Corus Entertainment and Telefilm Canada have pacted on the Family Feature Production Fund, a joint pilot program created to boost production of Canadian English-language live-action family films for theatrical release.

The fund will contribute financing for up to two features each year with production budgets of between $3.5 million and $5 million.

The program is open to Canadian feature film producers with a fully developed film script and plan for market viability, according to a Corus release Tuesday.

International treaty co-productions are also eligible for the pilot initiative.

Corus and Telefilm will jointly evaluable applications, and selected projects will have a portion of their budgets supported by the fund.

Additionally, selected projects will receive financial investment from Corus Entertainment, and a broadcast commitment and marketing support from its stable of family and film networks like Movie Central, W Movies and YTV.

“Our consumer research confirms that age is an extremely important factor in terms of viewing habit: younger Canadians are the heaviest consumers of films, on multiple platforms, in the country. With this in mind, the Family Feature Production Fund is geared to produce and promote Canadian films that will connect with this important demographic,” said Telefilm Canada executive director Carolle Brabant in a statement.

“We’re excited to be teaming up with Telefilm Canada on this one-of-a-kind program to kickstart an underserved niche in the Canadian feature film industry and fuel the growing demand for great family films in both the theatrical market and for broadcast. The fund will create an entry point into the family film genre and leverage Corus’ expertise in family programming,” said Corus VP, head of TV programming and production John MacDonald in his own statement.

The program is slated to launch in 2013. More details on criteria and eligibility are available through Corus and Telefilm.