Canada New Media Fund

The spirit and intent of the Canada New Media Fund is to provide support for:

• the market research and prototyping, product development and marketing of high-quality, original, interactive Canadian new media products in both official languages that are intended for the general public and are competitive in international markets;
• online distribution of aggregated high-quality, original, interactive Canadian new media products in both official languages that are intended for the general public;
• ensuring the visibility and presence of new media creators in both domestic and international markets; and
• providing opportunities for professional development.

Eligibility Criteria

For Product Assistance

All Canadian companies actively involved in developing new media content that meet the following criteria are eligible:

• must be from the private sector;
• must be Canadian-owned and controlled companies within the meaning of the Investment Canada Act ;
• have a head office based in Canada and the company's activities should take place in Canada;
• able to demonstrate that they, or another otherwise eligible applicant, have initiated the project; and
• able to demonstrate that they exercise creative and financial control from market research and prototyping through product development, marketing and revenue reporting.

The eligible applicant company (or eligible companies involved in private sector co-productions) must own 100% of the copyright of the product that is the subject of the application. In the case of co-productions with Canadian public agencies accepted by Telefilm, the co-producing companies must own 100% of the copyright of the product, but the eligible applicant must own a majority of the copyright. In the case of international co-productions, copyright ownership will be determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the co-production treaties.

Telefilm may also choose to look at the financial stability of the applicant (with appropriate exceptions for new companies) in determining eligibility.

Telefilm invites applications from all eligible Canadian new media companies. However, in keeping with the emerging nature of the new media sector, and to ensure that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are competitive in the existing media environment, 75% of funds are reserved for SMEs.

Partnerships with not-for-profit centers of expertise, public agencies or public institutions may be allowed in a proposed product (without these being the applicant). In this event, the applicant must provide Telefilm Canada with a copy of any agreement concerning the partnership in the product, demonstrating the applicant’s majority ownership and creative and financial control from market research to revenue reporting of the project, upon submission of the application.

For Online Distribution Assistance

All Canadian companies actively involved in new media content distribution that meet the following criteria are eligible:

• must be from the private sector;
• must be Canadian-owned and controlled companies within the meaning of the Investment Canada Act ;
• have a head office based in Canada and the company's activities should take place in Canada;
• possess experience in developing online distribution channels for new media content that will benefit the entire sector, and able to distribute content and reach Canadians online in both official languages.

The eligible applicant company (or eligible companies involved in private sector co-productions) must own 100% of the copyright of the product that is the subject of the application. In the case of co-productions with Canadian public agencies accepted by Telefilm, the co-producing companies must own 100% of the copyright of the product, but the eligible applicant must own a majority of the copyright. In the case of international co-productions, copyright ownership will be determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the co-production treaties.

Telefilm may choose to look at the financial stability of the applicant (with appropriate exceptions for new companies) in determining eligibility.

Telefilm Canada may also choose to fund online distribution projects in stages, depending on the level of development of the project.

For Sectoral Assistance

All Canadian companies actively involved in new media content development and distribution, as well as professional associations, training schools and festivals that meet the following criteria are eligible:

• must be from the private sector;
• must be Canadian-owned and controlled companies within the meaning of the Investment Canada Act ;
• have a head office based in Canada and the company's activities should take place in Canada;
• able to demonstrate the required expertise to successfully complete the initiative.

Telefilm may also choose to look at the financial stability of the applicant (with appropriate exceptions for new companies) in determining eligibility.

Summary

It is expected that Telefilm's assistance provided through the Canada New Media Fund will result in increased access to Canadian cultural new media products for Canadian consumers and an increased profile and presence of Canadian cultural new media content on the Internet. The Fund will help build capacity in the industry by assisting in the creation of intellectual property in Canadian companies, and providing the conditions for increased business development at both domestic and international markets. Finally, the Fund will support professional development leading to the renewal of a highly skilled pool of producing and creative talent.

Fund resources are allocated on a linguistic basis:

• 1/3 French-language and 2/3 English-language for Product Assistance;
• 50% French-language and 50% English-language for Online Distribution Assistance and Sectoral Assistance.

The Fund will strive to achieve its objectives through three program components:

• Product Assistance;
• Online Distribution Assistance; and
• Sectoral Assistance.

Product Assistance

This Fund component provides financial support for market research and prototyping, product development and marketing of Canadian cultural new media works in both official languages that are intended for the general public. Priority is given to new media products with significant market potential to reach Canadian consumers.

Support is provided to competitive original new media entertainment, games, education, entertainment, cultural and arts-related products destined for the general public and distributed via a digital network or platform such as the Internet or optical disk.

Products must be interactive and contain compelling multi-media content.

Online Distribution Assistance

This component provides financial support for the creation or enhancement of distribution channels and initiatives that increase the profile and presence of already existing Canadian cultural new media works.

Telefilm Canada may provide financial assistance to new media distribution initiatives that aggregate already existing Canadian cultural new media content to increase its profile, presence and market on the Internet. This could include joint distribution initiatives such as portals or the online distribution of a portfolio of new media content by an individual company or consortium.

Sectoral Assistance

Sectoral Assistance enables Telefilm Canada to participate, by means of non-repayable advances, in a number of activities and initiatives that contribute to the industrial and professional development of the new media industry in all regions of Canada.

As well, Telefilm uses Funds from this component to provide Canadian and international market support to the new media industry through Telefilm Canada's services at such events.

Deadline Dates

All applications, complete with the required documentation, must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. local time on the deadline date in the appropriate Office of Application. Refer to Telefilm's Web site for the deadline dates.

There are no deadlines for Sectoral Awareness Assistance; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Quebec Contact(s):
Mr. Bruno Légaré
Director, New Media
French Operations and Quebec Office
Telefilm Canada
360 Saint-Jacques Street
Montréal, Quebec  H2Y 4A9
Telephone: 514-283-6363
Fax: 514-283-8212
Toll-free (information): 1-800-567-0890
E-mail: legareb@telefilm.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/accueil.asp?LANG=EN&

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National Contact(s):
Telefilm Canada
Suite 700
360 Saint-Jacques Street
Montréal, Quebec  H2Y 4A9
Telephone: 514-283-6363
Fax: 514-283-8212
Toll-free (information): 1-800-567-0890
E-mail: info@telefilm.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/accueil.asp?LANG=EN&