Film Nova Scotia, EastLink Partner on Independent Production Fund
Film Nova Scotia and EastLink are working together to launch an Independent Production Fund aimed at supporting the television sector of the audiovisual industry in Nova Scotia.
The fund will provide equity investments of up to $150,000 in eligible productions, to a maximum of 20 per cent of the total budget, for television productions created and produced by Nova Scotians. EastLink's initial contribution to the fund is $1.3 million and it will contribute a percentage of its revenue annually. To be eligible for the fund, productions must have a high Canadian content and have obtained a broadcast licence.
"As a company deeply rooted in Nova Scotia, EastLink has always worked to support local productions in the province," said Lee Bragg, EastLink CEO. "Partnering with Film Nova Scotia to create a provincial Independent Production Fund will allow us to continue to make meaningful investments back into the local economy and encourage more growth in Nova Scotia."
Film Nova Scotia received its certification as an Independent Production Fund from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on June 8.
The Independent Production Fund will allow production companies to continue hiring Nova Scotians and will help to boost the knowledge based industry in the province. Using technology to share content on platforms such as the Internet and mobile devices, the television industry creates a need for highly skilled and specialized people.
"We are excited to be able to partner with EastLink on such a great industry initiative," said Ann MacKenzie, president and CEO of Film Nova Scotia. "Investing in the television industry will increase production activity, which will generate more spending and great jobs for the economy."
Program information and guidelines can be found under the Programs tab on the Film Nova Scotia website at www.filmnovascotia.com.
Headquartered in Nova Scotia with more than 1,500 employees across Canada, EastLink delivers world-class video entertainment, high-speed internet and competitive telephone services to residential, business and public sector customers from coast-to-coast. Powered by a state-of-the-art fibre network, EastLink has one of the fastest and most reliable networks in North America. It has been recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for the past five years. For more information on EastLink, visit http://eastlink.ca.
Film Nova Scotia is a provincial Crown corporation reporting to the Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. The corporation provides a wide range of programs and services to support the province's audiovisual industry. With an industry that employs almost 3,000 and contributes upwards of $100 million to the economy annually, Nova Scotia is among the largest production centres in Canada.