86.12EM Emergency Resolution: Funding Cuts to Studio ‘D’
Whereas:
- The Government of Canada established the National Film Board (NFB) in 1939 to interpret Canada and Canadians to both domestic and global audiences.
- In 1974, the NFB launched Studio ‘D’ to support women filmmakers and their audiences.
- Canada has demonstrated a commitment to gender equality at the United Nations Decade for Women Conference (1976-1986) in Nairobi, 1985.
- Between 1984-85 and 1985-86, Studio ‘D’ experienced a reduction in discretionary funds from 10% to 6% in the NFB’s English production branch.
- In 1984-85, Studio ‘D’ was the only of 10 studios in the English production branch to receive less funding than the prior year.
- The National Film Board's new Five-Year Plan includes a “national mandate” for Studio ‘D’ to operate in both English and French, yet there is no provision to:
- Produce original French films.
- Translate existing English films into French.
- Expand support for women filmmakers in other Canadian regions.
- The reallocation of Studio ‘D’ funding has resulted in less financial support for women’s film projects.
Resolved:
The National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) urges the National Film Board to increase Studio ‘D’ funding to ensure its mandate is met, including:
- Maintaining the Women’s Program Studio at its previous activity level.
- Hiring qualified Francophone women to support French-language programming under Studio ‘D’s national mandate.
- Fulfilling distribution requirements for women’s films.
- Providing technical training for women filmmakers.
- Ensuring regional programming in English.
- Developing women’s drama programs.
- Creating non-sexist, non-racist, and non-violent children's programming.
- Establishing an international network for film distribution, training, and development, including the eventual exchange of women's programming via satellite.