National Film Board of Canada
Info Source
Sources of Federal
Government Information
2008
National Film Board of Canada
Table of Contents
General Information
BackgroundResponsibilities
Legislation
Organization
Information Holdings
Institution-Specific Classes of RecordsStandard Classes of Records
Standard Personal Information Banks
Manuals
Additional Information
Additional InformationReading Room
General Information
Background
The National Film Board of Canada ("NFB") was established by an Act of Parliament on May 2, 1939. It is presently governed by the National Film Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.N-8, as amended. The NFB reports to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Responsibilities
The NFB's mission is to reflect Canada and matters of interest to Canadians, to Canada and to the rest of the world, by creating and distributing innovative and distinctive audiovisual works based on Canadian points of views and values. Recent NFB productions include documentaries, animated films and multimedia works. They are produced and co-produced by the various NFB production centers located in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Moncton and Halifax. They are distributed in Canada and abroad, directly by the NFB or through authorized distributors.
Legislation
- National Film Act
Organization
The NFB's two main Program Activities are: Production of Audiovisual Works and Distribution, Accessibility, and Outreach.
The first Program Activity involves the production of relevant, challenging, and innovative audiovisual works that give Canadians a better understanding of Canada and the world. This main activity includes the following sub-activities: Cultural Diversity in films, development of Emerging filmmakers, and Technological and Film Innovation.
The second Program Activity, Distribution, Accessibility, Outreach, aims to make the NFB's audiovisual works accessible to the Canadian public in all regions of the country. Sub-activities include the use of new distribution platforms and collection Management.
Information Holdings
Institution-Specific Classes of Records
Production of Audiovisual Works
Description: Production and co-Production of Audiovisual Works
that provide a uniquely Canadian perspective, including diverse cultural and
regional perspectives; production of works that foster diverse voices and
content in both official languages; Production of Audiovisual Works using
recent production methods and technologies to provide quality works to be
accessible on new distribution platforms, in new media and in traditional
distribution channels; conceptualization, research, development, production and
marketing of documentaries, animation films, new media content, as well as
other emerging forms; cinematographic post-production services.
Document Types: Film and multimedia work proposals, scripts,
treatments, story boards and research, budgets, various contracts and letters
of agreement, third-party financial statements, contracts with independent
workers, financing plans, production schedules, filmmakers' resumés, documents
related to the program Aide au cinéma indépendant and to the Filmmakers'
Assistance Program, DVD demos, cost reports, audiovisual works, multimedia
works, stock shots, film rushes, photographs, drawings, music and sound
recordings, animation film sets, price lists, and documents related to the
planning of technical services, resources and equipment.
Format: Audiovisual documents on DVD, VHS, magnetic tapes of
various formats and on digital files; photographs and drawings.
Record Number: NFB EPP 035, NFB TSF 045
Cultural Diversity in Films
Description: Production and co-production of audiovisual works
supporting aboriginal and culturally diverse groups' points of views and
reflecting their reality; implementation of training and development
initiatives aimed at creative talents from aboriginal, regional and
ethno-cultural communities; support of filmmaking and filmmakers in all parts
of Canada with a greater focus on nurturing filmmaking talent in minority
language regions (English-language in Quebec and French-language outside
Quebec).
Document Types: Film and multimedia work proposals, scripts,
treatments, story boards and research, budgets, various contracts and letters
of agreement, third-party financial statements, contracts with independent
workers, financing plans, production schedules, filmmakers' resumés, DVD demos,
cost reports, audiovisual works, multimedia works, stock shots, film rushes,
photographs, drawings, music and sound recordings, animation film sets,
training plans, presentation on various aspect of film production, documents
related to master classes, documents related to various technical training,
price lists, and documents related to the planning of technical services plans,
resources and equipment.
Format: Audiovisual documents on DVD, VHS, magnetic tapes of
various formats and on digital files, photographs and drawings.
Record Number: NFB EPP 035, NFB TSF 045
Development of Emerging Filmmakers
Description: Production and co-production of audiovisual works
and multimedia works created by emerging filmmakers; implementation of projects
of development and mentorship of talent and creative skills, with established
and emerging filmmakers.
Document Types: Film and multimedia work proposals, scripts,
treatments, story boards and research, budgets, various contracts and letters
of agreement, third-party financial statements, contracts with independent
workers, financing plans, production schedules, filmmakers' resumés, DVD demos,
cost reports, audiovisual works, multimedia works, stock shots, film rushes,
photographs, drawings, music and sound recordings, animation film sets,
training plans, presentations on various aspects of film production, documents
related to master classes, documents related to various technical training,
price lists, and documents related to the planning of technical services,
resources and equipment.
Format: Audiovisual documents on DVD, VHS, magnetic tapes of
various formats and on digital files, photographs and drawings.
Record Number: NFB EPP 035, NFB TSF 045
Technical and Film Innovation
Description: Research projects connected to filmmaking and the
film industry and technical and development projects to advance the art and
science of filmmaking; expert advice in filmmaking.
Document Types: Documents relating to testing and analysis of new
materials and processes for filmmaking and distribution, digitization of
audiovisual works; implementation of technical standards, various contracts and
agreements related to collaboration in research and development projects,
budgets, cost reports, cost evaluations, documents pertaining to planning of
research work, tests, and tests results.
