CBC has announced further details of its new $7 million investment in documentaries.
Unveiled at the Banff World Media Festival, the announcement follows news last month that the public broadcaster plans to launch CBC Docs, a dedicated documentary FAST (free ad-supported streaming) channel, set to make its debut Sept. 1 on CBC Gem and the CBC Docs YouTube channel.
In addition to supporting more feature-length documentaries, CBC is creating two new documentary funds.
The CBC Creator Catalyst Fund will support new projects from emerging CBC Creator Network producers across Canada, aiming to advance their career development and create a path for them to continue working with CBC, allowing for future growth and collaboration.
The CBC Co-Production Fund is a dedicated fund supporting documentaries for long-running series, The Passionate Eye, allocated for established filmmakers in international co-productions.
The public broadcaster is also increasing its support for the CBC Local Production Development Fund, expanding the creation of projects in regions across the country for the ongoing Absolutely Canadian series, showcasing documentaries and unscripted programs that tell unique stories from communities across Canada. Building on the series’ focus on diverse local stories, the new investment is aimed at supporting new voices and mid-career filmmakers with unique perspectives.
“The funds will offer new opportunities for emerging creators to work with CBC and deepen CBC’s partnership with mid-career and established documentary storytellers, across all regions of Canada,” the public broadcaster said in its release.
