Newly Rebranded Organization Supports Growing Film Industry in PEI
News release
Governments support new infrastructure and equipment upgrades for FilmPEI
Apr 18, 2018 – Charlottetown, PE – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
A vibrant and professional film community creates opportunity for skilled workers from many disciplines, supports local businesses, and builds on existing tourism and cultural assets in the region. That is why the Government of Canada and the Province of PEI are investing in training and growth in the PEI film industry.
Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), together with the Honourable Chris Palmer, provincial Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, today announced support for FilmPEI to strengthen a key resource for the province’s film industry.
The Government of Canada, through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF), is providing a non-repayable contribution of $118,250 to support infrastructure upgrades and equipment acquisition for the industry hub. The Government of Prince Edward Island is leasing space to the organization and, through Innovation PEI and Regional and Rural Development, is providing $66,920 in non-repayable contributions to support the move into the new space.
With a full sound stage, video, animation and sound equipment, as well as post-production resources, the facility will become a central training and production space for PEI filmmakers. It will also act as a venue for workshops and rehearsals, as well as an exhibition space for the wider cultural sector.
This investment builds on commitments made by the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic Provinces to drive economic growth in the region through the Atlantic Growth Strategy. The strategy focuses on building a strong culture of innovation by supporting creative and entrepreneurial people, and investing in state-of-the-art technology. This project also addresses the Atlantic Growth Strategy's goal to enhance the region's capacity to develop, deploy and retain a skilled workforce by addressing persistent and emerging labour market needs.
Quotes
“A strong film industry provides major career support for artists, creators, technicians, and entrepreneurs. Beyond the many skilled workers employed on each shoot, film productions have wide-reaching impacts on a local economy, as businesses and tourism operators serve the needs of the production. A powerful opportunity to tell distinct stories from this region, film is an art form that can travel far beyond our shores.”
Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament for Charlottetown
“Prince Edward Island’s film community is growing and is benefitting from the boundless enthusiasm and incredible talent of the many Islanders who make up the industry. Film PEI will give these artists better opportunities to tell their stories and the story of our province, and will provide them with access to high quality equipment, technical support and training opportunities to better hone their craft.”
Honourable Chris Palmer, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism
“Creativity is becoming the currency of the future and this investment by the federal and provincial governments gives FilmPEI the space and resources to fulfill its mandate of supporting creative careers, while building PEI’s creative capital and economy.”
Emma Fugate, Board President, FilmPEI
Quick facts
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• In 2016, ACOA supported the development of a five year strategy for Island Media Arts Cooperative Limited (IMAC) to help the organization develop a long-term vision for the growth of the film sector in PEI.
• Across Canada, the film and television market is a $7 billion industry with $3 billion in export value.
• FilmPEI is a not-for-profit membership-driven organization, originally incorporated as the Island Music Cooperative Association in 1978 and renamed The Island Media Arts Cooperative (IMAC) in 1982. The organization rebranded as FilmPEI in 2018.
Contacts
Chris Brooks
Director of Communications
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-566-7569
Andrew Sprague
Senior Communications Officer
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
902-368-5535
asgsprague@gov.pe.ca
Renee Laprise
Executive Director
FilmPEI
902-892-3131
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