Huge Return for Nova Scotia on Film and Television Investment

Investments in seven new film and television projects will mean work for hundreds of people and millions of dollars for the provincial economy.

The Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation announced today, June 24, equity investments of $700,000 in three television specials and four television series. The productions will generate over $7 million in direct spending and spin-off activity in Nova Scotia.

The seven projects have combined budgets of $12.7 million.

"Investments like these make sense for the economy and the industry," said Ernest Fage, minister responsible for the film development corporation. "Our film industry has grown to involve thousands of creative, dependable people. Their efforts are helping to make Nova Scotia better known and more attractive to new business, immigrants and tourists."

Television specials being funded by the corporation this year include a documentary on the history of the UFO and a performing-arts variety program. The third special is a musical about small-town Canada at Christmas set in Mabou, Inverness Co.

Among the television series being funded are an animated program about three young-adult roommates, a local drama series and vignettes that answer kids' questions about the weather.

A development loan has been awarded to a documentary about the Arctic traveller who solved the mystery of the doomed Franklin expedition.

"Our development loans are investments in future film-production activity, while the equity investments promote productions that will be filmed this year," said Ann MacKenzie, chief executive officer of the corporation. "Our programs are built to support the industry today and well into the future."

The corporation also approved a sponsorship grant to the Atlantic Film Festival. Now in its 25th year, the festival's attendance continues to grow.

"The corporation has been standing behind the Atlantic Film Festival for a long time. We are pleased to see the event reach such a significant milestone," said Ms. MacKenzie. "This year is going to be one of the best ever."

"The corporation's commitment to the Atlantic Film Festival is vital to its continued growth, as we work to become one of the top annual cultural events in Atlantic Canada and a major international event," said Gregor Ash, executive director of the film festival.

The Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation is a provincial Crown corporation reporting to the minister of economic development. The corporation provides a wide range of programs and services to build the capacity and competitiveness of the province's film, television and new media industries. The provincial film industry is the fourth largest in Canada, regularly exceeding $100 million in economic activity annually.

For more information on the corporation and its programs and services see the website at www.film.ns.ca .