The NFB announces the partners of its e-cinema pilot project in Acadia

    MONCTON, NB, Sept. 25 /CNW/ - At Moncton's Festival international du
cinéma francophone en Acadie, the National Film Board of Canada today
announced the partners of its e-cinema pilot project in Acadia.
Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB, made
the announcement in front of high-ranking guests from New Brunswick's
political and cultural circles and members of the NFB Board of Trustees.
    "The NFB is proud to be a groundbreaking digital distributor of films in
Canada and maintain its rich tradition of innovation," said Perlmutter.
"E-cinema is also an excellent opportunity for the public to see even more of
our films. With our partners, this project is the fulfilment of a promise the
NFB made to Acadian francophones, a promise we made to the Estates General of
Arts and Culture in Caraquet last May."
    E-cinema equipment is very light (it can be as simple as a server, a
projector or an HD TV set and a sound system), and so it has extraordinary
distribution potential, offering a greater diversity of high-quality,
cost-effective digital works.
    This three-year project, which reaches out to the entire community, has
the support of IPOLC, Canadian Heritage's Interdepartmental Partnership with
the Official-Language Communities. It will be implemented in five Acadian
towns by the end of the year: in Moncton on the campus of Université de
Moncton; in Kedgwick in the municipal library (in partnership with la Société
culturelle des Hauts-Plateaux); in Bouctouche at the Galerie des Artistes (in
partnership with la Société culturelle Kent-Sud); in Caraquet in the café of
the Caraquet Centre culturel; and in Edmundston in the Mgr W.-J.-Conway public
library.
    For Acadian audiences, far from large towns, the agreement provides
access to a rich and varied francophone culture, because it allows partners to
offer not only free NFB screenings, but also other ones outside the
partnership. The NFB film programs will be chosen with staff at each theatre,
while the NFB has responsibility for the installation and technical support
for the duration of the pilot project. The official launch of the program will
take place in the winter.
    As well as promoting and distributing film, the NFB also encourages
francophone production in Canada. Its Acadia Studio is a vital creative hub
that has been participating in Acadia's lively cultural life since 1974.

    The National Film Board of Canada produces and distributes bold and
distinctive social issue documentaries, auteur animation and digital content
that provide the world with a unique Canadian perspective. Since its founding
in 1939, the NFB has created over 12,000 productions and won over 5000 awards,
including over 90 Genies. The NFB is renowned for its technical innovations
and is a leader in content for new platforms. For more information about the
NFB or to order films, go to www.nfb.ca or call 1-800-267-7710.

For further information:

For further information: Jennifer Humphries, NFB publicist, (416)
952-8960, j.humphries@nfb.ca