FROM THE HEARTLAND TO THE BIG APPLE:
Saskatchewan Delegation invited to New York to Promote the Province's Motion Picture Industry

Released: May 17, 2000

(REGINA) When a group of Canadian filmmakers come to New York they mean business.

SaskFILM, Saskatchewan's motion picture agency, is targeting 65 of New York's top production executives to participate in a Tax Credit Seminar at the Canadian Consulate in Thursday, May 18. Announced in the province's 1998/99 budget, the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit has proved a boon to motion picture production, helping the industry grow to an expected volume of more than $70 million this year.

"This is a terrific opportunity for Saskatchewan to highlight our incentives for attracting film production to our province.

SaskFILM is delighted to host the Tax Credit Panel. The panel will feature experts on the Canadian and Saskatchewan Tax Credit programs, the advantages for U.S. producers, and provide examples of successful U.S.-Saskatchewan co-productions," says Valerie Creighton, SaskFILM's CEO.

The Tax Credit Panel includes: Dan McMullen, Assistant Vice President, National Manager Film Financing - HSBC Bank of Canada; Warren Nimchuk, Head, Entertainment Tax Division PriceWaterhouseCoopers (Vancouver office); Charlene Paling, Vice President Business and Legal Affairs Blackwatch Entertainment; Louise Usick, Director Tax Credits, SaskFILM; and, Maureen MacDonald, Vice President Production, Eighty Seven Bear Images.

In addition, the Canadian Society of New York will host a Saskatchewan delegation of motion picture representatives at a dinner reception and screening of the feature film Something More, marking the first time a Canadian motion picture has been showcased at the Society.

Something More is the first Saskatchewan-made motion picture to be theatrically released by Canadian super-distributor Alliance Atlantis Communications, and the first indigenous motion picture that has been given broad national release.

The Canadian Society of New York was formed in 1897 to foster the spirit of goodwill between Canada and the United States, and encourage the exchange of each country's best thoughts in culture and economics. Working closely with the Canadian Consulate in New York, the 400 members of the Canadian Society, the Canadian Club and the Canadian Women's Club, host Canadian politicians and business representatives for special events, educational seminars, and charitable functions.

Something More's producers are excited about the screening. Producer Maureen MacDonald says, "We feel truly honoured that The Canadian Society of New York has chosen Something More as the first Canadian production to be featured at the Society. This is a great opportunity to show off Saskatchewan's talented motion picture community."

The Saskatchewan delegation of motion picture representatives includes Valerie Creighton, CEO of SaskFILM and Saskatchewan Film Commissioner, Mark Prasuhn, COO of Minds Eye Entertainment, Maureen MacDonald, Producer, Something More and Peter Bryant, Writer, Something More of Eighty Seven Bear Images, and Lanis Anthony, VP Communications of Minds Eye Entertainment. They will be in New York this week touting the benefits of Saskatchewan's dynamic motion picture industry.

The industry has a diverse base of national and international program buyers and financiers, which translates into new money circulating in the local and national economies. Motion picture product now ranks in the top five Canadian exports, demonstrating its strong potential for growth and continued investment.

Providing significant support to the industry are SaskFILM and Video Development Corporation, which provides program funds supporting production, and the Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN), which is often the initial partner in productions. The broadcast license it offers to producers provides significant project commitments. Financial supporters for this event included Saskatchewan Lotteries and SaskCulture through the Strategic Initiatives and Partnership Project Grants and SaskFILM.