April 9, 2002 – The Independent Production Fund’s Board of Directors awarded funding to 14 dramatic television series at the meeting of March 26, 2002:

In addition, three Special Projects received IPF grants: The Canadian Screen Training Centre’s Summer Institute of Film and Television (SIFT); the Atlantic Film Festival’s Industry Series; and the Vancouver International Film Festival’s Trade Forum.

The Independent Production Fund was created in 1990 with a mandate to encourage the production of dramatic television series produced by independent producers for private broadcasters. The Fund has invested over $32 million in the Canadian television industry. It is managed by an independent Board of Directors composed of 6 members: Peter Mortimer (President), Robert Roy (Vice-President), Paul Gratton, Heather McGillivray, Bernard Montigny and Denise Robert.

Due to the large number of applications for funding received at this deadline period, the Board of Directors decided to commit all of the funding available to the IPF for fiscal year 2002. Therefore, the IPF’s deadlines of April 15th and October 1st will accept applications for Special Project funding ONLY. We will next accept applications for series funding in February, 2003.

The IPF also administers the Cogeco Program Development Fund, the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, the CFCN Production Fund, and the Videon Fund.