Telefilm Canada has created its Western Strategy for 2024-27 with a focus on B.C.

Telefilm revealed a first look at the strategy during the opening night of the Vancouver International Film Festival on Oct. 2. While the initial plan only considers B.C., the full version will include the Prairies and Canada’s territories.

The strategy is one of a series, building on Telefilm’s Strategic Plan 2024-27, that target the particular audiovisual challenges and strengths in Canada’s regions. The implementation of the plan began last September with the release of the organization’s Atlantic Strategy, which focused on Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

The Western Strategy: British Columbia highlights three strategic priorities: “connections,” which focuses on capacity building and equitable access; “competitiveness,” which targets data mobilization and partnerships that support the province’s creators; and “discoverability,” which focuses on increasing financial support and awareness for Telefilm’s marketing and promotion opportunities.

Each of the priorities come with a set of actions for Telefilm to further its goals in that area. For the connections imperative, these include continuing to enrich Asia-Pacific opportunities, and working to reduce program barriers for Indigenous creators and those with accessibility challenges in B.C.

Telefilm also aims to create more opportunities for francophone creators in the province; ensure the relevancy and accessibility of sustainability requirements; and continue to support and increase awareness for international training and professional development initiatives.

To enhance competitiveness, Telefilm plans to structure and share program data with industry partners to target gaps and trends, increase access to funding programs such as development and greenlight financing, and harmonize production funding timelines to augment program access.

For discoverability, Telefilm aims to increase awareness of its Marketing and International Promotion programs; continue its support for key Canadian film festivals; and increase collaboration with regional partners to better amplify B.C. creators.

The organization also plans to spotlight the B.C. industry by aligning the province’s filmmakers with Telefilm-supported festivals and markets with support from its Promotion programs, and sharing when B.C. projects receive additional market funds, sales and acclaim.

Telefilm will release a more detailed overview of its planned actions at a later date, following its continued consultations with the industry.

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