"A Canadian film is a Canadian film is a Canadian film"
This is an adaptation of the Justin Trudeau quote during the 2015 federal election. When it comes to Telefilm Canada funding, not all Canadian films are equal. To get Telefilm Canada funding, a film must be shot in English, French, or an indigenous language.
CBC film critic Eli Glasner asked in a news story last week whether this is a fair way to determine funding, especially given that Ava has the most nominations for the Canadian Screen Awards and won the Telefilm Canada award for Best First Feature Film.
Most countries outside the United States have a funding source for domestic films. That organization sets up rules to benefit the films from that country.
So does Glasner have a point? We've seen countless Canadian films from Ava to Rebelle to Old Stone to In Her Place to Deepa Mehta films receive acclaim but be denied Telefilm Canada funding. Interestingly, Water from Deepa Mehta did receive Telefilm Canada funding because Mehta shot an English-language version of the same film even though that version was never released.
The language funding issue usually comes up for films shot outside Canada. Natasha, which I saw at the 2016 Windsor International Film Festival, was shot in Canada but in Russian so the film didn't qualify for Telefilm Canada funding.
Albert Shin, writer and director of In Her Place, feels a film can be "uniquely Canadian" due to the artistic sensibility of its writer and director. Telefilm Canada spent $101.6 million on production and promotion (2016-2017). Carolle Brabant, executive director of Telefilm Canada, says the agency receives 4-5 times more requests from filmmakers than can be funded.
The Canadian film landscape should be filled with all kinds of Canadian film, including films that have no visible Canadian presence on screen. When I have been critical, the issue has been more about whether the film was shot in Canada and whether there are Canadians on screen. But that criticism has been 100% about not ignoring films that are shot in Canada with Canadians.
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While an increased Telefilm Canada budget would raise all boats, decisions have to be made based on criteria. If Telefilm Canada took the same money and allowed any Canadian film to be funded, there would be great incentive to shoot overseas with non-Canadians. Giving incentives to shoot in Canada with Canadians should be rewarded regardless of language. Yet directors and writers should make their films based on their own vision.
There is a fear that funding films shot outside of Canada without Canadians will mean less money and a lot less visibility of films made in Canada with Canadians. This is especially true in a Canadian film world that isn't that visibly Canadian.
The definition of Canadian film may be the issue and the solution all at once. Blade Runner 2049 is not a Canadian film. Old Stone is a Canadian film. Chloe is a Canadian co-production film.
The Shape of Water got all kinds of accolades about the presence of Canada, yet is not a Canadian film. Xavier Dolan, whose new film The Death and Life of John F. Donovan is in English and shot in New York City and London, will have a Canadian film.
The news story also noted that Telefilm Canada at one time didn't allow funding for films in indigenous languages. So change is slow but possible.
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Until that magic funding comes for Telefilm Canada to truly expand what films gets funded, the organisation should come up with a formula that defines a Canadian film for purposes of funding.
Telefilm Canada can develop a points system to determine Canadian film funding. The organisation can subtract points if a film is not in English, French, or an indigenous language but add points if a film is shot in Canada and/or includes Canadians. Give filmmakers who want to make these films a chance to do workarounds to get some funding. Films that come close to qualification can get a stipend or even a no-interest or low-interest loan.
Canada is a land of immigrants and immigrant stories are welcome. Meditation Park and Monsieur Lazhar are a few examples of the many Canadian films that tell Canadian stories from other cultures. Ava and Window Horses are set in Iran but Window Horses starts out in Canada and all the landscapes, including Iran, are animated.
Telefilm Canada should give priority to filmmakers who want to shoot in Canada with Canadians, regardless of the country of origin for the creators of the story. But the organisation should be open to Canadian filmmakers who want to tell their story in their own way.
video credit: YouTube/TIFF Trailers
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