Corus Entertainment and Telefilm Canada partner together for Family Feature Production Fund

New pilot program provides funding for homegrown English-language live-action films targeted to family audiences

BANFF, AB, June 11, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Corus Entertainment and Telefilm Canada today announced the creation of the Family Feature Production Fund, a joint pilot initiative created to encourage increased production of audience-driven Canadian English-language live-action family movies for theatrical release.

The Fund will contribute financing for up to two English-language family feature films each year, including international treaty co-productions, with production budgets of between $3.5 million and $5 million. The pilot initiative will be open to Canadian feature film producers from across the country with a fully developed film script and a comprehensive plan for market viability. Corus and Telefilm will jointly evaluate eligible applications, and once selections have been made a portion of the film's budget will be supported by the Fund.

"We're pleased to announce this private-public partnership with an industry leader like Corus Entertainment, a media company that connects with its audiences by offering compelling content delivered on multiple platforms to millions of people around the world," said Telefilm Canada's Executive Director Carolle Brabant. "Our consumer research confirms that age is an extremely important factor in terms of viewing habits: younger Canadians are the heaviest consumers of films, on multiple platforms, in the country. With this in mind, the Family Feature Production Fund is geared to produce and promote Canadian films that will connect with this important demographic."

Selected projects will receive financial investment from Corus Entertainment as well as broadcast commitment and marketing support from its portfolio of family and film networks including Movie Central, W Movies and YTV.

"We are excited to be teaming up with Telefilm Canada on this one-of-a-kind program to kickstart an underserved niche in the Canadian feature film industry and fuel the growing demand for great family films in both the theatrical market and for broadcast," said John MacDonald, Vice President, Head of TV Programming & Production, Corus Entertainment. "The Fund will create an entry point into the family film genre and leverage Corus' expertise in family programming."

The Family Feature Production Fund is slated to be launched in 2013. More details on criteria, eligibility and submission process will be available on www.corusent.com and on www.telefilm.ca.

About Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing, children's animation and animation software. The Company's multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, Nickelodeon (Canada), ABC Spark, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), CosmoTV, Sundance Channel (Canada), Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana, Kids Can Press, Toon Boom and 37 radio stations including CKNW AM 980, 99.3 The FOX, Country 105, 630 CHED, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B). Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada's audiovisual industry. Through various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also administers the programs of the Canadian Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

SOURCE: Corus Entertainment Inc.

For Corus Entertainment media enquiries, please contact:
Netta Rondinelli, Manager, Communications, Television & Content
416.479.6443
[email protected]

For Telefilm Canada media enquiries, please contact:
Douglas Chow, Manager, External Communications
[phone], ext. 2225 or 1-800-567-0890
[email protected]