The Quebec government has announced $10 million in additional money to flow into film production between now and next March.

Culture Minister Line Beauchamp said Thursday the additional money will allow for the production of five or six new films and keep the number of productions in the province the same as last year.

Quebec filmmakers have complained bitterly about Telefilm Canada funding, which covers only a handful of the projects proposed in Quebec's vibrant film sector.

With the success of films such as C.R.A.Z.Y., Bon Cop Bad Cop and The Barbarian Invasions, there has been an increase in films made in the province and applying for funding.

But Telefilm had just $11 million to distribute in Quebec annually. This summer, 32 projects were lined up for the $4 million not already allocated

Telefilm gives larger pots of money to producers and filmmakers with proven box office appeal. Although Quebec films are doing well commercially, the funding available hasn't grown at the same rate.

On June 15, the agency announced it had funded just seven films in Quebec this year, two English and five in French.

Tax credits

Quebec filmmakers asked Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda for $20 million to fill the shortfall.

The funding announced Thursday by the province will be film tax credits distributed by the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), a provincial agency that promotes all arts.

Beauchamp called on the private sector to get more involved in financing films.

Despite recent successes, the Quebec film industry is not self-financing and new solutions will have to be found to provide funding for the industry, she said.

"If we don't take action now, we could face a diminishing number of productions made in Quebec," Beauchamp said in a statement.

"I urge all the principal players in the film industry to join with us in imagining a new business model, which, while being based largely on the public investment, will call upon the private sector more."