According to its 2004 annual report, the Independent Production Fund spent a total of $1.9 million last year, and of that, $1.76 million was allocated to series. The remaining $187,500 went to professional development. In 2003, the IPF was able to spend $2.34 million, with $2.16 million going to series and $217,000 to professional development.

The money spent by the IPF each year comes from the interest generated by capital endowments of over $30 million invested by Maclean Hunter in 1991.

‘The board tries to spend every cent the endowment generates each year,’ says IPF executive director Andra Sheffer. ‘Last year didn’t generate as much as we would have liked.’

She adds that the IPF tries to allocate around $2 million to production every round.

Last year, the IPF invested $1.1 million in five primetime television programs, resulting in a total of 44 hours of Canadian TV. The recipients were Godiva’s, The Eleventh Hour, Vice caché, Nos étés and Le Négociateur.

The fund also invested $635,000 in five family programs – Renegadepress.com, Life with Derek, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Instant Star and It était une fois dans le trouble – for a total of 37 television hours.

In 2003, the IPF helped to finance 10 primetime projects (for 108 hours) with $1.71 million, and three family shows (19.5 hours), contributing $450,000.

Productions from Quebec, all French-language, received a total of $660,000 from the IPF in 2004. Ontario was close behind at $625,000, while $200,000 went to B.C., $150,000 to the Maritimes and $125,000 to the Prairies.

Since its creation, the IPF has invested $36.3 million in 185 television series, including 17 pilots.

-www.ipf.ca