Government of Canada invests in the arts by supporting the Atlantic Film
Festival Association

HALIFAX , Sept. 18 /CNW/ - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today announced a $400,000 investment by the Government of Canada in the Atlantic Film Festival Association (AFFA). The investment from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is helping the Association move towards long-term sustainability.

"The Atlantic Film Festival Association plays a key role in promoting our home-grown film industry across Canada and around the world," said Minister MacKay. "Our government is proud to support Atlantic Canada's film industry and the talented and creative people who work in it, just as, through our government's Economic Action Plan, we continue to provide timely and targeted stimulus to communities across Canada ."

ACOA's support will be spread over three years and is targeted at building the AFFA's marketing, industry-related program development, and event production and promotion. Specifically, the Association will undertake new marketing and promotional activities, as well as professional development and strategic fundraising initiatives.

"This is a significant core investment in the Atlantic Film Festival Association as we prepare to celebrate 30 years as a leading Canadian film festival and international business market for the Atlantic cultural sector," said Gregor Ash, Executive Director of the AFFA.

The Atlantic Film Festival Association is committed to promoting and building a strong cultural industry in Canada while providing a platform to showcase the best artistic materials from the Atlantic Canadian region. It is based in Halifax , and is one of Atlantic Canada's leading cultural organizations.

The Association has developed a year-round calendar of events to promote, through professional and business development platforms, sustained economic growth for the Atlantic Canadian film, television and music industry. The Association's headline event, the Atlantic Film Festival, runs this year from September 17 to 26 in Halifax .

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The federal government is making another arts investment, this time supporting the Atlantic Film Festival Association. The $400,000 announced by Defence Minister Peter MacKay is from ACOA and will be spent over the next three years to improve marketing and promotional activities. Minister MacKay says the government is proud to support Atlantic Canada's film industry and the talented and creative people who work in it. The 29th Atlantic Film Festival runs in Halifax from September 17 to 26, 2009.

For further information: Chris Brooks, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, [phone]; Cristin Fraser, Atlantic Film Festival Association, [phone]