Telefilm Canada has released its 2023-2024 Annual Report. Over the next weeks, I’ll dig deeper. This week: the Talent Fund.

Telefilm links the Talent Fund with Talent to Watch, its first feature program. They report:

• “Through the generosity of its donors and partners from across Canada, the Talent Fund raised $270,600.”
• The Talent Fund invested $300,000 towards the $3,600,000 invested in 18 first features in 2023.
• “In total, the Fund financed 7% of the Talent to Watch program in 2023-2024.”
• “The Talent Fund has a balance of close to $50,000.”

You can read the full annual report here.

My take: as a Certified Independent Production Fund, the majority of the Talent Fund‘s past funding came from “CRTC tangible benefits” from major Canadian media companies and other media funds; private donations continue to be minimal and fund perhaps two documentaries a year, or one+ narrative feature films. The allocation of some of the new online streaming tax to the Talent Fund will be critical for its continued existence. See The Path Forward.