The Bell Fund has committed approximately $3 million to 48 production companies in the latest round of its Slate Development Program.

The funding will go toward 119 projects from 36 English and 12 French-language prodcos based in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba. The program supports independent Canadian production companies in the development of original intellectual property.

Of the funded companies, 58% are majority-owned and controlled by individuals from Indigenous and/or diverse communities (including Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, and/or persons with a disability), and 50% are companies majority-owned and controlled by individuals who self-identify as women or gender-diverse. Approximately 44% are first-time applicants to the Bell Fund, according to a news release.

In this round, 21 out of the 36-English language companies are based in Ontario, including: Balloon House Productions, BentFrame Film & TV, Canesugar Mediaworks, Canfro Productions, Devonshire Productions, Elevation Pictures Productions, Fae Pictures, Fathom Film Group, Gobez Media, Kybele Films, Little Engine Moving Pictures, Little Productions, Magic Cube Productions, Neshama Entertainment, Outsoul Productions, Pier 21 Films, Rellow Media, Scenario Media, Sphere Media Toronto, Tanners Beach Productions, and Window Dreams Productions.

Five are B.C.-based: Digital Warriors Productions, Kate Green Productions, Mamaoo Pictures, Orange Knapsack Productions, and Present Moment Pictures.

Four prodcos hail from Alberta, including Milo Productions, Nika Productions, Prairie Dog Film + Television, and Turquoise Sky Entertainment. Another two are from Quebec: Intuitive Pictures and Studio Harrington.

Rounding out the English-language recipients are Nova Scotia’s HHA Original Productions and KronAuteur Films; and Manitoba’s Merit Motion Pictures and Wookey Films.

Eleven French-language production companies are based in Quebec: Attria Média, Bel Ange Moon Productions, Blachfilms, Carpediem Film & TV, Happy Camper Média, La Pastèque Productions, Les productions Roméo et fils, Pimiento Médias, Productions KOTV, Productions Mustang, and Trio Orange.

Ontario-based Kannon Films rounds out the list of French-language prodcos.

Projects previously supported by the program include the Télé-Québec documentary Les racines du Hip-Hop au Québec (Major Productions); Murder in a Small Town (Sepia Films), which was given the greenlight by Corus Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Network, ITV in December, and was developed by Soapbox’s Nick Orchard with support of the program; and the Soapbox-produced documentary Chubby Cree: PiMahCiHoWin (The Journey) for Telus Originals.

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