Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller announced Tuesday the members of an advisory panel on the modernization of federal support for the audiovisual sector in Canada.
Miller made the announcement at the annual conference of the Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM), being held this week at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau.
The Canadian government is currently reviewing how it supports the audiovisual sector, as “[t]he current framework for federal audiovisual support was built for a different era and needs to evolve so Canadian stories can thrive, both at home and globally,” said a Tuesday press release from the department of Canadian Heritage.
The goal is to ensure federal support “remains effective, efficient and transparent” and that it “can support the full spectrum of Canadian voices and stories,” the press release said, adding the work includes reviewing audiovisual policy and institutions.
“We have the talent. We have the creativity. We need a modernized system that keeps pace and sets us up for future success,” Miller said in a statement. “The advisory panel will help us adapt our support to the system so it can respond to the sector’s current and future needs, while strengthening our economy and creating good jobs.”
The advisory panel is composed of 11 audiovisual sector specialists, including:
- Alethea Arnaquq-Baril – Inuk filmmaker, director, producer and screenwriter
- Marcel Gallant – Producer and director; partner at Connexions Productions
- Monique Simard – Cultural administrator and producer; former president and CEO of SODEC
- Prem Gill – CEO of Creative BC
- Roma Khanna – Former executive chair of HiddenLight Productions
- Florence Girot – Senior director of festivals at the International Federation of Film Producers Associations
- Kyle Fostner – Executive director of the Vancouver International Film Festival
- Katerina Cizek – Documentary director and digital media innovator; artistic director and co-founder of the Co-Creation Studio at MIT Open Documentary Lab
- Tamara Mariam Dawit – Producer, director and writer; founder of Gobez Media
- Jason Della Rocca – Game industry entrepreneur and investor; co-founder of Execution Labs
- Christine Kleckner – Executive director of the National Screen Institute
The panel will be guided through their deliberations by industry veterans and foresight experts Catherine Mathys and Catalina Briceño, the government’s press release said.
During the process of reviewing its support for the audiovisual sector, the federal government “is committed to listening closely to partners across the country to understand the full range of impacts and opportunities before decisions are made,” the release said.
“Minister Miller will continue to speak with stakeholders over the coming months about how to ensure Canada’s audiovisual sector is ready for the future, with supports and investment tools that help our creative industries grow, remain competitive and set a global standard for quality content.”
In 2024, the audiovisual and interactive media sector in Canada contributed $19 billion to the country’s GDP and 160,000 jobs, according to the press release. Audiovisual exports have nearly doubled since 2017, it said.
Photo of Marc Miller, right, via his Facebook page
