Rogers Media and the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) have unveiled the first round of successful applicants to the Rogers Development Fund, a new initiative geared at benefiting Prairie producers.

Eleven independent production companies in Alberta and Manitoba received support from the revolving loan program, the organizations said Thursday.

The companies are:

• Anaid Productions, Funtime Productions, Panacea Entertainment and The Company of Writers, all of whom are based in Edmonton;
• Pay Dirt Pictures, based in Calgary;
• Tyler Funk, based in Banff and;
• Media Rendezvous, Merit Motion Pictures, Original Pictures, Deborah Carlson and High Definition Pictures, all of whom are based in Winnipeg or Manitoba.

The fund will begin accepting applications to its second round beginning July 15.