CMF to invest nearly $23M in 37 interactive digital media projects
Toronto, March 6, 2023 – The Canada Media Fund (CMF) today announced 37 interactive digital media projects selected to receive a total of $22,887,930 in production funding through the fall 2023 round of three of our Experimental-stream programs—Prototyping, Experimentation & Innovation, and the Commercial Projects Program.
Prototyping Program
Our Prototyping Program allocates funding to projects at the early stages of building a product to demonstrate its intended functionalities and design. Through this round of funding, $4,495,191 has been earmarked for 19 games and two software-based projects. Successful applicants are based in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, and eight of them are based outside the production hubs of Toronto and Montreal.
Experimentation & Innovation Program
Projects funded through our Innovation & Experimentation Program are Canadian interactive digital media content and software applications that are innovative and leading-edge. $9,539,454 has been earmarked for nine projects—six games, two immersive experiences, and one software application. The selected companies are based in British Columbia (three), Ontario (two), and Quebec (four).
Projects submitted for funding through our Innovation & Experimentation Program are evaluated, among other criteria, based on their originality, quality, sophistication, innovative characteristics, and potential of legacy for the industry. Funding decisions were made by a jury of specialists composed of Annelise Larson, Anouk Ethier, Emma Westecott, Jonathan Lessard, Rochelle Grayson, and Yat Chi Lau.
Commercial Projects Program
Our Commercial Projects Program funds projects that have a greater probability of commercial success. In this round of funding, a total of $8,853,265 has been earmarked for the production of seven projects—all of them games. Four of the selected projects are led by companies established in Ontario, and the remaining three by companies based in Quebec.
The projects submitted for funding under the Commercial Projects Program are evaluated based on their potential to attain stated commercial objectives, demonstrate business opportunity, and achieve profitability. Funding decisions were made by a jury composed of Camille Emery, Catherine Winters, Elgin Skye McLaren, François Dominic Laramée, Dr. Kris Alexander, Nadia Seraiocco, and Sebastien Bisch.
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 voice, 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 – Canada Media Fund
[email protected]
