montreal: Because of changes to core eligibility rules, there's still some Cable Production Fund money available for French-track production.

cpf executive director Bill Mustos, in Montreal to meet with producers May 6, says $2.3 million to $2.5 million remains in the till. Without the "limiting or streamlining" measures, cpf's '96/97 fund would have been depleted by opening day, April 1, he says.

As it stands, Mustos estimates 60 French-language projects will divvy up just under $14 million in licence fee top-up money this year, compared to 49 projects which took in $15.7 million in the 14-month '95/96 cycle.

The crtc requires that one-third of cpf allocations go to French-track production. Nationally, the cpf is "projecting" $42 million in spending in '96/97.

Since April 1, the fund has received 60 French-track Quebec applications. So far, $11.5 million is "reserved and committed" to 40 broadcast (18 dramas, 10 docs, eight children's) projects. Cheques representing 50% of '96/97 commitments should be in the mail by month's end, adds Mustos.

Producers are worried about a dramatic hike in applications from broadcast affiliates.

Their share is "up, but not wildly up," hovering at the 8% level from less than 1% last year, says Mustos.

Key rule changes affecting this year's allocation include the exclusion of shoots that started prior to April 1, the establishment of a licence fee threshold, and a $1 million per program cap. Another measure, undertaken at the board level, eliminates programs reassigned by public broadcasters to the private sector.

The extra top up to programs with above-minimum licence fees played havoc with last year's spending, while Mustos says the "backlogged," pre-April 1 applications could have cost the cpf as much as $10 million nationally.

"Consequently, more than $6 million has been stretched, freeing up funding for 20 to 25 additional projects," he says. "If we have money in April, in May, then that is the critical time period when broadcasters will be making their decisions."

cpf allocations have been as low as $7,000.

According to Mustos, the fund has caused broadcasters "to stretch up" licence fees for children's and documentary production.

Percentage-wise, demand on cpf funds is far and away highest in Quebec.

"Applications from the province far exceeded funding levels last year," says Mustos. "The vast majority of the projects qualify.In the rest of the country you see a greater mix."