Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the Committee. I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to introduce myself and to discuss Telefilm Canada matters with you. Given that the purpose of my appearance today is to examine my ability and

Canadian Heritage committee  I don't think there is an absolute answer to that question, Mr. Bélanger. There are two ways of looking at the situation. For example, if you consider that French-language films are 80% financed out of public funds and that English-language films are approximately 60% financed, a

Canadian Heritage committee  I still play hockey.

Canadian Heritage committee  I mentioned that I had started to meet with producers. I intend to meet a number of them because that's the way I do things. I want to see on the other side of the fence how they perceive Telefilm Canada and the support it provides them.

Canadian Heritage committee  Those I've met form a very small sample. To date, I've perhaps met four or five individuals, in November and December, because, as I explained earlier, I had prior outside engagements. It's not necessary to meet these people in order to know... In Quebec, for example, we all saw

Canadian Heritage committee  As Chair of the Board, I—

Canadian Heritage committee  Currently, in the French-language film market, given the appetite of producers, I don't think funding is sufficient.

Canadian Heritage committee  Correct.

Canadian Heritage committee  First, these are two very different markets. One can say that there is one film industry in Canada, but two very different markets. I think you have to address those two markets very differently. On the English-language side, for example, what I've learned to date is that there

Canadian Heritage committee  I understand you perfectly well, sir. Mr. Chairman, may I provide a supplementary answer?

Canadian Heritage committee  Yesterday, I signed four letters to those who made the films Away From Her and Eastern Promises, which have been nominated for Oscars in Hollywood.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Mr. Malo. First, your introduction very much reassures me because, if you mention that you're going to meet with me again, that means you won't have any objection to my term continuing. As to your more specific question on new media, we do say “new media”. This is so

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't have any intention of getting involved in your political discussions, but I will simply tell you that Telefilm Canada acknowledged, before the House of Commons, that there was indeed a Quebec film industry, since through our Montreal office, whic

Canadian Heritage committee  There are already rules that we apply and that I think will continue to apply. I think they're sufficient in the circumstances. For example, if we talk about the feature film industry, we have an obligation to grant the French-language film industry at least one-third of the fun

Canadian Heritage committee  The member asked a number of questions. I believe the one he attaches the greatest importance to concerns certain films whose titles he mentioned. In his view, they do not meet the criteria that Telefilm Canada should apply. I'll be very brief on that subject. I'm not in a positi