CMF releases first-ever report on challenges in Children and Youth, Documentary genres
Toronto, January 17, 2025 – The Canada Media Fund (CMF) today released our first-ever Genre Report exploring challenges facing producers working in the Documentary and Children and Youth (C and Y) genres. The report stems from data and industry calls around the state of these two genres and examines how and why CMF participation in these genres has changed and the effects of these changes, and presents relevant findings for further consideration.
While the full report provides detailed information on one-off documentaries and C and Y content, the CMF has also prepared a summary version focused on the unique challenges faced by the latter.
Key takeaways
- Based on extensive surveys conducted as part of our research, 95 per cent of Canadian producers and 100 per cent of broadcasters consider access to Canadian-made C and Y content important. 65 per cent of the general public agrees, with support even stronger among parents and newcomers, who see it as vital for fostering cultural identity.
- Shifts in audience behavior, structural changes in broadcasting, and funding challenges have reduced CMF participation in C and Y content, which now accounts for just 11 per cent of total CMF funding across our four genres.
- Project volume and funding for one-off documentaries temporarily dipped during the pandemic, but CMF participation has remained relatively steady thanks in large part to our POV program.
- 93 per cent of producers view the documentary genre as essential for providing opportunities to new and first-time filmmakers, emphasizing its vital role in showcasing fresh perspectives in Canadian storytelling.
- Modernizing financing models, such as including contributions from distributors or pre-sales in license fee thresholds, could reduce reliance on the limited number of Canadian broadcasters. Both C and Y and documentary producers see this as a step toward innovation.
Read the summary report (covering only the Children and Youth genre)
Read the full report (covering both Children and Youth and One-Off Documentaries)
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances, and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voices, and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors. Visit our website for more information.
Media Contact
Maxime Ruel
Senior Manager, Communications
[email protected]
