Canadian Television Fund: 2008-09 Funding Highlights...

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The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) has just released highlights from its 2008-2009 fiscal year, ending March 31, 2009.

"Over the past year, the CTF funded a greater number of productions through the disbursement of 12% more funding compared to the average of the four prior years," said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO of the Canadian Television Fund.

"Our streams of funding were expanded to support the industry's move towards new media."

The $2 million 'Digital Media Pilot Program' had all funds allocated within the first six weeks, supporting 20 English and 10 French productions.

The $5 million 'Production Incentive Pilot Program' supported English production in Quebec and Atlantic Canada where volumes had dropped significantly below their historic averages. The incentive was entirely allocated, benefiting 11 projects from Quebec and 16 projects from Atlantic Canada.

The CTF also enhanced communication with its stakeholders by launching "interacTVity", a monthly electronic newsletter and "The Quarter" was developed to provide funding contributors with quarterly updates on CTF funding results.

Other highlights of funding results from 2008-2009 include:

- Revenues for 2008-2009 were $316 million, with an 11% increase in the
contribution from broadcasting distribution undertakings and a stable
contribution from the Department of Canadian Heritage;

- Administrative expenses were limited to 4.3% of revenues, including
costs incurred by both the CTF and the Television Business Unit at
Telefilm Canada, which administers the CTF's programs;

- 475 production and 325 development projects were funded, with total
budgets of over $943 million and $18 million, respectively; this
resulted in the creation of 2,210 hours of new Canadian programming;

Fostering the growth of television production in Canada through financial investment and industry research, the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) supports the development of Canadian talent, programs and audiences.

The Canada Media Fund, an amalgamation of the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund, launches April 1, 2010 to support the development of content designed for television/new media platforms....

"9": When Our World Ended Their Mission Began...

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From TorontoFilm.Net comes a new poster of producer Tim Burton's upcoming CG feature "9", directed by Shane Acker @ Toronto's Starz Animation, a Canadian production company that recently received a $23 million boost from the Ontario provincial government.

Adapting Acker's 2005 computer animated Academy Award-nominated short film, the new movie will be distributed by Focus Features.

Premise follows a 'sentient' rag doll, the last of its kind, living in the ruins of a decaying parallel world, hunted relentlessly by a mechanical beast that has already killed eight other rag dolls by stealing their souls with a canister-like talisman.

Rag doll '9', accompanied by his friend and mentor, the one-eyed '5', scavenged the ruins of their world in search of tools that would help them survive, before the monster suddenly appeared and attacked 5, stealing his soul, with 9 narrowly escaping.

In an attempt to destroy the monster, 9 prepares a trap, luring the monster into an old building where it is briefly subdued, allowing 9 to steal its talisman.

But the monster breaks free and chases 9 through the building, cornering him onto a wooden plank elevated high above the floor.

Just as the monster approaches, 9 leaps to safety, knocking the plank down as the monster plummets to the floor impaled by the plank.

After setting up a memorial for the other rag dolls, 9 puts two talismans together to create a larger canister that releases the souls of all the monster's victims, including 5.

Before vanishing, 5 turns to 9 and gives him an approving one-eyed wink and a nod, with 9 setting off for parts unknown, leaving the canister behind...