Creative BC and CBC today announced a new funding partnership that will support the creation of short-form digital content developed by BC storytellers. The two organizations will each contribute $150,000 to the new CBC + Creative BC Digital Production Fund, which aims to support the production of digital content from emerging creators, who will also have the opportunity to showcase their projects to a national audience on the public broadcaster’s extensive digital platforms, including the CBC TV app and cbc.ca/watch.
“We are excited to partner on the CBC + Creative BC Digital Production Fund, which will support and present our province’s emerging creators to domestic and global markets online,” said Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC. “This fund’s commitment to support women, Indigenous creators, visible minorities and creators with disabilities will make space to showcase stories and develop talent that reflects a truly diverse British Columbia.”
The representation of diverse talent is a core objective of this program and preference will be given to female, Indigenous, and visible minority creators as well as creators with a disability, bringing their unique voices and relevant content forward. The fund aims for at least 50% of successful projects to be driven by female creators.
“I am delighted to see this innovative funding partnership between CBC and Creative BC,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “The Digital Production Fund will open doors for women and other underrepresented storytellers who often struggle to get financing and recognition for their work. I’m glad our government’s funding will support these storytellers to hone their skills, create engaging new digital content and share it with CBC’s growing online audience.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Creative BC to nurture emerging creators in British Columbia," said Susan Kelly, Senior Director, Business & Rights, CBC. "This partnership will allow us to collaborate with Creative BC in the creation and financing of projects that showcase the unique perspectives and diverse storytelling of BC-based creators and to share them with audiences across the country on CBC’s digital platforms."
To be eligible for the CBC + Creative BC Digital Production Fund, projects must meet the following requirements:
Applicants must live in BC and be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and be an eligible BC company;
• Projects must have a minimum budget of $15,000 up to a maximum of $50,000; and
• Funding is limited to genres that qualify for British Columbia’s domestic motion picture tax credits.
All qualified projects will be reviewed by CBC for assessment on a first come, first served basis, and greenlit based on creative merit on an ongoing basis. Application submissions will open on July 3 and remain open until all funding has been allocated or until December 1, 2018.
More information on the CBC + Creative BC Digital Production Fund can be found at creativebc.com and cbc.ca/creativebcfund. When open, applications will be available at cbc.ca/creativebcfund.
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About Creative BC
Creative BC is an independent agency created and supported by the Province of BC to sustain and help grow BC’s creative sector (film and television, digital and interactive media, music, and magazine and book publishing industries). The agency delivers a wide range of programs and services to expand BC’s creative economy. These include the administration of the provincial government’s tax credit programs for film and television; development funding and export marketing support; and motion picture production services to attract inward investment and market BC as a destination for domestic and international production. The agency acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help BC’s creative sector reach its economic and creative potential both at home and globally.
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @creativebcs
Website: www.creativebc.com
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
Media Contacts:
Creative BC
Kyla Humphreys
media@creativebc.com
604-730-2240
