Applications flood in for Telefilm fund assistance
Telefilm Canada new media analyst Keith Clarkson reports that the number of applications for the new Canada New Media Fund (CNM, Dec. 13/01) has exceeded expectations, but that the agency will still be able to respond within the eight-week timeframe it has set for itself. Clarkson tells CNM that by the Jan. 7 deadline over 230 applications for funding had been received. Of those, 72 were received in Vancouver, 71 in Montreal, 70 in Toronto, and 20 in Halifax. The majority of those applications were for development phase assistance, with the remaining predominated by combined production and marketing assistance requests. In Montreal, where a majority of applications for projects in French would be expected, approximately three-quarters of the requests were for projects in that language. "(The response) has far outstripped our estimates," Clarkson says, noting that his personal estimate for Toronto applications only ran to 45 or 50. Despite demand from the sector, Clarkson still says he’s "comfortable" that the agency can respond to the applications by mid-February.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.