The Canada Media Fund (CMF) is allocating nearly $2.9 million in development funding across 38 production companies through its Slate Development Pilot Program.

As of the 2024-2025 edition, the program offers two streams of funding: one for companies that have a track record with the funder and one alternative-access stream with a multi-step, selective process for applicants without prior CMF-funded projects.

The program, launched in 2021, is designed to provide more flexibility to eligible applicants by allowing them to choose and fund their English and French development projects without the requirement of an attached Canadian broadcaster or other activating entity.

Of the selected companies announced on Thursday (March 13), 17 went through the first stream and received around $1.25 million with the remaining 21 receiving more than $1.5 million through the alternative-access stream.

Track-record applicants were eligible to receive a maximum of $75,000 for children and youth projects and documentaries, and a maximum of $100,000 for drama projects. The alternative-access stream applicants were able to receive a maximum of $75,000 for their eligible projects.

In total, 12 of the companies are francophone-owned with the other 26 anglophone-owned.

There are 14 Toronto-based companies and producers that received a commitment of $75,000. They include Blue Ant Studios, Wildling Pictures, Fifth Ground Entertainment, Fae Pictures, Pier 21 Films, Frequent Flyer Films, Sean O’Neil and Big Cedar Films.

Rounding out the Toronto selections that received $75,000 are Copperheart Entertainment, Take Action Films, David Mitchell, Fun Republic Pictures, Lopii Productions and Diversified Voices Productions.

Two Toronto prodcos were allocated $100,000: Verite Films and Cameron Pictures. Sault Ste. Marie-based Rusty Halo Productions received $75,000.

Eight Quebec-based companies were selected. Six among those received $75,000: Pamplemousse Media, A Media Productions, art et essai, Productions Ocho, Adobe Productions and Magasin Général.

Rounding out the Quebec development funding selections is PVP Media, which received $47,383, and Noble Television, which received $34,802.

Six B.C.-based companies each received commitments of $75,000, including Fireworks Development, The Offners Productions, Reign Films, LizMars Productions, Ceroma Films and Honalee Productions.

Three Manitoba companies were selected. They are Merit Motion Pictures, which received $25,000 as well as Zoot Pictures and Numan Production, both granted $75,000.

Two New Brunswick based companies were selected: Productions du milieu, with a commitment of $100,000 and Productions l’Entrepôt, which received $75,000.

The remaining two companies are Yukon-based Simon D’Amours Productions, which received $75,000; and Nova Scotia-based Topsail Productions, with a commitment of $100,000.

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