Message from the Chair

I am pleased to report on behalf of the Canada Media Fund’s (CMF) Board of Directors for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. 

The Board of Directors determined the following strategic objectives for the CMF to be carried out throughout the year. All actions detailed in this annual report supported these objectives.

1. Support the creation of Canadian content for all digital audiovisual platforms
2. Leverage funding by rewarding those who make and those who distribute successful content
3. Foster industry innovation
4. Ensure diversity of voices from a regional, language and point of view perspective
5. Guide Canadian content toward a competitive global digital environment
6. Create access and demand for, and promote Canadian content
7. Broaden knowledge and interest in the success of Canadian content, its impact and Canada’s positioning as a co-production partner through targeted national and international public affairs initiatives
8. Ensure the CMF’s processes and operations meet the highest standards and are kept current and optimal

The content industry is facing disruptive changes and the funding system which supports it will in turn also face significant challenges. In response to this reality, the CMF developed and implemented new creative methods to leverage available resources and to support producers in their efforts by partnering with other organisations in Canada and internationally. 

The Accelerator Partnership Pilot Program (A3P) was renewed for a second year to provide producers of digital media projects funded through the CMF’s Experimental Stream with better access to mentorship, markets and capital. A total of 26 accelerators have partnered with the program since its inception, including Canadian Technology Accelerators in the US and the UK.

The CMF established a partnership with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), as a result of which the BDC can provide convertible notes worth $150K to companies involved in games and enabling technologies that have received support from the Experimental Stream. 

To further stimulate the codevelopment and coproduction of both television and digital media content, the CMF created a $2M budget allocation to finance matching fund agreements with foreign partners. In 2014-2015, agreements were signed with RioFilme and SP Cine in Brazil, NZ On Air in New Zealand and Wallimage in Belgium.  

As a result of Corus Entertainment’s acquisition of Historia, Séries+ and TELETOON and in accordance with the CRTC’s Tangible Benefits Policy, the CMF and Corus Entertainment have come to an agreement whereby the CMF will manage a program dedicated to funding creative and business activities during the development of eligible live-action and animated television projects. 

Through its ongoing industry consultation process, the CMF conducted a comprehensive review of CMF’s funding framework, including its recoupment policies, with the objective of repositioning its role as an active partner engaged in the success of the Canadian content it supports.

In addition to these changes to its current slate of programs, the CMF also positioned itself for the future by performing a visioning exercise which sought to define the potential role of the CMF going forward in recognition of a changing environment. This in-depth analysis of the current state of our industry and the rapid changes that are impacting audiovisual content production and distribution in Canada and around the world will be the basis for re-examining CMF strategies, policies and programs moving forward.  

Looking forward, the CMF will hold a cross-country consultation with stakeholders in the fall of 2015 in order to gather comments and feedback on its visioning strategy.  We intend to develop this consultation in keeping with the outcome of Canadian Heritage’s program evaluation of the CMF and results from the CRTC’s Let’s Talk TV consultation.

The Board recognizes the extraordinary efforts of the CMF’s management and staff in the successful operations of the CMF. I also wish to thank the staff of our Program Administrator, Telefilm Canada, for delivering our funding with a consistent commitment to client service and operational efficiency.
On behalf of all the Board members, I would like to thank outgoing Board member Chris Frank for his contribution to the CMF and welcome David McLennan who joined the Board this year.

We also wish to express our ongoing gratitude to the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV distributors for their significant investment in Canadian production and innovation, ensuring an exceptional place in the digital future.

Alain Cousineau
Chair of the Board