CMF Enters German Co-Development, Co-Pro Pact

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) has inked a deal with Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB) to establish an incentive for the co-development and co-production of digital media projects between Canadian producers and German producers based in Berlin-Brandenburg.

MBB oversees film funding and media business development in the German states of Berlin and Brandenburg. The total amount of funding available through the incentive is approximately C$300,000 ($239,000), with each organization contributing half of the financing. The deal was unveiled at the Berlin-Brandenburg reception during Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, where Canada is the official partner country.

“Creating co-development and co-production opportunities between Canadian and international producers continues to be a top priority for the CMF,” said Valerie Creighton, the president and CEO of CMF. “We are delighted to welcome Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg to our growing list of international partners. Germany and Canada are global powerhouses when it comes to the development and production of digital media and innovative storytelling. We are certain that producers from both countries will benefit enormously by establishing constructive partnerships to create compelling content through this agreement. The announcement of this incentive at Gamescom is timely as the Consulate of Canada in Munich and the Department of Canadian Heritage have increased exposure and opportunities this year for Canadian producers at this leading international trade event.”

“We are very pleased to have found in the Canada Media Fund a strong international partner with which we can launch the joint development and production of new games, web series, VR and multiplatform projects,” added Helge Jürgens, the managing director of Medienboard. “With Canada a pioneer and role model in providing successful economic support to the audiovisual industry, and Berlin-Brandenburg a location with a long filmmaking tradition and outstanding IT creative competencies, the two partners complement one another in a first-rate manner. With its new program, the Medienboard aims to further expand its international network within the market-leading Canadian digital-media sector, and deepen cooperation between German and Canadian media professionals. I am very excited for the joint projects and the associated innovative stimulus to be provided to both digital-media production locations.”