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COVID-19 Production Industry Taskforce

20 March 2020

Dear friends,

We continue to monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 global pandemic and recognize this represents an unprecedented challenge for all involved in the screen-based industry across Canada.

We understand every sector of our economy is being affected by the pandemic; the lockdowns, travel restrictions, urgency to self-isolate and maintain social distancing have put our country on pause. This includes the screen-based sector, where productions have been halted, studios emptied, and cast and crews no longer working.

As the impact of the virus continues to grow rapidly, we want to highlight our commitment to supporting the Canadian screen-based industry during these unprecedented times.

As such, representatives of the producer associations, funding agencies, as well as provincial, territorial and municipal agencies have assembled a taskforce to collectively work together to assess the impact on the industry. This will inform governments at the federal, provincial and municipal levels on the need for critical support.

We are in regular contact with key stakeholders across the industry and all levels of government to assess and alleviate the potential scale of the impact. Our aim is to support the industry during this challenging period and work to ensure a strong, robust rebound for Canada’s production sector, when the pandemic subsides. We will be reaching out to other key stakeholders – our broadcaster, distributor, union and guild, and independent production fund partners – to exchange information and collaborate on common industry solutions. Each of them, and the thousands of artists, employees, and workers they represent, play an essential role in our system.

Early next week, we will be sending a survey across the country to determine the projected impact on the sector. Many of you may have already had, and will continue to receive, requests for information at the municipal and provincial levels to capture specific jurisdictional information. An assessment of the national impact, as quickly as we can determine it, is critical at this time.

All our organizations remain operational. Staff are working remotely to ensure the industry is supported.

We are all in this together. Be kind to each other and stay safe.

Association of Provincial and Territorial Funding Agencies (APTFA)
Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM)
Canada Media Fund (CMF)
Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA)
City of Toronto Film Office
Creative BC
Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)
National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Ontario Creates
Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)
Telefilm Canada