The Department of Canadian Heritage and Global Affairs Canada have extended an invitation to Canadian creative businesses and organizations to join the government-led trade mission to Mexico in February 2026.

Taking place in Mexico City and Guadalajara from Feb. 15 to 20, the multi-sector trade mission is intended to give small and medium-sized Canadian businesses with high export potential the opportunity to increase their visibility and expand their network in the Mexican market. Activities will include networking opportunities with Mexican business leaders, site visits and pre-arranged business-to-business meetings, among others.

Canadian Heritage will be responsible for selecting the creative industries delegates for the mission, and will manage the business program for that sector. Applications are open to small and medium-sized businesses across the audiovisual sector — covering production, post-production, broadcasting, acquisition, distribution and exhibition — as well as those in the fields of interactive digital media, live music and the performing arts.

The application window for the Mexico trade mission is open until Nov. 28.

The government previously sent an East Asia trade mission to South Korea and Japan from June 1 to 12. The mission led to 10 formal agreements, according to a release from Canadian Heritage.

Two Indigenous creators selected for 2025-26 early stage development program

Two projects have been selected for the 2025-26 cohort of the Early Stage Scripted Development Program for Indigenous Creators, the annual joint initiative between the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) and broadcasters CBC and APTN.

First launched in 2022, the annual program provides Indigenous creators the opportunity to work with CBC and APTN executives to guide their projects into the development and production phase. Participants will receive bespoke training in such key aspects as creating a series bible, fostering broadcaster relationships, pitching the project and preparing the budget, among others.

The first selected project for the 2025-26 edition is the comedy Talent, from Manitoba-based filmmaker Janelle Wookey (Red River Métis) and her production company Wookey Films.

The second selection is drama project The Resistance, from B.C.-based Ryan Atimoyoo (Cree). The production company is 14009894 Canada Inc.

The fourth edition of the Early Stage Scripted Development Program for Indigenous Creators runs from October 2025 to March 2026.

Federal government funnels $2.3 million to New Media Manitoba for AI training

The Government of Canada is providing $2.3 million to the non-profit association New Media Manitoba (NMM) to boost the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into Manitoba’s digital media sector.

The funds will be used to incorporate AI into NMM’s Winnipeg-based training and production facility, StudioLab xR, and support NMM workforce training programs dedicated to the technology.

According to a release, the investment is expected to train 100 individuals, create 77 new jobs in the sector and assist 50 small to medium-sized businesses to adopt the technology.

“This is a generational investment for our interactive digital media sector. It empowers creators and companies to adopt AI tools that will fundamentally enhance productivity, competitiveness and long-term growth, ensuring Manitoba remains at the forefront of creative technology,” said NMM board chair Dan Blair in a statement.

On Screen Manitoba to provide support for Manitoba directors in DGC’s Market Accelerator

On Screen Manitoba (OSM) and the National Directors Division (NDD) of the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) have signed an agreement that will provide funding for Manitoba-based filmmakers to attend major film festivals and markets in Canada and Europe through the NDD Market Accelerator program.

The program allows DGC members with projects in advanced stages of development to travel to important festivals and market events to participate in networking sessions, pitch and promotional training, and other activities to prepare them to take their projects to market. It launched at Hot Docs earlier this year.

The new agreement with OSM will provide Manitoba-based DGC members selected for future iterations of the Market Accelerator with travel expenses via the Access to Markets fund, part of OSM’s Access Funds program.

The partnership follows on from a previous collaboration between OSM and NDD on the latter’s Director Observer Initiative, which provided funding for Manitoba DGC director Shelagh Carter to observe the production of an untitled Hallmark TV movie being helmed by DGC director Norma Bailey.

The next NDD Market Accelerator delegation will attend the European Film Market in Berlin in February 2026.

Image courtesy of the Department of Canadian Heritage