The Quebecor Fund has announced the recipients for two of its programs, including its Export Assistance Program (EXAP) with the Canada Media Fund (CMF).

Picbois Productions, Lustitia International, Trio Orange International and Encore Télévision Distribution have received a total of $832,787 through the program, which supports export initiatives and marketing efforts for audiovisual content adapted for markets outside Quebec.

The Quebecor Fund provided $332,787, while CMF contributed $500,000 to this round of funding.

The Quebecor Fund is also disbursing a total of $160,000 to Picbois and KO Distribution as part of its initiative to support women in purchasing shares at their companies. The Fund has allocated a total of $560,000 under this component to five companies and 15 new shareholders since 2020.

Another $383,000 in production funding has been allocated by the Quebcor Fund through its Film Production Assistance Program for two features: Christal Films’ Villeneuve: L’ascension d’un champion and Caramel Films’ Kaboul, Montréal.

Villeneuve: L’ascension d’un champion, a Canada/France coproduction, is directed by Daniel Roby and co-written by Roby and Guillaume Lonergan. Christian Larouche is producing for Montreal’s Christal Films and Jean Labadie for Paris-based Le Pacte. The narrative feature charts the rise of Quebec Formula 1 legend Gilles Villeneuve. International sales for the film are handled by Montreal’s Les Films Opale, while Le Pacte is distributing in France.

The drama Kaboul, Montréal, written by Marie Vien and directed by Bachir Bensaddek, follows the story of a 15-year-old Afghan girl who flees to Montreal to escape a forced marriage to a 65-year-old man. Maison 4:3 is the distributor.

The Quebecor Fund has allocated more than $18.6 million to 111 projects via the Film Production Assistance Program since 2010. The Fund has invested more than $12.5 million in 56 export business models from 33 partner companies via EXAP since 2017. CMF has invested $4.3 million.

Image: Unsplash