CMF to advance program changes that will further support audiovisual industry’s growth

Toronto and Montreal, September 18, 2023 – After several years of calls for change from the industry we proudly support, the Department of Canadian Heritage has unlocked new authorities for the CMF to administer our funding and programs moving forward.

As the CRTC undertakes its process to determine a new regulatory framework and Canadian Heritage initiates their work to modernize the country’s audiovisual industry, the CMF is embracing an evolving role that will bolster the growth and resilience of our industry from coast to coast to coast.

“The CMF has played a valuable and key role for Canadian content production for more than a decade,” says the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “We have been listening to the industry’s feedback and understand the need for a more flexible and content-focused support model to respond to the sector’s needs and ongoing transformation. These new authorities will provide the CMF with a modern, more agile funding approach to ensure it remains an integral part of a competitive and resilient Canadian audiovisual sector for years to come.”

The CMF is dedicated to decision-making that is informed by data and consultations with the industry. Based on our 2021 Spark Courage: What We Heard report, we are working towards a future model that focuses on supporting creators and stories regardless of platform. The modernization signaled by the federal government, which will build more capacity, enable innovation, and generate high-quality Canadian content on all platforms, is a strong step towards the full implementation of the CMF’s new model. We will collaborate closely with Canadian Heritage to craft the program changes, which will include:

• New opportunities in program criteria to reflect the many ways content is created
• A move away from the siloed approach of Convergent and Experimental streams
• Better alignment with the evolving market and regulations
• Advancing an inclusive and sustainable industry through expanded sector development
• A renewed focus on financing all phases of audiovisual content across platforms

“I want to thank the many members of Canada’s audiovisual industry who have shared their insights over the years. These new authorities  and upcoming program changes that will support the broader audiovisual sector are a direct result of your feedback and advocacy,” says Valerie Creighton, President & CEO, Canada Media Fund. “I also want to thank Minister Rodriguez for his dedication to our sector and welcome Minister St-Onge for supporting us in seeing our new mandate through. The CMF’s priority will continue to be putting Canadian and Indigenous stories first—stories that represent who we are and who we aspire to be.”

The CMF is committed to an informed and collaborative industry-first approach to our work, which includes extensive consultation and engagement, from individual creators to small and large production companies to broadcasters, distributors, and platforms. Changes to the CMF’s programs will be phased in over the next two fiscal years. In addition to the upcoming consultations, which will begin later this fall, we will also draw on the valuable feedback we have received from the industry over many years of consultations.

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About the Canada Media Fund

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, finances, promotes, and develops the production of, and access to, Canadian content and applications across all audiovisual media platforms. By prioritizing the success of Canadian content, by and for Canadians, while reflecting the diversity of Canadian voices and fostering industry innovation, we help the country’s content production ecosystem remain healthy, vibrant, and inclusive. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors.

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