Canadian Content Initiatives Underway
Telefilm Canada announced today that the agency is embarking on a broad initiative intended to deliver on the primary objective of its new corporate plan: stimulating demand for Canadian content. The underlying principles of its new corporate plan were unveiled by Telefilm’s Chair, Michel Roy, and Executive Director, Carolle Brabant, during the organization’s annual public assembly held last December in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“Telefilm wants to create a groundswell in favour of Canadian content,” Carolle Brabant reiterated today. “The current success of Canadian films provides an ideal context for achieving this initiative, provided we put the necessary effort behind it. I am delighted that the Canada Media Fund (CMF) is joining us in this major endeavour and that Valerie Creighton has accepted Telefilm’s offer to lead this project.”
“This initiative underlines the Canada Media Fund’s expanded mandate for the marketing and promotion of Canadian content. One of the Fund’s strategic objectives is to reward the success of our rich and compelling Canadian ideas, stories and creative content,” stated Valerie Creighton, President and CEO of the CMF. “The initiative will build on past success and explore new and innovative ways to ensure content is more widely accessible and stimulate demand for Canadian stories.”
Brabant and Creighton are of one mind that the time has come to leverage the success and investment in our content. The project will look to industry expertise from the production, broadcast and distribution sectors as well as other agencies to work towards a cohesive strategy that positions Canadian content in the forefront, and that will explore and leverage the opportunities offered by multi-platform digital distribution and social media.
The strategy to be developed will be grounded in the rich cultural and entrepreneurial vitality of Canada’s provinces and territories. Advice and engagement will be sought from the Telefilm staff, industry, elected officials, business as well as other community leaders and influencers in cities and towns throughout the country.
The goal is to establish dynamic public-private partnerships, to generate innovative ideas and locally tailored solutions to improve the visibility of, and demand for all Canadian content: feature film, television and interactive digital media.
In parallel to the work undertaken at the local level, initiatives will also be developed to track, promote and further enable the international success of Canadian film, television and interactive digital media projects, including co-productions, reinforcing the industry’s dual role as the window on the vibrancy of Canadian culture and as a significant driver of the Canadian economy.
“With the launch of this initiative in April 2011, our objective is to further support the expression of Canadian culture by enabling a broader local and international reach of compelling content,” stated Carolle Brabant. “This in turn will provide economic and cultural benefits to Canadians and develop a pride of ownership in the investment, success and impact of Canadian content.”
Meanwhile, I recently found out about two BC Film funding opportunities from Toronto digital media business analyst and producer Sasha Boersma. I did reach out to the BC Film for more information than what was available on their web site, but have not yet received a response.
The BC Film’s Digital Media Development Envelope is a one year pilot program created in partnership between British Columbia Film and the BC Arts Council with funding provided by the 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy. The program is intended to provide film or television based entertainment companies with an envelope of money to support a range of eligible interactive digital media activities. The funding is a non-recoupable advance of up to $25,000 and does not require matching funding or market support to trigger eligibility. Applications are reviewed through a competitive, subjective process. Please note that the deadline to apply for this initiative is March 14th, which is Monday. There goes your weekend.
The Interactive Fund is a one year pilot program created in partnership between British Columbia Film and the BC Arts Council with funding provided by the 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy. The program is intended to support the production of high quality, original, interactive digital media content owned and controlled by BC companies or individuals. The funding is a non-recoupable advance of up to $50,000 and does not require matching funding or market support to trigger eligibility. Applications are reviewed through a competitive, subjective process, and the deadline to apply for this initiative is March 31st, so you have a little more breathing room for this fund.
For more specific information regarding either the Interactive Fund or the Digital Media Development Envelope, please contact Business Analyst Erika Kumar at the BC Film office.
