The Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge announced Wednesday support of 100 million over two years for the audiovisual sector. Aid which should make it possible to finance 40 to 60 additional productions per year in the country.
Minister St-Onge announced this additional support of $50 million per year for two years for Telefilm Canada during a brief press briefing on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
“Cinema and television have gone through a period of disruption in recent years. We are helping the sector, among other things, by reviewing the Broadcasting Actthe CRTC is now looking at the question of regulation, but another way to help the sector is to fulfill one of the promises we made to ensure the financing of an additional $50 million [par année] for Telefilm,” announced Pascale St-Onge.
The audiovisual industry awaited this announcement with excitement as the deadline of March 31, 2024 approached. Without the renewal of federal aid, the production of many film or series projects was compromised.
An “exceptional” year
The Minister of Heritage highlighted the “exceptional” year of 2023 in cinema. “We just have to think about the film Simple like Sylvain [de Monia Chokri]who is on his way to the Caesars, or even to BlackBerry [de Matt Johnson] Or Bones of Crowes [de Marie Clements], a co-production with indigenous communities. So we are very proud to be able to provide this funding, and then support the cultural sector and also French-speaking production in Quebec and outside Quebec. »
PHOTO YAN DOUBLET, LE SOLEIL ARCHIVES
Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mme St-Onge insisted on the fact that the audiovisual industry employs 180,000 workers in the country. “It’s a way of guaranteeing them employment for years to come,” she said.
The general director and CEO of Telefilm Canada, Julie Roy, welcomed the announcement in a press release published shortly after. “In recent months, the industry has tirelessly advocated for the renewal of additional funds allocated to Telefilm,” she said. The collective effort of our sector plays an invaluable role in shaping the future of Canadian and Indigenous cinema. We thank all of our partners for this support. »
Union associations, including the Union of Artists (UDA), the Association of Directors of Quebec (ARRQ) and the Society of Radio, Television and Cinema Authors (SARTEC), also said they were “relieved” by the Minister St-Onge’s announcement, even if the audiovisual sector requested annual funding of 50 million on a permanent basis.
For the moment, this additional funding is granted for the next two years only.
“Our industry remains fragile”
“It’s a relief,” said the president of the ARRQ, Gabriel Pelletier, in a press release. Our industry remains fragile. And, if financing is essential, the legislative and regulatory framework is just as essential to preserve an industry grappling with new challenges. We will continue our discussions with Minister St-Onge who has shown herself to be sensitive to our realities. »
Same reception from the Quebec Association of Media Production (AQPM), which said it was reassured following the decision of Canadian Heritage.
“Today’s announcement finally puts an end to the insecurity at a time when Telefilm Canada is analyzing the projects that will be implemented next spring. It was one minute to midnight. […] The scale of the movement demonstrates Quebec’s attachment to its cinema and the strength of the community when everyone mobilizes for a common cause,” said its president and general director, Hélène Messier.
During the year 2022-2023, Telefilm Canada managed a total budget of nearly 160 million.