Montreal: Despite a slow start in 1996/97, cbc has committed to triggering its full share of the ctcpf feature film envelope for both ’97/98 and ’98/97.

cbc did not use its share of its ’96/97 allocation, much to the early consternation of producers and distributors. However, ctcpf rules state the broadcaster may access up to two-thirds of 50% of the annual $15-million envelope averaged over three years.

A spokesman for Telefilm Canada says cbc is committed to triggering the entire envelope both this year and next.

A reference in the Michel Houle report on Canadian feature films says cbc had failed to use the funds.

Radio-Canada did trigger its full one-third share of the ’96/97 envelope set aside for the national public broadcaster.

Telefilm says the 50% allocated to private broadcasters has also been fully triggered in ’96/97.

Eligible feature projects, including 14 in fiscal ’96/97, require a predistribution agreement. Details on the rollout for ctcpf financed features are yet to be worked out with the broadcaster likely assigned a window following the theatrical, and possibly a video release.