Announcements / General updates and news announcements about programs, funding decisions, and initiatives

For the fiscal year 1999/2000, BC Film + Media has committed to invest in the production of 24 B.C. film and television programs through its Television and Film Financing Program. These projects represent total production expenditures of $70 million in British Columbia. The province's film development agency committed $2.9 million in equity financing to these projects.

"Through this first year of the Television and Film Financing Program we have invested in a wide range of productions that represent the province's growing domestic industry", reported Rob Egan, President and CEO of BC Film + Media.

11 Television series received production support from BC Film + Media including the Gemini award winning drama series Da Vinci's Inquest (produced by Lazslo Barna and Chris Haddock), Cold Squad (produced by Julia Keatley, Anne Marie La Traverse, Matt McLeod, and Marlene Mathews), Nothing to Good for a Cowboy (produced by David Barlow, Ogden Gavanski, Charles Lazar), and the Canada-UK co-production The Magician's House (produced by Helena Cynamon and Stephen Garrett). Children's series include Scoop and Doozie (produced by Romney Grant), D'Myna Leagues (produced by Chris Bartleman and Blair Peters), Billy the Cat (produced by Herve Bedard), and Edgemont Road (produced by Michael Chechik and Ian Weir). Documentary series include the fourth season of Champions of the Wild (produced by Chris Bruyere and Michael Chechik), Legends of Hockey (produced by John Hamilton and Derik Murray), and Reinventing the World (produced by Heather MacAndrew and David Springbett).

10 documentaries and broadcast singles received support from the province's film development agency in 1999. A diverse range of projects were produced for television broadcast including Britannia (produced by Trish Dolman and David Vaisbord), Dog Lines - Beachcomers of the Fraser River (produced by Lynn Booth and Brian Hamilton), Islands of Shadows (produced by Erik Paulsson and David Vaisbord), Mixed Blessings (produced by Hugh Beard and Brad Quenville), Murder in Normandy and True South Strong and Free (produced by David Paperny), Unless the Eye Catch Fire (produced by Hilary Jones-Farrow), The Saint Soldier (produced by Kathryn Newsom), Stopping Traffik (produced by Terence McKeown and Bette Thompson), and We Weave Our History (produced by Barbara Cranmer and Cari Green).

BC Film + Media supported the production of 3 feature films for theatrical release including Marine Life (produced by Arvi Liimatainen), Scorn (produced by Lazslo Barna, Chris Bruyere and Maryke McEwan), and Shiney's Head (produced by Scott Kennedy).

In addition, BC Film + Media contracted to provide production assistance in the amount of $1.0 million to 11 projects through the Market Incentive Program. The Market Incentive Program was closed in November 1998.

"I'm really impressed by the breadth and diversity of projects supported by BC Film + Media," said Ian Waddell, minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture. "Encouraging B.C.'s domestic film and television industry as we head into the 21st century is an important government priority."

The figures cited above relate to funding commitments made through BC Film + Media's Television and Film Financing Program (TFFP) and Market Incentive Program (MIP) and do not include activity through the provincial government tax credit programs Film Incentive BC and the Production Services Tax Credit. Information regarding the TFFP and MIP commitments in Development financing for this fiscal year will be released later this spring.

BC Film + Media is a privately-administered, non-profit society established in 1987 by the provincial government with a mandate to expand and diversify the cultural industries of film and video in British Columbia. The Society gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture.