Corus Entertainment and Telefilm Canada today announced the creation of the Family Feature Production Fund, a joint pilot initiative created to encourage increased production of audience-driven Canadian English-language live-action family movies for theatrical release.
The Fund will contribute financing for up to two English-language family feature films each year, including international treaty co-productions, with production budgets of between $3.5 million and $5 million. The pilot initiative will be open to Canadian feature film producers from across the country with a fully developed film script and a comprehensive plan for market viability. Corus and Telefilm will jointly evaluate eligible applications, and once selections have been made a portion of the film’s budget will be supported by the Fund.
“We’re pleased to announce this private-public partnership with an industry leader like Corus Entertainment, a media company that connects with its audiences by offering compelling content delivered on multiple platforms to millions of people around the world,” said Telefilm Canada’s Executive DirectorCarolle Brabant. “Our consumer research confirms that age is an extremely important factor in terms of viewing habits: younger Canadians are the heaviest consumers of films, on multiple platforms, in the country. With this in mind, the Family Feature Production Fund is geared to produce and promote Canadian films that will connect with this important demographic.”
Selected projects will receive financial investment from Corus Entertainment as well as broadcast commitment and marketing support from its portfolio of family and film networks including Movie Central, W Movies and YTV.
“We are excited to be teaming up with Telefilm Canada on this one-of-a-kind program to kickstart an underserved niche in the Canadian feature film industry and fuel the growing demand for great family films in both the theatrical market and for broadcast,” said John MacDonald, Vice President, Head of TV Programming & Production, Corus Entertainment. “The Fund will create an entry point into the family film genre and leverage Corus’ expertise in family programming.”
The Family Feature Production Fund is slated to be launched in 2013. More details on criteria, eligibility and submission process will be available onwww.corusent.com and on www.telefilm.ca.
