2013-2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Almost Naked Animals features an ensemble of shaved, underwear-clad animals, set in a beachfront hotel named the Banana Cabana.

Program Administration

In fiscal 2013–2014, for the eighth year in a row, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) renewed its Services Agreement with Telefilm Canada for the administration of CMF programs.

The CMF Program Administrator|Telefilm Canada (CMFPA) received 2,054 applications in 2013–2014, i.e., basically as many as the previous year (2,053) despite a $15 million decrease in the CMF’s program budget. Of the total number of applications received, 1,371 were granted funding, down 2.5% from 2012–2013 due mainly to the decreased budgetary envelope.

Number of applications approved in 2013-2014

 

TV

DM

Total

Experimental Stream

Production

-

35

35

Development

-

34

34

Marketing

-

14

14

Accelerator Partnership
Pilot Program
    12 12

Experimental total

 

-

95

95

Convergent Stream

Production

467

214

697

Development

439

135

593

Versioning

21

 

31

Convergent total

 

927

349

1,276

Grand total

 

927

444

1,371

The CMFPA team provided pre-application consulting services for 200 projects so that producers could verify the eligibility of their applications prior to submission. Close to 90 follow-up meetings and calls with clients in the Experimental Stream were also arranged after decisions were issued in order to help those whose projects had not been selected for funding better prepare for the next round of applications.

In an ongoing effort to improve client services, the CMFPA continues to promote its eTelefilm system, which allows clients to manage their funding applications electronically, access information relating to their applications and monitor their status throughout the administrative process. To accelerate the technological change needed to efficiently manage the programs, the CMF and CMFPA made efforts to provide this service to all of its clients. Since September 30, 2013, all applications for funding must be filed through the eTelefim system.

The CMFPA also continued to offer and promote its direct deposit service to clients. This service ensures producers receive CMF funds in a timelier manner. In 2013–2014, one out of every four payments was made by direct deposit. The CMF and CMFPA are hoping to increase the use of this service and efforts will be made over the course of the next year to encourage more producers to use the direct deposit service.

In 2013, the CMF also conducted a client satisfaction survey on the services offered by the CMFPA. The results obtained indicate a very high level of satisfaction among the CMF’s clients, with an average of 8.1 out of 10.

The turnaround time for processing applications was reduced this year compared with last year for a number of programs. For example, the time required to process television project applications and their digital media components in the Performance Envelope Program fell by more than 3 days for the television component and by nearly 6 days for the digital media component compared with 2012–2013. However, although most service targets were met in 2013–2014, there were still some gaps, mainly due to the increase in the overall number of applications, i.e., the number of new applications received and processing applications from previous years. Nevertheless, ongoing simplification measures over the past few years have led to a drop in the majority of turnaround times. The CMF and the CMFPA will continue to work closely together to streamline the analysis process in an effort to constantly enhance services offered to clients. 

Turnaround time (days) - 2013-2014

  Target based on Services Agreement Actual Variation
TV DM TV DM TV DM
Experimental Stream     Production Selective decision - 55

 

- 48.3

 

- 6.7

 

Contract and first payment - 30

 

- 17.5

 

- 12.5

 

Beta version - 10

 

- 10.2

 

- (0.2)

 

Final cost - 31

 

- 28.6

 

- 2.4

 

Experimental Stream Development and Marketing Selective decision - 55

 

- 52.3

 

- 2.7

 

Contract and first payment - 20

 

- 14.3

 

- 5.7

 

Other disbursements - 20

 

- 5.6

 

- 14.4

 

Performance Envelope Production Contract and first payment 30.5

 

30.5

 

28.6

 

32.3

 

1.9

 

(1.8)

 

Rough cut/beta version 7

 

7

 

4.2

 

3.9

 

2.8

 

3.1

 

Final cost 31

 

31

 

26.3

 

25.8

 

4.7

 

5.2

 

Non-funded DM component -

 

31

 

-

 

23.9

 

-

 

7.1

 

Selective Programs  Production Contract and first payment 50.5

 

50.5

 

38.4

 

37.8

 

12.1

 

12.7

 

Roughcut/beta version 7

 

7

 

4.5

 

10.4

 

2.5

 

(3.4)

 

Final cost 31

 

31

 

26.9

 

27.2

 

4.1

 

3.8

 

Non-funded DM component -

 

31

 

-

 

40

 

-

 

(9)

 

Development
(Envelopes, Francophone Minority Program and Aboriginal Program)
Contract and first payment 24

 

24

 

24.2

 

28.9

 

(0.2)

 

(4.9)

 

Other disbursements 6

 

6

 

5.3

 

8.7

 

0.7

 

(2.7)

 

Non-funded DM component -

 

24

 

-

 

19.4

 

-

 

4.6

 

Versioning Contract and first payment 15.5

 

15.5

 

19.4

 

 

 

(3.9)

 

 

 

Other disbursements 6

 

6

 

6.4

 

-

 

(0.4)

 

-

 

1The number of approved projects excludes the 118 approved non-funded digital media components that allow certain projects to meet Convergent Stream eligibility criteria.
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