By Connie Thiessen
The National Film Board (NFB) and CBC/Radio-Canada have announced a new era of collaboration with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will see the two public media institutions move away from project-by-project cooperation toward a more coordinated, long-term approach.
The agreement establishes a framework for “sustained collaboration” across documentary production and programming, archives, new technologies, educational offerings and audience engagement, “identifying new ways of better working together in a rapidly evolving cultural landscape.”
The MOU includes exploring opportunities for CBC/Radio-Canada to offer more NFB documentaries on its channels and platforms, including the potential for new co-productions; identifying opportunities to work more closely on learning initiatives; as well as opening the door to the NFB lending its expertise in digital archiving to enable the use of archival materials to support new productions. Conversely, CBC/Radio-Canada’s audience insights will be tapped to strengthen NFB’s online public engagement. Collaborative approaches to emerging digital platforms and artificial intelligence will also be explored.
“This historic partnership between Canada’s public broadcaster and the NFB represents a natural evolution in the relationship between our two institutions,” Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, said. “We are moving beyond simple collaboration to a sustained partnership that champions Canadian stories. By sharing our unique knowledge and expertise, we will be able to better support and promote Canadian culture, and offer Canadians richer content and experiences.”
“The NFB and CBC/Radio-Canada represent two key pillars of Canadian cultural sovereignty,” added Suzanne Guèvremont, government film commissioner and NFB chairperson. “At a time when we need to work together to affirm and preserve what’s special about our country, this MOU opens new possibilities for us to pool our strengths and innovate, and deliver diverse and authentic Canadian experiences to new audiences.”
