The federal government has renewed its funding to Telefilm Canada.

Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge (pictured) announced Wednesday (Jan. 31) that the federal government will be providing $100 million in new funding over two years, split between 2024-25 and 2025-26.

The investment will ensure Telefilm can “pursue the modernization of its suite of programs, continue to provide better access to a diverse range of creators and producers and continue to support sustainable practices,” according to a news release, adding that the funding will help maintain the screen sector’s sustainability with more than 183,000 full-time equivalent jobs and 40 to 60 feature films.

The federal government provided $105 million to Telefilm over a three-year period in 2021, which was set to expire in two months’ time. The government has previously stated it planned to permanently increase Telefilm’s funding by $50 million per year.

“We extend our gratitude to the Government of Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage for their collaboration, as well as their timely and essential contribution to our sector, especially as the industry is gaining momentum and mobilizing its efforts to be competitive and viable,” said Telefilm executive director and CEO Julie Roy in a statement.

“For the past several months, the industry has consistently advocated for the renewal of the additional funds to be allocated to Telefilm. The collective effort of our sector plays an invaluable role in shaping the future of Canadian and Indigenous cinema. Thank you for voicing your support. Moving forward, we will continue with a collaborative spirit with Canadian Heritage and our industry partners to foster a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable screen industry,” she continued.

The announcement comes at a tenuous time for Canada’s screen sector, with broadcasters such as CBC/Radio-Canada and Corus Entertainment rolling out cuts to their workforce and investment in original programming.

The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) is among the organizations still awaiting a funding renewal announcement. The ISO received a roughly $40 million three-year investment in 2021, which ends on March 31. The organization has been vocal about its calls to the federal government to issue an early renewal decision.

The Canada Media Fund has also stated that a $60 million boost in its funding for equity-deserving industry members will run out by the end of March.