Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund welcome Phase 2 of Emergency Relief Funding for Canada’s Audiovisual Sector
MONTRÉAL / TORONTO, July 7, 2020 – Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault today announced that an additional $27.8 million in funding has been designated for Canada’s audiovisual sector as part of Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations. Administered by Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, the Phase 2 funding will provide financial assistance to additional companies and organizations that were not eligible for Phase 1 of the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. More details on how this new Phase 2 funding will be allocated and disbursed will be announced as soon as possible.
“The industry has been vocal about the need for additional support to cover members of the film and TV community that were not able to access the initial round of funding,” said Christa Dickenson, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada. “We welcome this injection of much needed financial assistance and thank Minister Guilbeault for ensuring that Canada’s audiovisual industry remains resilient.
“Our sector continues to be heavily impacted by the pandemic even as our economy reopens. This additional support is much needed to help ensure the survival of companies that are vital to the audiovisual sector.”
“The screen-based industry is a complex ecosystem made up of many people working in hundreds of thousands of different and important jobs, and each of them plays a key role in the success of Canada’s film, broadcast, and interactive digital media sectors,” said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund. “The federal government’s Phase 2 emergency relief fund means that we can support more of our talented creators and producers to weather the pandemic and continue the vital work our audiovisual industry needs to remain a vibrant and international powerhouse.”
Phase 1 of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund saw $88.8M in support delivered by CMF and $27M for Telefilm clients. Allocations of approximately $13.3M (CMF) and $4M (Telefilm) provided support to support underrepresented communities in the industry.
About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada’s audiovisual industry. Through funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund accepts private donations to principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.
To stay up to date, subscribe to our industry advisories by visiting: https://telefilm.ca/en/newsletter-sign-up.
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. Please visit cmf-fmc.ca.
The CMF has put in place an online information hub to help Canadian workers and companies in Canada’s screen-based industries navigate the many programs and resources available to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Information on financial support offered through more than 165 programs, as well as other essential resources can now be found at covid.cmf-fmc.ca.
-30-
Media contacts:
Brian Mullen
Telefilm Canada
Advisor, Public Relations – English Market
647-475-4910
brian.mullen@telefilm.ca
André Ferreira
Canada Media Fund
Communications Manager
416-554-2768
aferreira@cmf-fmc.ca