TORONTO – The Canada Media Fund and the Canadian Association of Content Exporters have announced a new program to fund the predevelopment of export-focused Canadian content.
The $3-million CMF-Distributor Pilot Predevelopment Matching Program will help support Canadian television projects intended for international export by encouraging early collaboration between qualified distribution companies, writers and producers, reads the announcement. Applications for financing will be accepted beginning January 30, 2020.
To access the program guidelines, please click here.
“Based on results observed in other CMF export programs and ongoing stakeholder feedback, we put together this pilot program in partnership with CACE to support collaboration in early-stage development of content for international markets,” said Valerie Creighton, president and CEO of the CMF in the release.
“This will increase the volume of our content exports and help it reach new global audiences in the borderless marketplace in which we operate… It’s a great opportunity to bring private sector money to the table to allow for increased opportunities for Canadian producers, writers and distributors to collaborate.”
“Our members have long recognized a need to encourage collaboration between Canadian content exporters and Canadian independent producers,” said Vince Commisso, chair, of CACE. “We believe this initiative will empower producers to take more risk, creating bold and exciting content domestically for audiences around the world.”
The program will support both English and French-language projects, on a two-thirds, one-third split. Eligible project budgets may range from a minimum of $40,000 to a maximum of $150,000. The CMF’s maximum contribution for each eligible project will be a dollar-for-dollar match of the distributor’s predevelopment fee of no less than $20,000 and no more than $75,000 from an eligible Canadian distributor. Each Canadian distributor may contribute a maximum of $250,000 (in each language market) in predevelopment fees through this program.
