Rogers Documentary Fund goes above and beyond in its support of Canadian documentary filmmaking by committing $2.6 million to 42 English and French documentaries

TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2011 /CNW/ – In an unprecedented show of support for
independent documentary producers, the Rogers Documentary Fund
announced $1.6 million in grants to 25 documentary projects. This
brings the total funding for 2011 up to $2,600,000 for 42 French and
English documentary projects.

The Board of Directors of the Rogers Documentary and Cable Network Fund
voted to increase their budget by 30 percent to support the documentary
community in a challenging time. “This is a critical time for the
documentary production industry as broadcast windows for this genre
disappear,” said Phil Lind, Chair of the Board of the Rogers
Documentary and Cable Network Fund, and Vice Chair Rogers
Communications.  “Canada has a well deserved world-wide reputation for
its excellence in documentary production and we felt it was important
that the Rogers Doc Fund increase its funding of projects as a
much-needed boost to the doc community.”

Documentary projects funded in the latest round included:

“Que vive la mer morte” from Intuitive Pictures in Montréal.  “Fruit
Hunters” produced by EyeSteelFilm in Montréal; and Toronto’s Markham
Street Film’s, “Ice, Sweat & Tears”.

Funding guidelines and deadlines for 2012 will be available in December
of this year.

About Rogers Documentary Fund:
Rogers Documentary Fund, operated by Rogers Documentary and Cable
Network Fund, was established in 1996 to foster the growth of
documentary film production in this country in both official languages.
With an annual budget of up to $2 million per year, the Rogers
Documentary Fund offers grants of up to $75,000 per project for
documentaries pre-licensed by a national Canadian broadcaster with a
prime-time broadcast commitment.

About Cable Network:
Rogers Cable Network Fund, also operated by the Rogers Documentary and
Cable Network Fund, was established in 2000 to support programs
produced principally for the growing cable channel market in Canada. 
With an annual budget of approximately $8 million, the Fund offers
equity investment of up to 20% of a production budget to a maximum of
$500,000.  Qualifying projects must have a guaranteed first play on a
Canadian cable channel in prime time.