TELEFILM CANADA ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS TO OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACTIVITIES PROGRAM ECRIRE AU LONG
Montreal, August 17, 2009 – Telefilm Canada is pleased to announce that the initiative Ecrire au long has been redesigned to allow for more flexibility in the application process, as well as increased accessibility of Telefilm’s support for successful applicants. The modifications are the result of informal consultations with both the French and English language communities.
Telefilm is taking a global approach with this initiative by offering support to creators at every stage in the development process: selected applicants will take part in a 4-day immersion in Montréal to review the fundamentals of film development and scriptwriting with industry experts. Further training needs will be assessed following the immersion, at which time writer applicants will receive script editing support, while producer applicants will receive individual mentoring. Finally, successful participants will receive CFFF development financing in the form of an advance for a phase of their project.
The initiative allows for either production companies, or individuals (producer and/or writer), to apply to Ecrire au long for projects at various stages: production companies and individual producers may apply for both the Getting to First Draft and the First or Subsequent Draft stages (projects in outline, treatment or draft form), while writers may only apply for the Getting to First Draft stage (projects in outline or treatment form).
“Telefilm is very proud of Ecrire au long,” states Sheila de la Varende, Director, International & National Business Development, Telefilm Canada. “This improved streamlined initiative will be more alluring to potential applicants and we look forward to discovering new talent.”
Ecrire au long is part of Telefilm’s Official Languages Activities Program (OLA-ALO), which seeks to enlarge the pool of Francophone creators working outside Quebec or in Quebec, but outside Montreal, to develop French-language fiction feature films; this initiative has received financial support from Heritage Canada via the Interdepartmental Partnership with Official-Language Communities (IPOLC).
By providing high-quality training to these creators and supporting the development of their projects, Telefilm Canada expects to enhance skills within the industry, increase the number of feature film scripts and productions in this sub-market, and enhance their access to mainstream funding.
Please visit Telefilm’s website at www.telefilm.ca to view the complete document containing revised guidelines and eligibility criteria.
Telefilm Canada: 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.
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Media:
Alejandra Sosa sosaa@telefilm.ca
416-973-6436, ext. 2505 or 1-800-463-4607