The Canada Media Fund (CMF) announced two-year Program Guidelines for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 fiscal years. The 2013-2014 Program Budget is set at $360.7 million. The breakdown of the Program Budget can be viewed here.
The guidelines reflect the two strategic objectives identified by the CMF’s Board to continue moving the organization forward, namely to simplify the CMF’s policies and programs and to reward success.
Technical updates included in the new Program Guidelines:
Experimental Stream
- Allocations to the First and Final Closing Dates changed o Previously, the CMF committed up to up to 60% of a fiscal year’s allocation to the Experimental Stream, for each of Production, Development, and Marketing & Promotion support, to submissions made by the First Closing Date, with the remaining 40% made available for the Final Closing Date. The percentages have now been changed to 50% and 50% respectively. See Key 2013-2014 CMF Program Application Dates and Deadlines
- As of the Final Closing Date, the same project cannot apply more than twice for the same stage/phase of funding o Projects in the Experimental Stream may apply for Development, Production, or Marketing & Promotion support. Funding is allocated according to a selective process using an evaluation matrix, and not all projects submitted for funding are chosen. As of the Final Closing Date, a project that has been refused funding from a particular Experimental Stream Program (i.e. Development, Production, or Marketing and Promotion) two or more times since the inception of the Experimental Stream in 2010-2011 cannot apply again for funding from that same Experimental Stream program. See Key 2013-2014 CMF Program Application Dates and Deadlines
Convergent Stream
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Changes applicable to all Production Programs (i.e. Performance Envelope, Aboriginal, Francophone Minority, English POV, and Diverse Languages)
Allowable exception for a non-Canadian narrator eliminated o For 2012-2013, the CMF created a new exception to Essential Requirement #2 for documentary programming, namely: At the CMF’s sole discretion one point, according to the CAVCO scale, may go to a non-Canadian narrator who has significant recognition among Canadian audiences and who is recognized as having an association with the subject of the documentary. This exception was intended to provide documentary makers with increased flexibility and greater market potential for their projects. However, CAVCO does not have a similar exception and will not certify such projects. Since Essential Requirement #2 requires CAVCO certification, the CMF exception was unavailable in practice and as such is being eliminated for 2013-2014. See Appendix A -
Changes applicable to Production Programs that use a selective funding process (i.e. Aboriginal, Francophone Minority, English POV, and Diverse Languages)
Inclusion of 90% of eligible tax credits at Phase 2 eliminated o Projects funded in a selective program must include 90% of the estimated federal and provincial tax credits in their financial structures. Funded projects receive CMF funding in several partial payments, with “Phase 2 payment” being the final payment at completion of the project. Previously, the CMF’s rule for inclusion of 90% of the estimated tax credits was applicable at both initial application and at Phase 2, except where there was an increase in the provincial tax rate. Now, the 90% rule does not apply at Phase 2. Applicable projects must continue to include 90% of tax credits in their financing at application. See Appendix B, Treatment of Tax Credits Policy -
Changes applicable to the Development Program
- In the English Regional Pre-Development Sub-Program, applicants limited to 2 applications per year o Previously, the CMF reserved the right to limit the number of applications funded from a single Applicant in the same fiscal year, but did not state a specific limitation. Now, Eligible Applicants, or a related party, may apply with a maximum of two Eligible Projects per fiscal year. See section 2.C.1, Development Guidelines
- New Eligible Costs in the French Regional Pre-Development Sub-Programs
Previously, certain pre-development costs were only eligible in the English Regional Pre-Development Sub-Program. Now all pre-development costs are eligible for both English and French pre-development sub-programs. See section 2.3.2.TV.2, Development Guidelines
- Amount of Development Envelopes that must be spent by the First Closing Date increased to 60%
For corporate groups in the English market with Development Envelopes which total $1,000,000 or more, and for corporate groups in the French market with Development Envelopes which total $500,000 or more, complete, eligible applications representing a certain value of this/these envelope(s) must be received by the First Closing Date. Previously this value was 50% of this/these envelope(s); this has now been increased to 60%. See Key 2013-2014 CMF Program Application Dates and Deadlines
More Information on the Program Guidelines
For more information please refer to the application deadlines, or the the technical updates document. The CMF will organize Outreach meetings across the country to meet with stakeholders in person.
Performance Envelopes Program
On December 5, 2012, the CMF announced the Factor Weights used for 2013-2014 Performance Envelope Calculations. The CMF will be sending broadcaster agreements outlining the amounts allocated for the upcoming year to individual broadcasters by March 28th, 2013. Details about each broadcaster’s Performance Envelope will be posted on the CMF website in mid-April, 2013.
