Corus & Telefilm Canada Support Production of Family Features

BANFF: Corus Entertainment and Telefilm Canada have set up a joint pilot initiative to encourage the increased production of Canadian English-language live-action family movies for theatrical release.

Dubbed the Family Feature Production Fund, the program will provide financing for up to two English-language family films per year, including international treaty co-productions. The budget is set between C$3.5 million and C$5 million. The initiative supports all Canadian feature film producers that have a fully developed film script and a plan for market viability. Corus and Telefilm together will evaluate the eligible applications. Once selections have been made, a portion of the film’s budget will be supported by the fund.

Select projects will not only receive financial investment, but also broadcast commitment and marketing support from its portfolio of family and film networks, including Movie Central, W Movies and YTV.

"We’re pleased to announce this private-public partnership with an industry leader like Corus Entertainment, a media company that connects with its audiences by offering compelling content delivered on multiple platforms to millions of people around the world," said Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada’s executive director. "Our consumer research confirms that age is an extremely important factor in terms of viewing habits: younger Canadians are the heaviest consumers of films, on multiple platforms, in the country. With this in mind, the Family Feature Production Fund is geared to produce and promote Canadian films that will connect with this important demographic."

"We are excited to be teaming up with Telefilm Canada on this one-of-a-kind program to kickstart an underserved niche in the Canadian feature film industry and fuel the growing demand for great family films in both the theatrical market and for broadcast," added John MacDonald, the VP and head of TV programming and production at Corus Entertainment. "The Fund will create an entry point into the family film genre and leverage Corus’ expertise in family programming."