TORONTO, June 9, – The Bell Fund is meeting in Alberta during the Banff World Media Festival to discuss its new pilot programs for the Canadian media production industry under the direction of new Chair Suzanne Guèvremont and a Board which includes three new members.
An expert in digital production and training, Guèvremont is General Manager of Montreal’s NAD (School of Digital Arts, Animation and Design) and Vice Chair of SODEC. She was appointed Chair by the Board and is replacing Paul Hoffert, who is stepping away after helming the Fund for the past 20 years. He will become the Bell Fund’s first chair emeritus.
“Paul’s diverse experience in media and music has reinforced his unique contribution to the Bell Fund from its inception in 1997,” said Guèvremont. “He led the way to support the evolution of the television industry and new media during a period of immense innovation and change.” Hoffert is the former President of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, former Chair of the Ontario Arts Council and of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada. He is also a professor at University of Toronto, and a former faculty fellow of Harvard Law School. His many accomplishments include being an inductee into the Q107 Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member and founder of the iconic band Lighthouse.
“I’m proud of how Canada’s production and digital media industry has grown and come together. Over the past 20 years the Bell Fund has invested over $192-million in 1,900 projects. Going forward I know Suzanne and the Board will continue to successfully support the industry and the challenges it faces in this ever-changing marketplace,” said Hoffert.
New programs to be announced at end of June
Bell Fund Board 2017-2018
Joining the Bell Fund Board: Kevin Goldstein, Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs, Content and Distribution, BCE Inc.; Dany Meloul, Vice-President of Programming French-Language TV, Bell Media; and Payal Gabrani-Bahl, Vice-President, Content, BCE Inc.
Returning Board members include: Suzanne Gouin, industry veteran and corporate director of various companies and organizations; Naveen Prasad, Executive Vice-President & General Manager of Elevation Pictures Corp and Catherine Warren, President of FanTrust Entertainment Strategies
Jacques Labelle, Co-President, Taxi, Montreal will be retiring from the Board after 10 years.
About the Bell Fund
The Bell Fund provides grants to Canadian independent producers who develop and produce engaging, interactive cross-platform digital content for Canadian broadcasters to complement and enhance associated television programs. Since 1997, the Bell Fund has invested over $192 M in over 1,900 Canadian digital media projects and television programs. The Bell Fund also undertakes training, research, business development and promotion for the digital media industry.
The Bell Fund receives annual contributions of approximately $17 M from Bell TV as part of its broadcast distribution undertaking (BDU) contributions to the industry. In addition, the Development Program is supported by the interest generated by a $10M endowment. The Bell Fund is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, governed by an independent Board of Directors representing various sectors of the television and digital media industry.
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514-845-4418
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