The Canada Media Fund has unveiled how the first half of its $40 million in additional funding from the federal government will be distributed during the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The funding was first announced in March as part of the federal government’s 2023 budget. The amount, to be dispersed between 2023-24 and 2024-25, is dedicated toward French-language content and underrepresented voices in the screen sector.

The $20 million for 2023-24 will be distributed through CMF’s existing programs, in order to “maximize our ability to effectively distribute funds based on the remaining time left” in the fiscal year, according to a news release. The decision was made after consultations “with a wide range of industry stakeholders.”

The funds are split into $10 million to French-language content and $10 million to underrepresented voices, “while accounting for the intersectionality between applicants in both priority groups,” said the release.

More than three-quarters of the funding will be allocated through programs in the Convergent stream. A total of $8.5 million will be given through the French performance envelopment program, with $1 million each going toward the Quebec French Regional Production Incentive and the Francophone Minority Program, and $500,000 toward the French portion of the Slate Development Pilot Program.

Another $2.29 million will be dedicated to the Pilot Program for Racialized Communities. Rounding out the additions to the Convergent Stream programs are $750,000 to the Anglophone Minority Incentive; $740,000 to the Indigenous Program; and $400,000 to the Diverse Languages Program.

Of the remaining funds, $2.75 million will be directed to underrepresented communities in the Experimental Stream programs, and $2.07 million toward sector development support.

“This investment will expand opportunities for these creators throughout the country and help bring more Canadian stories to screens at home and abroad,” said CMF president and CEO Valerie Creighton in a statement.

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