Telefilm Canada has released its 2024-27 Atlantic Strategy, created to stimulate and support the film industry in Canada’s East Coast.

The strategy was developed with associations, agencies and industry partners from Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

One of the three priorities for the strategy is building capacity and equitable access. To enable it, Telefilm plans to strengthen its collaborations with partners to accelerate the development of creators’ careers and act as a bridge for emerging, Indigenous and underrepresented creators.

Telefilm also intends to incorporate its partners more effectively into its continuum through its strategic review program and encourage and support business practices focused on sustainability and equity.

The second priority is to evolve competitiveness in the Atlantic region. To accomplish this, Telefilm plans to forge cultural and economic partnership opportunities; structure and share program data to present trends, gaps and successes with industry partners; and develop strategies to create financial opportunities and relationships with the goal to increase access to Telefilm funding.

The final priority is increasing discoverability, promotion and market reach of regional cinema. To advance this, Telefilm is planning to push initiatives that increase audience reach; find partners and financiers to support the region’s national and international exposure and presence; and expand its promotions and initiatives to spotlight the local film industry.

This new strategy is the first of a series of customized plans tailored to Canada’s unique regions, according to a news release. Each plan will be based on the same framework, but will adapt and evolve according to the challenges and needs of the respective regions. The strategies build on Telefilm’s three-year Strategic Plan.

The Atlantic strategy is meant to “recognize the cultural and economic realities of making films in these provinces and help level the playing field,” according to a statement from Francesca Accinelli, Telefilm’s SVP, program strategy and industry development.

Accinelli said the initiative is a living document and will adapt to market realities and opportunities, and “each year, Telefilm and key partners will review the goals and actions to determine their effectiveness and impact.”

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