DIVERSITY FEATURE FILM FUND
Prepared by R. Paul Dhillon / MMM Films
Copyright 2020
“Where are the black, brown and yellow creatives calling for commitment to increasing funding allocation and film and television representation for minorities in Canada? We got a big problem in this country where 95 percent of Canadian government funding is going to white creatives-producers and media makers and the reflection of Ethnic Canada is sorely missing because funds are not allocated towards productions for diverse stories. We presented the DIVERSITY FEATURE FILM FUND proposal to the former Heritage Minister Pablo RodrÃguez to set up a Diversity Feature Film Fund, a new fund similar to the French and Aboriginal Film-TV funds. We presented our proposal to him in 2018 during a meet and greet organized by Surrey MP Ken Hardie. The Minister was very receptive and agreed that the new fund was sorely needed in Canada but nothing has happened so far and he is no longer the Minister of Heritage. We urge the current Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault to get on with the Fund immediately. Time has come to make our stories seen and voices heard!
OBJECTIVE
The fund will be instrumental in creating a new cultural product from Canada’s vibrant multicultural landscape, which currently does not have a strong voice when it comes to the medium of feature film. It will also give visible minority filmmakers who are working at the highest level of script-writing, directing and producing an avenue to showcase their ideas and stories to other Canadians and the world. Along with fostering high level of visible minority filmmaking in the country - there is a strong need to create an avenue for the vast amount of performers - actors, dancers, musicians and so on - talent which is emerging to the forefront of community theater/stage, TV, film and music industry. There is a strong need to recognize the talent and art of the multicultural/visible minority communities because they make up a very strong and vibrant section of Canadian society, but they (even with more than 30 percent of the population) don’t have a strong role or a voice when it comes to cultural product output. For this reason, just like the Aboriginal Film Fund and the large French Language Film Fund, visible minority communities need an avenue to tell their vibrant Canadian cultural stories
THE FUND
The Diversity Feature Film Fund can be part of the many programs that Telefilm Canada/Canadian Media Fund offers in its assistance to Canadian film producers, directors, screenwriters and production companies. The national film funding agency can take two(2) to four(4) percent ($3 million to $5 million to start) from its annual budget and allocate it to this fund, which would provide assistance to visible minority screenwriters, directors and producers. The funding would also trickle down to visible minority actors. While the funding would foster development of visible minority stories, artists and filmmakers, it would also benefit film artists and technicians from the Canadian mainstream film community. Even though the fund would be small (given that the visible minority community makes up bigger percentage of the Canadian population) - it would still be significant to give visible minority filmmakers an opportunity to tell their stories. The fund can lead to the production of at least two(2) to four(4) low to medium budget feature films per year while providing development financing to a many visible minority screenwriters on an annual basis.
FUNDING GUIDELINES
The guidelines in terms of how to administer the funds and the various requirements can remain the same as it is currently under Telefilm/Canadian Media Fund's guidelines and structure, but the criteria as to who qualifies to receive funding can be worked out according to how the government of Canada classifies visible minorities, South Asian, Asian, Black and so forth. Filmmakers from the qualifying group can submit their projects and a committee made up of visible minority film artists (directors, writers, actors, musicians, etc.) can evaluate the projects along with outside readers, who can be from both the mainstream and visible minority communities. This would allow for a fair and objective process with the end result being the production of high quality films - both in artistic and technical terms.
FUND PERSONNEL
The Fund can have two or three visible minority coordinators (preferably filmmakers) based in East, West and Central Canada who would deal with the filmmakers directly and would oversee the development and production of the successful applicant’s works. They would liaison with the Telefilm senior personnel and work with senior managers in administering the funds and making sure that all the required documentation and other requirements have been met by the successful applicants. The coordinators can also be part of the evaluating committee which can be comprised of eight to 10 members.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I sincerely urge the Minister of Heritage to at least start the process of bringing these historic changes to Canada’s primary film funding agency and give visible minority communities a strong voice and avenue to showcase their unique lives, culture and stories as Canadians. I’m proposing that the Minister fund an outside individual or organization to carry out hearing and discussions with visible minority filmmakers and artists so that their suggestions, thoughts, ideas and proposals can be incorporated to the establishment and future implementation of this very important Diversity Feature Film Fund.
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MMM Films - #421 – 15380 – 102A Avenue, Surrey, BC V3R 0B3
R. Paul Dhillon
Tel: 604-880-3463
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