CMF and DHX Media announce funding program to support the development of new kids’ and family content
Half the funds of the over $1.4M program reserved for women-led projects
Toronto, July 8, 2019 - The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and DHX Media announced today the launch of a new program to support the development of Canadian kids’ and family content. The DHX-CMF Kids and Family Development Program, which is funded by DHX Media at over $1.4M for two years, and administered by the CMF, aims to support new entrants to the production community as well as regional projects, creators in official language minority communities, and French-language producers. Half of the program’s funds are reserved for women-led projects. Click here to access the guidelines.
“This new partnership between the CMF and DHX will allow us to fund projects in a genre that has seen a decrease over the past few years,” said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. “It’s imperative that we continue to focus on funding kids’ content. I’m especially proud that half the funds in this program are reserved for women-led projects, complementing and adding to our existing gender balance initiatives.”
“It is vital that we create opportunities to tell diverse Canadian stories for kids and families through original Canadian content,” said Joe Tedesco, EVP and GM, DHX Television. “We are delighted to team up with the CMF to launch the DHX-CMF Kids and Family Development Program as a funding source for a wide range of development projects, with a special emphasis on supporting those led by women.”
The DHX-CMF Kids and Family Development Program will support development activities in the CMF-supported genres of Children’s and Youth and Drama, including acquisition of underlying rights, scripts, bibles and storyboards with some additional funding allocated for travel and pitch materials.
Under the guidelines, Women-led Projects are projects where the majority of creative costs are paid to women and include, at a minimum, a bible or pilot script completed by a woman writer.
Projects applying to the DHX-CMF Kids and Family Development Program shall compete for funding according to a selective process. To make its funding decisions, the CMF evaluates projects according to a set of criteria which include market interest, the creative team’s composition, originality and creativity, as well as the program’s objectives. The maximum contribution per project will be the lesser of $56,000 or 75 per cent of the project’s eligible costs.
Applications can be submitted starting today and the deadline to apply is November 1, 2019. Click here to apply.
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.
About DHX Television
DHX Television is composed of Family Channel, Family CHRGD, Family Jr. and Télémagino, and is part of DHX Media Ltd., a leading creator, producer, marketer and broadcaster of family entertainment. Dedicated to celebrating family fun, DHX Television delivers best-in-class programming and hosts captivating live events that appeal to Canadian families. DHX Television is home to world-renowned series including The Next Step, America Ninja Warrior Jr. and Chip and Potato.
About DHX Media Ltd.
DHX Media Ltd. (TSX: DHX; NASDAQ: DHXM) is a global children’s content and brands company, recognized for such high-profile properties as Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Inspector Gadget, and the acclaimed Degrassi franchise. One of the world’s foremost producers of children’s shows, DHX Media owns the world’s largest independent library of children’s content, at 13,000 half-hours. It licenses its content to broadcasters and streaming services worldwide and generates royalties through its global consumer products program. Through its subsidiary, WildBrain, DHX Media operates one of the largest networks of children’s channels on YouTube. Headquartered in Canada, DHX Media has offices worldwide. Visit us at: dhxmedia.com.
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Media Contact:
André Ferreira
Communications Manager
Canada Media Fund
416-554-2768
aferreira@cmf-fmc.ca
Shaun Smith
Director, Corporate & Trade Communications
DHX Media Ltd.
416-977-7230
shaun.smith@dhxmedia.com