Record Number: NFB TSF 040
Distribution, Accessibility, Outreach
Description: The distribution of audiovisual works includes:
commercializing audiovisual catalogues, establishing stock shot library, and
developing and diversifying markets (Theatrical, Television, Consumer and
Institutional) for NFB products in Canada and abroad; to make NFB audiovisual
works available in communities across Canada, especially those in remote, rural
areas, and to provide access to native groups and official language minority
groups through distribution activities in various markets and through new
distribution platforms; outreach activities in the course of festivals and
public cinematographic events.
Document Types: Documents relating to marketing and distribution
of audiovisual and multimedia works in Canada and abroad, contract negotiation
documents, various contracts, price lists, promotional and advertising
materials, documents relating to clients, commercial partners, agents and
distributors, documents relating to revenues and royalty payments, documents
relating to sales and distribution expenses, documents relating to membership
of the NFB cine-club, documents relating to marketing and promotion activities
of audiovisual and multimedia works, planning of promotion and marketing of individual
works and NFB catalogues, documents relating to media communications and
relations, press releases, documents related to the management of the NFB
online stores, documents relating to the customers of the NFB online stores,
documents relating to the participation of the NFB at festivals and various
public cinematographic events, lists of awards received by the NFB and
filmmakers, documents relating to filmmakers participating at various festivals
and public events, audience data relating to NFB audiovisual works, and various
data regarding the NFB websites and associated websites.
Record Number: NFB EFM 025, NFB COM 015, ONF INT 010
New Distribution Platforms
Description: This program activity is aimed at using new and
innovative transmission technologies by working in collaboration with the
private sector and other public institutions on research initiatives having
broad implications on the accessibility of the NFB audiovisual works, such as
the development of digital projection and distribution network for films.
Document Types: Documents relating to the marketing and
distribution of audiovisual works through a digital distribution network,
documents relating to negotiation with partners, various contracts, promotional
and advertising material, marketing plans, documents with information on
partners and customers, documents pertaining to distribution rights management,
documents relating to media communications and relations, press releases,
documents relating to the management and the update of the NFB website,
documents relating to web surfers participating in NFB blogs and other
activities on NFB websites and associated websites, lists of subscribers to
various NFB websites, associated websites and various NFB publications.
Format: Digital files, custom software and databases.
Record Number: NFB EFM 025, NFB COM 015
Collections Management
Description: This activity consists of ensuring the ongoing
access to the NFB collection through the management of the collection's
conservation, indexing and cataloguing and restoration of the films and stock
shots and making it more accessible through innovative use of new technologies
and partnerships.
Document Types: Documents relating to films, their use and
conservation, NFB products inventory, documents relating to rights management
of the collections, documents relating to stock shots, photography library,
archives, sound library and the partners' libraries, documents related to the
management of the internal archives, the library and the video library.
Format: Audiovisual, visual and audio documents n DVD, VHS,
magnetic tapes of various formats and digital files, photographs, drawings,
software and databases.
Record Number: NFB COM 010
Internal Services – Strategic Planning
Description: Strategic planning and governmental relations are
conducted by a distinct branch at the NFB. This branch elaborates files and
communicates the various reports required under the laws, by the Treasury Board
of Canada Secretariat and Canadian Heritage. This branch assures governmental
relations with Canadian Heritage and other ministries.
Document Types: Reports on Plan and Priorities (expense budget)
of the NFB, documents related to the NFB strategic plan, program evaluation,
performance reports, internal audit reports and socio-economic studies,
presentations and submissions to regulatory bodies and Parliament, documents
relating to governmental relations.
Record Number: NFB PEA 030
Internal Services – Legal Services
Description: Legal services in support of the various activities
of the NFB.
Document Types: Legal files with contracts, correspondence and
various documents relating to NFB audiovisual and multimedia productions and
NFB activities, legal documents relating to the rights management of films and
the NFB collections, documents relating to access to information requests,
documents pertaining to various NFB internal policies.
Record Number: NFB BOT 005
Standard Classes of Records
Please see the Introduction to this publication for the descriptions of Standard Classes of Records.
Access to Information and Privacy Requests
Accounts and Accounting
Administration
Administration and Management Services
Audits
Automated Document, Records, Information Management Systems
Boards, Committees and Councils
Budgets
Buildings
Buildings and Properties
Classification of Positions
Communications
Disclosure to Investigative Bodies
Equipment and Supplies
Finance
Hospitality
Human Resources
Information Technology Services
Occupational Health and Safety
Official Languages
Pensions and Insurance
Personnel
Physical Security
Proactive Disclosure
Procurement and Contracting
Recruitment and Staffing
Relocation
Salaries and Wages
Staff Relations
Training and Development
Travel
Standard Personal Information Banks
Please see the Introduction to this publication for the descriptions of Standard Personal Information Banks.
Hospitality
Relocation
Travel
Manuals
- Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code
- Emergency Procedures Manual
- Human Resources Manual
- Internal policies concerning cinematographic productions
- Policies concerning the identification and the Treatment of Classified and Protected Assets and Information
- Policy relating to the Protection of Personal Information
Additional Information
Please see the Introduction to this publication for information on access procedures under the provisions of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
For additional information about the programs and activities of the National Film Board, please contact:
General Enquiries – Montreal: Telephone: 514-283-9246
Facsimile: 613-283-8971
Customer Service: 1-800-267-7710
Internet: www.nfb.ca
Co-ordinator, Access to Information: Telephone: 514-283-9700
Facsimile: 514-496-1646
Co-ordinator, Privacy: Telephone: 514-283-9115
Facsimile: 514-283-5850
Reading Room
In accordance with the Access to Information Act, an area on the premises of this institution has been designated as a public reading room. The address is:
3155 Côte de Liesse Road
St-Laurent, Quebec