Development
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) supports the development and pre-development of Canadian convergent content mainly through its Development Program. This program is part of the CMF’s Convergent Stream. Funding from this program is allocated through broadcaster envelopes and through first-come, first-served programs. Development support has been earmarked within the Aboriginal and Francophone Minority Programs, as well.
DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPES
In 2017-2018, the CMF contributed $8.7M to 254 convergent development projects through Development Envelopes. The average amount of funding committed per project was $34K, $3K lower than last year. English-language projects received $6.2M, 68.4% of which was spent on Drama projects, 21.7% on Documentary, and 7.7% on Children’s & Youth. French-language projects received $2.5M, of which 68.3% was spent on Drama projects, 16.9% on Documentary projects, and 14.3% on Children’s & Youth.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Quebec French Regional Development Program
A total of $300K in development funding was committed to 10 projects in Québec outside of Montreal through the Québec French Regional Development Program on a first-come, first-served basis.
Northern Incentive – Development
The Northern Incentive for projects from the northern territories funded 5 development-stage projects with $191K. The funds were committed on a first-come, first-served basis.
English Regional Pre-development Program
The English Regional Pre-development program was established in response to stakeholders’ proposals to sustain the vitality of regional production by supporting producers in their preparation of documents to present to broadcasters at the early stages of development. A total of 96 projects were funded with $1.2M at an average of $12K per project, on a first-come, first-served basis. British Columbia received the largest portion of funding for the fifth year in a row at 32.7%. The balance of funding was distributed in varying levels from coast to coast.