Promoting Creative Arts and Protecting Intellectual Property
“The benefits of strong copyright law extend from artists, directors, grips and makeup artists to the consumer who will ultimately be afforded more choice in film if quality movies are able to recover their investments. Filmmakers around the world depend on copyright laws to protect their works and allow them to create movies that will entertain millions around the globe. Like any other industry, we cannot endure the theft of our works and still provide what consumers want; good, quality movies. Canada must have updated copyright laws in line with other countries around the world in order for creators to be protected in the face of widespread piracy over the Internet”
~ Norman Jewison, Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award recipient, Academy Award ® Nominated Filmmaker, and Founder of the Canadian Film Centre

Promoting Creative Arts

When the film industry succeeds, everyone benefits. It allows movie studios to take a chance on the more risky movies, the emerging screenwriters, and the unknown actors. It enables them to bring big budget productions to cities around the world, pour money into local economies and create good jobs in our communities. Last year alone, the total volume of film and television production in this country reached $5.2 billion and, in turn, generated over 130,000 full-time equivalent jobs. The impact is clear: more jobs, more entertainment choices, and more opportunities for the creative professions.

Protecting Content

The ability of the motion picture and television industry to continue to deliver content to consumers in new and innovative ways is dependent upon our ability to protect our content. We believe in protecting the rights of the creative artists who write, direct, produce and star in the entertainment that billions of people across the globe have come to enjoy. To that end, we support new technologies and innovative approaches that create greater consumer choice for how, when and where content can be accessed legally at a variety of price points consumers want.

Take 3:  THE REEL CHALLENGE RETURNS

The third round of The REEL Challenge - Celebrating the Movie and Television Industry at Work - is an opportunity for filmmakers to speak out on the importance of promoting and protecting a vibrant entertainment industry in Canada.  This year's contest is your chance to make a short film or PSA celebrating the people collaborating behind the scenes in the movie and television industry, as well as those working in related businesses who, together, play a vital part in making the magic happen.

It's worth celebrating & it's worth protecting.

When you purchase legitimate content you help support a thriving movie and television industry, which means more jobs, a stronger economy, and a greater array of entertainment choices for everyone.  Filmed entertainment takes enormous amounts of time, investment, and effort to make - and in the age of the Internet, no time at all to steal.  The REEL Challenge is your opportunity to help tell the story of a dynamic Canadian production industry that supports the livelihoods of the thousands of artists, creators, and workers - in front of the camera and behind it - who shoot and put together the entertainment that will make us cry, laugh, or even see our world differently.

The contest runs from September 6, 2011 through January 13, 2012.  For full contest details, go to www.thereelchallenge.com.

The 2010-11 edition of The REEL Challenge Contest ran from November 23, 2010 through March 25, 2011.  The challenge was to make a short film or PSA about why copyright is important for creators who make a living for their work, and how the illegal copying and mass distribution of movies on the Internet ultimately hurts the creative industries and you.

2011 WINNERS:

FIRST PRIZE – Ace Billet of Toronto, ON, for his short film titled, “The Big Gulp.”
SECOND PRIZE – Jason James of Vancouver, BC, for his short film “Bread.”
THIRD PRIZE – Gina Bucci, of Toronto, ON, for her short film titled, “The Corruption of An Innocent Baby Girl Genius.”