New Fund Offers Financing to Canadian and Brazilian Producers

MONTREAL, July 28: The National Film Board of
Canada (NFB), the Ministry of Culture of Brazil and the Brazilian Producers'
Association have joined forces for a C$100,000 development fund for Canadian
and Brazilian documentary and animation co-productions.

The fund is part of the Cultural Cooperation Program
Agreement signed by the NFB and the Ministry of Culture of Brazil in March
2006. They are each contributing C$50,000 to the fund, which will provide up to
C$25,000 per documentary or animation project.

"As Canada's public producer and distributor, the NFB
serves as a bridge between Canadian independent producers and their
counterparts around the world," said Jacques Bensimon, Government Film
Commissioner and NFB Chairperson. "This development fund is the most
significant outcome to date from our Cultural Cooperation Program Agreement
with Brazil. I'm confident this new agreement will strengthen independent
cinema in our two countries and provide many more opportunities for Canadians
in production, training, R&D and digital cinema in the years to come."

Projects must be initiated and jointly proposed by private
producers from both Canada and Brazil. The NFB will be involved as a
co-producer in the development of these projects in collaboration with the
Canadian independent producer. Productions must employ filmmakers who are Canadian
citizens or landed residents, or Brazilian citizens or landed residents.

The deadline for submissions is September 15. A decision
will be announced at MIPCOM.