuda (High Definition Pictures), Family Portrait in Black and White (Family Portrait Productions), RECESSIONIZE! For Fun and Profit! (Cave 7 Productions Inc.), and Ron Hynes – Man of a Thousand Songs (Primitive Thunder Productions).

Six no-interest loans totaling $69,000 from the Canwest-Hot Docs Development Fund were awarded to the following projects: The Art of Affliction (Mbmedia Productions), A History of Battle Fatigue (Primitive Entertainment), Lost Highway (Insurgent Projects), Painting by Number$ (Chaser Films), Rise Up (Bishari Films), and Slumdog Millionaires (Storyline Entertainment).

The application process for the second round of 2010 funding will open in the fall, with an application deadline of Wednesday, October 27. Visit Hot Docs’ website for further information on requirements and deadlines.

From realscreen