Canada & Scotland Launch Co-Development Incentive

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have launched a new funding incentive for the co-development of screen-based projects between Canadian and Scottish producers.

A total of C$300,000 ($226,836) is being made available to support the development of digital media and television projects. To be eligible, television projects must be live-action or animated co-developments that meet the CMF’s definition of either drama or documentary programming, or a co-development project created for digital platforms, including but not limited to web series, video games, transmedia projects, virtual or augmented reality.

The total maximum contribution for each project funded through the incentive will be capped at C$50,000 ($37,806). However, the CMF contribution will not exceed 75 percent of the Canadian development budget, and the HIE contribution will not exceed 75 percent of the Scottish development budget.

“Teaming up with HIE on this co-development initiative is a perfect partnership for us,” said Valerie Creighton, president and CEO of the CMF. “This new funding facilitates a meaningful opportunity for our creative community to collaborate more closely with Scotland, especially in light of the historical and cultural ties that bind our two countries. We look forward to seeing what exciting projects will be developed through this program.”

Iain Hamilton, head of creative industries at HIE, said: “We are delighted to offer this opportunity to our Scotland’s creative community. It’s great to be working with an organization with such a high international reputation and a country leading in TV production.”