Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on travel, hospitality and conferences expenditures for the National Film Board (NFB) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, except for information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by a federal department or agency relate to activities that support the department or agency’s mandate and the government’s priorities.

 

Raison d’être and responsibilities

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) was created by an Act of Parliament in 1939 and is a federal agency within the Canadian Heritage portfolio. The NFB’s mandate is to produce and distribute original and innovative audiovisual works that add to our understanding of the issues facing Canadians and raise awareness of Canadian values and viewpoints across the country and around the world. Over the decades, it has become the standard for audiovisual innovation in Canada and plays an important role by highlighting the changes and key events in Canadian society.

As a producer and distributor of audiovisual works, the NFB provides a unique perspective on Canada’s cultural wealth and diversity. The NFB explores contemporary social issues through point-of-view documentaries, auteur animation and new-media content. Since it’s creation, the NFB has played an important role in marking the major changes and events taking place in Canadian society. A brief description of the agency’s activities for the fiscal year 2023-2024 can be found in the 2023-2024 Departmental Results Report.

The NFB is one of the most acclaimed creative centres in the world. In addition to being a public producer and distributor of Canadian content, a talent incubator and a showcase for the country’s filmmakers and artists, it is the caretaker of an accessible, living audiovisual heritage that belongs to all Canadians. The NFB is also a key driver of Canada’s audiovisual industry and creative economy. The organization produces or co-produces more than 50 works every year, from thought-provoking documentaries to outstanding animated films to groundbreaking interactive and immersive works. To date it has produced more than 14,000 works, including more than 7,000 available free online on nfb.ca. NFB productions have won more than 7,000 awards, including 12 Oscars.

 

Report

The NFB's total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences are summarized below:

Significant variances compared with the preceding fiscal year

Travel

Overall, travel expenses for film production have decreased in 2023-2024. Travel expenditures for operational activities from one year to the next vary according to the travel requirements of current productions. The other travel categories show a slight decrease.

Hospitality

For the past several years, as prescribed by the applicable directive on travel, hospitality, conference and event expenditures, the NFB has been keeping hospitality expenditures to the minimum required. Hospitality costs increased compared to the previous year.

Conference

Conference expenditures showed a decline in 2023-2024.