Telefilm Canada releases its Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Report 2024-25

Telefilm Canada announces the publication of its Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Report 2024-25. 

This report presents the results of the self-identification data collection carried out during the last fiscal year for Telefilm’s development and production programs. 

It presents a more detailed view of the key results published in the 2024-25 Annual Report and includes the results from fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24, providing a three-year overview of progress. It also offers a comparison between applications and funding, as well as breakdowns by language and by program or stream. 

This report also supports the development of Telefilm’s third Action Plan on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA). The plan, aligned with Telefilm’s 2023-25 Accessibility Plan, reflects Telefilm’s ongoing efforts to ensure that Canadian cinema is fully representative of all Canadians, while resonating with audiences both at home and abroad. 

The EDIA Report 2024-25 highlights data sharing as a lever to strengthen collaboration with the industry and optimize support for communities. It is part of a commitment to transparency and dialogue, reaffirming Telefilm’s dedication to an inclusive, representative, and sustainable audiovisual ecosystem. 

Production Portfolio Highlights:

• Increased representation between the application stage and the funding stage for women directors, directors of diverse genders, 2SLGBTQIA+ creators, Indigenous creators, and members of Official‑Language Minority Communities (OLMC). 
• Strengthened representation in the role of producer for Black women and women of colour, both in number of projects and in funding volume, rising respectively from 5% to 9%, and from 3% to 5%. 
• Growth in representation for Indigenous producers, reaching 9% of funded projects compared to 7% previously, and more significantly, 11% of total funding compared to 5% previously. 
• Improvement in representation of 2SLGBTQIA+ producers reaching 21% of total funding compared to 15% the previous year. 
• Significant progress in representation of screenwriters from the OLMC:
  • The share of Francophone funding awarded to projects written by Francophones in minority situations rose from 5% to 8%, while the share awarded to projects written by Anglophones in minority situations increased from 12% to 19%. 

You can consult the full report HERE. 

Self‑Identification Data Collection 

In line with one of the commitments of the 2022‑24 EDI Action Plan, Telefilm implemented self‑identification data collection in 2022‑23 for individuals submitting funding applications. 

This method is an essential lever for developing a deeper understanding of the realities of the sector. These data provide a realistic portrait of what is funded at Telefilm, highlighting both accomplishments and challenges in supporting different communities. They serve as an important mechanism to strengthen Telefilm’s capacity to support creators and to foster representativeness within Canada’s audiovisual industry. 

An appendix is also available in this report to present in detail the methodology used for data collection. It specifies, among other things, definitions of certain terms, the criteria and processes applied, thereby offering greater transparency and a clearer understanding of the published results. 

A Transparent Look at Our Progress 

In October, Telefilm published the review of the 2022‑24 EDI Action Plan, reporting on progress achieved across the four strategic pillars and 25 commitments. Several have been fully or partially achieved, while others remain ongoing or require further development. 

As part of the strategic review of our current programs, the data collected makes it possible to identify gaps and address them across all our programs. This review, along with the various action plans, has been carried out in collaboration with partners and the industry.