The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Manitoba Film & Music (MFM) have launched a joint program to support documentaries at the predevelopment stage.

Titled Predevelopment Program for Documentary Productions, the initiative offers up to $25,000 or 75% of eligible predevelopment expenses. Eligible companies based in Manitoba can submit up to two projects.

The program is open to features, one-offs or series in the early development stages without the participation of a distributor or broadcaster, and that meet CMF’s definition of a documentary production. Coproductions or docs that have previously received funding from CMF or MFM are not eligible. The application deadline is July 12.

MTV2 goes dark

Bell Media specialty channel MTV2 has gone dark after more than two decades on air. The channel went off the air on March 29, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission revoked its broadcast licence on May 6.

The channel launched in 2001 under Craig Media and MTV Networks. It was eventually sold to CHUM, owner of its competitor channel MuchMusic, and rebranded to Razer, before reverting back to its MTV2 moniker in 2008 after CHUM was acquired by CTVglobemedia. It ended up at Bell Media following BCE’s takeover of CTVgm in 2011.

MTV2 underwent a number of programming changes over its years on air, but most recently aired reality and unscripted series such as Cash Cab, Ex on the Beach, Disaster Date and MTV Cribs.

Toronto Jewish Film Festival brings Midas Man to Canada

The Toronto Jewish Film Festival (TJFF) will open with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. film Midas Man. The feature is directed by Joe Stephenson and is a biopic of Brian Epstein, the famed manager of the band the Beatles.

TJFF runs from May 30 to June 9 and will screen more than a dozen Canadian titles under its Made in Canada program, including the Toronto premiere of Rebecca Snow’s drama Boy in the Woods (Lumanity Productions, JoBro Productions, Undisputed Pictures). The film follows a young Jewish boy as he hides in the woods after his family is rounded up by Germans during the Second World War.

The Festival will also feature TV and film productions shot in Winnipeg via free screenings in the newly curated City Spotlight program, including the comedy Less Than Kind (Buffalo Gal Pictures, Breakthrough Films & Television).

Pluto TV adds reality FAST channels in Canada

Pluto TV has launched six new FAST channels from A+E Networks this week for the Canadian market. The channels include episodes from unscripted hits such as Dance Moms, Ax Men, Duck Dynasty, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Modern Marvels and Tiny House Nation. The channels went live on May 6.

Image: Unsplash