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By rdnewsNOW Staff

MULTIPLE GRANT STREAMS FUNDED

Alberta calls lights, camera, action on local productions

Sep 20, 2024 | 4:32 PM

The Government of Alberta is committing $90,000 over two years to the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) for 2024 and 2025.

Provincial officials say CIFF is the largest film festival in Alberta and helps get Alberta stories on the world stage and can enable them to qualify for things like Academy Awards.

“CIFF has always emphasized promoting content made in Alberta and made by Albertans. The government’s support as we embark on our 25th anniversary festival is critical to ensuring we can continue to act as the single largest public-facing champion of the Alberta screen industry as the festival evolves to adapt to a changing venue landscape,” says CIFF acting executive director Katherine Penhale. “Like the Alberta government, our support of the screen industries goes beyond just exhibiting films. CIFF’s Industry Week offers programming for new and experienced screen industry professionals, including workshops, panels, and networking events to foster talent and open doors.”

Additionally, the province has invested in the industry through the Alberta Made Screen Industries Program, which includes three different grant streams.

“The province’s film and TV industry has impressive momentum, and Alberta’s government wants to keep that momentum going. Through these grants, Alberta’s government is ensuring the province has the skilled workforce and production studios needed to attract and retain small and large film and TV productions,” says Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women.

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Since January this year, the Alberta Made Production Grant has invested close to $1 million to support 11 productions. Officials say that for every dollar the government invests through this stream, the industry invests four dollars back into the province.

Through the Project/Script Development Grant, this year 62 projects were approved for close to $1 million as well. This stream supports Alberta writers, directors and producers to develop commercial-ready projects and scripts.

The third grant stream, Post-Production, Visual Effects, and Digital Animation, awarded a combined total of more than $181,000 to 24 post-production companies. Officials say this type of funding is unique to Canada and encourages post-production jobs and the entire film and television production cycle to stay within the province.

Government officials add that about half of Alberta-made productions have filmed or plan to film in small cities, towns or other rural locations outside of Calgary or Edmonton.

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