Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association
Encyclopedia
The Motion Picture Association - Canada (in French
: Association Cinématographique – Canada) or MPA-C is a film industry
trade group
which speaks for and represents the major U.S.
motion picture studios in Canada
for films, television
, videos
and DVD
s. It is the Canadian counterpart of the MPAA
with effectively identical membership and a derivative logo.
at the provincial and federal government levels to advance its agenda.
The MPA-C administers the Canadian Home Video Rating System
, though unlike the MPAA it does not rate films itself, instead depending on provincial ratings
.
The organization functions as copyright
advocate, and directs an anti-piracy initiative.
companies are part of the organization; there are no Canadian members.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Association Cinématographique – Canada) or MPA-C is a film industry
Film industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
trade group
Industry trade group
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
which speaks for and represents the major U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
motion picture studios in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for films, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, videos
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s. It is the Canadian counterpart of the MPAA
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
with effectively identical membership and a derivative logo.
Functions
The organization exists to promote the interests of its member organizations, and expand the Canadian film and video industry. It lobbiesLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
at the provincial and federal government levels to advance its agenda.
The MPA-C administers the Canadian Home Video Rating System
Canadian Home Video Rating System
The Canadian Home Video Rating System is a voluntary rating classification system applied to home video products such as VHS and DVDs. It is administered by the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association and as such they appear on American home videos distributed in Canada and not genuine...
, though unlike the MPAA it does not rate films itself, instead depending on provincial ratings
Canadian motion picture rating system
Motion picture ratings in Canada are mostly a provincial responsibility, and each province has its own legislation regarding exhibition and admission...
.
The organization functions as copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
advocate, and directs an anti-piracy initiative.
Member organizations
Only U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
companies are part of the organization; there are no Canadian members.
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
- Paramount PicturesParamount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
- 20th Century Fox20th Century FoxTwentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
- Universal StudiosUniversal StudiosUniversal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
- Warner Bros. Entertainment