Report outlines international digital media coproduction opportunities

Report focuses on Australia, France, Germany, United Kingdom and New Zealand

(TORONTO - September 23, 2014) - Today Interactive Ontario launched a new report designed to guide Canadian interactive digital media (IDM) producers in taking advantage of international coproduction opportunities. International Digital Media Coproduction: A Guide for Canadian Companies was created in association with DEEP Inc and Amythos Media, with funding from the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the Canada Media Fund and the Bell Fund.

Though digital media coproductions are outside the official treaty coproduction framework that exists for film and television, in October 2013 various Canadian funding agencies released a Framework for International Digital Media Coproduction to facilitate digital media coproduction eligibility for their programs. The Bell Fund, The Canada Media Fund, the Independent Production Fund, the Québecor Fund and the Shaw Rocket Fund collaborated to establish definitions, eligibility and minimum Canadian participation to recognize and promote international coproductions in digital media between Canada and other countries. This framework makes it much easier for non-Canadians to work with Canadians as the guidelines have been harmonized.

The report serves as a comprehensive guide for Canadian companies wishing to collaborate with content creators in other markets. It outlines the reasons a Canadian company may choose a coproduction - such as addressing financing gaps, being able to take on projects of a larger scope and having access to new audiences - as well as some of the challenges they may face.

Additionally the report provides actionable information on funding sources to explore in Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

The report was launched at a panel discussion in Toronto as part of Interactive Ontario’s monthly iLunch series. Panelists were:

  • Kelly Lynne Ashton - Researcher and author of the report
  • Andra Sheffer - Executive Director, Bell Fund
  • Catalina Briceno – Director, Industry and Market Trends, CMF 
  • Patrick Crowe – Owner, Xenophile Media

The report can be viewed online at: www.trends.cmf-fmc.ca

About Interactive Ontario
Interactive Ontario (IO) is a member-driven not-for-profit trade association committed to the growth of the Ontario interactive digital content industry. IO is the voice of the interactive industry in Ontario, representing companies working in e-Learning, video games, mobile app development, online storytelling, social media and other forms of interactive digital media. IO’s programming includes X-Summit, GameON: Finance, the Interact networking series and the iLunch series.

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. Please visit www.cmf-fmc.ca.

The CMF’s Canadaonscreen.ca is a website designed to showcase and celebrate Canadian creative talent and content destined for all types of screens, from television productions to games, Web content and software and applications.

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For more information, please contact:

Pierre Campeau
Communications Manager
Canada Media Fund
416-554-2768
[email protected]

For more information or interviews:

Carly Beath
Interactive Ontario
[email protected]