Canadian-Irish Projects to Receive C$400K in Funding Incentives

The Canada Media Fund (CMF), Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and Northern Ireland Screen (NIS) have revealed that the 2019 rounds of their co-development funding incentives include a total investment of C$400,000 ($299,000) for Canadian-Irish projects.

The Canada-Ireland Co-Development Incentive for Audiovisual Projects will fund the co-development of television projects and digital media extensions of TV projects that meet CMF guidelines and the objectives and themes of BAI’s Sound and Vision Scheme. The Canada-Northern Ireland Co-Development Incentive for Audiovisual Projects, meanwhile, funds the co-development of TV projects in the drama, documentary, animation or education genres. It also funds digital media content made for other platforms, including web series, video games, transmedia projects, and virtual or augmented reality.

The amount available for the respective incentives this year will be C$200,000 ($149,440), with half the funds contributed by each participating funding organization. The maximum contribution for each project funded through the incentives is set at C$50,000 ($37,360).

Valerie Creighton, president and CEO of the CMF, said: “The CMF’s incentives with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen give creators on both sides of the Atlantic the opportunity to push the geographic and creative boundaries of storytelling in a globalized media world. Given the linguistic, historical and cultural ties that bind our countries, it was only fitting that the CMF continues its successful partnerships with both funding organizations; allowing storytellers in our countries to create culturally resonant stories and develop innovative media that appeal to audiences in Canada, Ireland and beyond.”

BAI Chief Executive Michael O’Keeffe said: “This scheme gives producers in Ireland and Canada an opportunity to combine creative talent to develop compelling television and film projects that appeal to both Irish and Canadian audiences. Co-development support encourages Irish producers to focus on the potential offered by international collaboration in the current competitive media environment. The scheme has been a catalyst for new creative partnerships between producers in Canada and Ireland and we expect significant interest in the 2019 round”.

Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, added: “One of Northern Ireland Screen’s main aims is to support the development of, and invest in our wealth of creative talent; continuing our partnership with CMF on this co-development initiative is a perfect way for us to achieve this. This funding facilitates a meaningful opportunity for production companies here to collaborate more closely with Canada. We look forward to seeing what exciting projects will be developed through the scheme this time around.”