CANADA AUDIOVISUAL SECTOR JOINS FORCES TO FACE THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

In an unique statment, Canadian audiovisual associations and Fundations launched the Covid-19 Production Industry Taskforce to face an unprecedented challenge for all involved in the screen-based industry across Canada.

Association of Provincial and Territorial Funding Agencies (APTFA), Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM), Canada Media Fund (CMF), Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) City of Toronto Film Office, Creative BC, Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), National Film Board of Canada (NFB), Ontario Creates Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) and Telefilm Canada signed this new initiative where they want to highlight their commitment to supporting the Canadian screen-based industry during these unprecedented times and have informed that all the organizations remains operational with staff working remotely. 

"We understand every sector of our economy is being affected by the pandemic; the lockdowns, travel restrictions, urgency to self-isolate and maintain social distancing have put our country on pause. This includes the screen-based sector, where productions have been halted, studios emptied, and cast and crews no longer working".

"As such, representatives of the producer associations, funding agencies, as well as provincial, territorial and municipal agencies have assembled a taskforce to collectively work together to assess the impact on the industry. This will inform governments at the federal, provincial and municipal levels on the need for critical support".

"We are in regular contact with key stakeholders across the industry and all levels of government to assess and alleviate the potential scale of the impact. Our aim is to support the industry during this challenging period and work to ensure a strong, robust rebound for Canada’s production sector, when the pandemic subsides. We will be reaching out to other key stakeholders – our broadcaster, distributor, union and guild, and independent production fund partners – to exchange information and collaborate on common industry solutions. Each of them, and the thousands of artists, employees, and workers they represent, play an essential role in our system".