Launch of the Fonds Francophone d'Aide au développement cinématographique

MONTREAL , Oct. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Following the announcement made last May during the Festival de Cannes, Telefilm Canada , the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles, the Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel de la Communauté française de Belgique, the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée français and the Film Fund Luxembourg , in partnership with the Office fédéral de la Culture suisse, are pleased to today be launching a call for projects under the Fonds Francophone d'Aide au développement cinématographique.

The Fund aims to strengthen creative exchanges among those working in the area of French-language fiction feature films. It is open to fiction feature films that involve, at minimum, a Canadian producer and a European producer from Belgium , France , Luxembourg or Switzerland , the partner agencies thereby seeking to expand their support for transatlantic projects. The Fund will operate with an annual budget of (euro)300,000, with each selected project receiving up to (euro)40,000 in assistance. This money will be used to cover a project's development expenses. Project selection will be made by a jury whose members are to be drawn from each of the partner agencies.

The Fund will be managed by the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur, which will be responsible, notably, for the reception of files, administration, and coordination duties pertaining to the jury.

The call for applicants, launched today, will close on December 1, 2009 . Results of this first round will be announced at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry

Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian productions that appeal to domestic and international audiences. The Corporation also administers the funding programs of the Canadian Feature Film Fund, the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.gc.ca.

For further information: regarding the call for applicants: Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur: www.fiff.be, +32 (0)81.24.12.36, [email protected]; Media enquiries: Eva Hartling, Communications Specialist, Telefilm Canada, [phone], ext. 2090, 1-800-567-0890, [email protected]