TORONTO — The Canada Media Fund (CMF) today announced it is taking two key actions to support creators from Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) communities.
The first step is a top-up in Covid-19 emergency relief funds for companies owned by Black people and people of colour. The CMF also announced it has engaged three new team members to support and connect with BIPOC communities.
The top-up is part of phase one of the federal government’s Covid-19 Emergency Support Fund for cultural, heritage and sport organizations and is available to companies that are majority-owned by Black people and people of colour which received previous support from the CMF allocation of Covid-19 relief funds.
“We cannot thrive as an industry when Black, Indigenous, and people of colour communities face discrimination and barriers to access financial resources and support,” said Valerie Creighton, CMF president and CEO, in the CMF’s press release. “We made a clear commitment this spring to act on this. Together, with our funders, the industry and leaders of racialized communities, we will work to create positive influence and dismantle the many ways Canada’s screen-based sector has reinforced systemic racism. The measures we’re announcing today are a further step in that direction.”
Of the $13.3 million in emergency relief funds for underrepresented groups announced by the CMF in July, $4 million was designated to support Black people and people of colour in the industry. The top-up directly follows the recommendation that came out of the last Black Industry Leaders Group meeting held by CMF and stakeholder discussions throughout the summer, says the press release. Other components to distribute funding support are planned for release in the months ahead, including funding for applicants who did not receive support in previous Covid-19 emergency fund phases, adds the release.
Eligible businesses who apply will receive a top-up in the amount of $11,000. The CMF’s top-up guidelines can be accessed here. Applications open on September 25 and can be submitted here. The deadline to apply is October 23.
As part of its commitment to hire and promote more people from BIPOC communities, the CMF announced today it has hired two leads to support underrepresented communities. Tamara Dawit is an Ethiopian-Canadian producer and director, based in Toronto, and she will be the CMF’s lead for the English market. Diego Briceño is a Colombian-born media maker with more than 20 years of experience as a producer, director, concept developer and editor on social documentaries. Based in Montreal, he will be the CMF’s lead for the French market.
Both Dawit and Briceño will work with CMF executives to lead consultations with underrepresented communities and will contribute to the development of the CMF’s anti-racism and inclusion strategy. They will also help develop Covid-19 emergency support for underrepresented communities and advise on changes to other CMF programs and policies so they are more equitable and inclusive, says the press release.
In addition, the CMF and Telefilm Canada announced Adam Garnet Jones will act as lead for Indigenous initiatives on behalf of both organizations. Having joined Telefilm in 2018, Jones is a Cree/Métis screenwriter, director and novelist with a newly expanded mandate to sustain outreach activities with Indigenous communities and contribute to initiatives intended to increase representation of Indigenous creators within both CMF’s and Telefilm’s portfolios, says the release.
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