Quebec film industry receives $51 million to keep functioning

The Province of Quebec has decided to introduce a temporary program that will provide support for the film and TV industry. The spread of coronavirus forced productions to shut down, but the operations are slowly resuming now. As a matter of fact, film and TV productions from the United States can start filming in Canada as long as they do not show any COVID-19 symptoms. It is also mandatory for them to quarantine for 14 days once they arrive in the country.

Recovery process:

Lack of insurance and coronavirus restrictions were the two primary problems that were plaguing film and TV productions. So, Quebec’s cultural ministry has implemented a multi-million dollar economic stimulus program.

Canadian film and TV companies, who are unable to resume filming because of their lack of insurance coverage, will be able to take advantage of the program. Nathalie Roy, Quebec’s Minister of Culture and Communications, made the announcement for this $51 million program on July 13.

A media release states that the program will promote financial arrangements to allow different phases of production to restart again. The details of the program are currently being drafted. It is going to be a part of Quebec’s Cultural Economic Recovery Plan and will provide the necessary support to the audiovisual industry and help it recover from the effects of the coronavirus restrictions.

What will the program offer?

The program will have two main components. It will offer temporary aid for the maintenance of the audiovisual sector’s production capacity. It will also provide temporary aid for productions to begin the activities that were halted since March 14. Further details about these two components will be announced.

The Quebec Association of Media Production (AQPM), representing over 150 independent production companies, has appreciated this measure by the Quebec government.