One of our missions here at the Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture (KIAC) is to support artists and art creation. So, among the film screenings, get-togethers, and workshops at the 15th Dawson City International Short Film Festival were several invaluable information sessions for Yukon’s filmmakers. Their objective was to help those looking to create films in the north to understand where to find various sources of available funding, and to understand what the qualifications and procedures for those funds are.
At noon, Ian Reid of the Canada Council for the Arts outlined the different programs available from the CCA that can assist filmmakers and media artists in the north. Much of the information can be found at their website, so Ian showed how to navigate through the site, and offered several handy tips to help with the application process.
At 5:45 p.m. one of the Yukon government’s representatives covered programs specifically for Yukoners. Kevin Hannam, a film commissioner for the Yukon Film and Sound Commission walked the audience through the Yukon Filmmakers Program, and gave a breakdown of amounts that
can be applied for, as well as eligible expenses, how to calculate budgets, and other project and procedural considerations.
Kevin was followed by Chris McNutt of Cable 9 Community Television from Whitehorse. He let the audience know about a special limited-time incentive for northern producers just announced by the Canada Media Fund, and outlined Cable 9’s ability to help in this application process. (CMF applications require proof of a broadcast license, and C9 productions qualify in this regard).
The bottom line is that Yukon filmmakers have a variety of resources available to them to help fund and foster their projects, and they should explore these avenues fully before undertaking development and production.
All the speakers also emphasized that there are contact people available in their organizations to counsel and advise people looking to tap into the network of funding.
— Dan Dowhal