Following is the 1996 edition of Playback's annual digest of national funding and investment sources available for Canadian independent film and television program development, production and/or distribution.

key: Certified-Canadian means projects must be certifiably Canadian under the criteria set out by the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office or the crtc.

Alliance Equicap

alliance Equicap, a subsidiary of Alliance Communications, raises money for investment in productions. Producers may avail themselves of a full range of Alliance's services or use Equicap as a standalone operation.

At present, Equicap is exploring the possibility of providing banking facilities in a number of areas including the new tax credit.

Alliance Equicap has offices in Toronto and Vancouver.

Contact: Jeff Rayman, Alliance Equicap president, (416) 967-0682

Bank of Nova Scotia

the Bank of Nova Scotia offers production financing and distribution financing out of its corporate banking media group.

Contact: Karen Fisman (416) 933-2273

Bravo!FACT

this program, sponsored by Bravo!, provides indie producers, artists and arts groups with up to 50% of the total production costs (to a maximum of $25,000 per project) for short Canadian arts videos. The fund is $600,000 per year or 5% of Bravo's gross revenues from the previous year, whichever is greater.

Through non-refundable grants, Bravo! expects to invest $4 million over the licence term (seven years) towards promoting development, production and exhibition of these videos. Although the fund provides core programming for Bravo! through non-exclusive broadcast rights, applicants retain copyright. The next deadline is June 28. To receive an application, fax your name and address to (416) 591-9317.

Contact: Marie G. Lalonde, executive director, (416) 591-7400, ext. 2734

The Cable Production Fund

the Cable Production Fund, now in its second year of operation, estimates a $42 million budget for its current fiscal year. Funded by voluntary contributions from cable companies, cpf is a market-driven fund designed to support quality, high Canadian-content television programming.

Eligible programs are dramas, children's, docs, variety and music/dance productions. The fund operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

One of the critical eligibility requirements is that productions must have already obtained substantial licence fees from eligible Canadian broadcasters.

Dramas out of Toronto and Montreal are eligible for a contribution which equals 12.25% of their budget when broadcasters have paid licences equal to 22.74% or more of the budget. Regional dramas can trigger 15.05% of the budget when broadcast licences equal or exceed 19.95%. All other eligible genres must obtain licences equaling at least 15% of their budgets to trigger a contribution equivalent to 10%.

All programs must have a minimum duration of 30 minutes and be aired during peak viewing hours for the intended audience.