Via The Canada Media Fund: Interactive Ontario has launched a new report designed to guide Canadian interactive digital media (IDM) producers in taking advantage of international coproduction opportunities. International Digital Media Coproduction: A Guide for Canadian Companies (PDF) was created in association with DEEP Inc and Amythos Media, with funding from the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the Canada Media Fund and the Bell Fund.
Though digital media coproductions are outside the official treaty coproduction framework that exists for film and television, in October 2013 various Canadian funding agencies released a Framework for International Digital Media Coproduction to facilitate digital media coproduction eligibility for their programs. The Bell Fund, The Canada Media Fund, the Independent Production Fund, the Québecor Fund and the Shaw Rocket Fund collaborated to establish definitions, eligibility and minimum Canadian participation to recognize and promote international coproductions in digital media between Canada and other countries. This framework makes it much easier for non-Canadians to work with Canadians as the guidelines have been harmonized.
The report serves as a comprehensive guide for Canadian companies wishing to collaborate with content creators in other markets. It outlines the reasons a Canadian company may choose a coproduction – such as addressing financing gaps, being able to take on projects of a larger scope and having access to new audiences – as well as some of the challenges they may face.
Additionally the report provides actionable information on funding sources to explore in Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
The report was launched at a panel discussion in Toronto as part of Interactive Ontario’s monthly iLunch series. Panelists were:
Kelly Lynne Ashton – Researcher and author of the report
Andra Sheffer – Executive Director, Bell Fund
Catalina Briceno – Director, Industry and Market Trends, CMF
Patrick Crowe – Owner, Xenophile Media