NL: Investment gives film industry competitive edge

[ST. JOHN’S, NL] — The Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Co-operative (NIFCO), with a $76,500 investment from the Provincial Government, is upgrading its film finishing and doubling its sound editing capacity.

The upgrades are the latest in a series of advancements that NIFCO has made to expand its ability to secure contracts for national and international film post-production projects.

“Film post-production holds considerable economic potential for Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. “In the 2009-10 fiscal year, the local film sector is valued at more than $22 million. By continuing to identify applications to improve its business model and secure a competitive edge, NIFCO is taking appropriate steps to ensure long-term success and growth of the local film sector.”

With the investment, NIFCO will be modifying its equipment to be compatible with new “RED camera” technology — technology that records high-resolution image data directly to flash or hard disk storage. As well, NIFCO will be adding two new audio editing workstations for recording and mobile editing.

“With this funding, NIFCO is now on the leading edge in Canada for film post-production,” said Jean Smith, executive director of NIFCO. “NIFCO now has the capacity and capability to easily finish and deliver productions for national and international broadcast. Additionally, NIFCO has expanded its sound editing and mixing capabilities to allow for future growth in its local and national film post production services.”

The current investment brings the provincial government’s contribution to equipment upgrades and expansion in NIFCO to more than $500,000 since 2007. NIFCO’s continued advancements have enabled it to service the production requirements for a variety of national and international projects, including the Republic of Doyle, a national CBC television series.

The initiative was funded through the Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund (RSDF), which through Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation was increased to an $8 million fund. Administered by the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, the RSDF provides non-repayable contributions to economic development agencies for initiatives that address regional and sectoral development and diversification.