Canada Media Fund (CMF) says it’s embracing a future model that focuses on supporting creators and stories regardless of platform, following calls for change from the industry in how projects are funded. CMF says the proposed modernization is in line with its 2021 report, Spark Courage: What We Heard, with stakeholders voicing a need to build more capacity, enable innovation, and generate high-quality Canadian content across all platforms. CMF says in close collaboration with Canadian Heritage, program changes will include: new opportunities in program criteria to reflect the many ways content is created; a move away from the siloed approach of Convergent and Experimental streams; better alignment with the evolving market and regulations; and a renewed focus on financing all phases of audiovisual content across platforms. Read more here.
Canada Media Fund (CMF) has released New Futures for Canadian Content: What You Said, a collection of diverse viewpoints from over 2,800 industry professionals and the public. The culmination of a year-long research initiative, key takeaways of What You Said include: that industry professionals aspire to extend Canadian content beyond borders, emphasizing global resonance while preserving our distinct identity; a strong desire to move beyond being labeled as ‘Hollywood North’ to establish a unique, Canada-based identity that authentically represents our many cultures and communities; a call to amplify and prioritize Indigenous narratives, voices, and perspectives, distinct from Canadian content, as well as ensuring that francophone content does not get overshadowed in the global market; and flexibility in content creation, catering to international markets and niche genres.
The DGC Awards nominees for Feature Film, Documentary and Short Film have been announced, completing the full slate of nominations for the first DGC Awards Gala held in Toronto since 2019. The nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film are: Chloé Robichaud – Les Jours heureux (Days of Happiness); Clement Virgo – Brother; Sarah Polley – Women Talking; Brandon Cronenberg – Infinity Pool; and Molly McGlynn – Fitting In. Find the full list of nominees here. Winners will be revealed at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Meredith Hama-Brown’s debut feature film Seagrass has won the International Film Critics Awards’ FIPRESCI Prize on the heels of its world premiere at TIFF. The award, which promotes film-art and new and young cinema, is selected by a jury of members of the Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique (FIPRESCI). Seagrass, which premiered to a sold out crowd Sept. 8 as a part of TIFF’s Discovery Programme, stars Ally Maki (Shortcomings) as Judith, a Japanese Canadian woman who brings her family to a self-development retreat after the recent death of her mother.
Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, alongside Insight Productions and CBC, have announced that WNBA superstar Kia Nurse is receiving the 2023 Legacy Athlete Award. Nurse joins previously announced Legacy Award honourees Jully Black, LU KALA, Julien Christian Lutz (pka Director X), and Tonya Williams. This year’s performers include Jackie Richardson & Thompson Egbo-Egbo in a special tribute to Oscar Peterson; Taaylee G, Tamir, YSN Fab, and Zach Zoya in a salute to “Northern Touch” and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop; Jully Black; and LU KALA. The Legacy Awards broadcast and stream live on CBC and CBC Gem on Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET.
This Hour Has 22 Minutes has welcomed Chris Wilson as a full-time cast member following three seasons as a featured performer and writer. Wilson joins the 2023 Canadian Screen Award-winning cast featuring Trent McClellan, Aba Amuquandoh, Stacey McGunnigle, and Mark Critch. The longest-running TV comedy series in Canadian history returns to CBC’s schedule Tuesday, Sept. 19 for its 31st season. A three time Canadian Comedy Award-winner, Wilson is known for his impressions of Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre, among dozens of other characters. He’s also an alumnus of the Second City Mainstage in Toronto and one half of sketch comedy duo Peter N’ Chris, who have performed at Just for Laughs, JFL42 and San Francisco Sketchfest.
CBC has greenlit a second season of time-bending original drama series PLAN B (6×60) from Quebec-based prodco KOTV. An adaptation of the popular French-language drama series of the same name (now in its fourth season on Radio-Canada), Season 2 will focus on a completely new story, starring Vinessa Antoine (Diggstown, Interrogation), Vincent Leclerc (lxe-13, The Revenant), and Sarah Booth (Three Pines, Heartland). A CBC original production, Jean-François Asselin, who co-created the original French-language series, directs and also co-writes with Celeste Parr on the English adaptation.
CTV has announced the cast for new original unscripted competition series The Traitors Canada, airing Mondays at 10 p.m., beginning Oct. 2. Hosted by actress Karine Vanasse (Cardinal), 20 contestants, a mix of famous faces and everyday Canadians, play the ultimate murder mystery game for a chance to win a cash prize of up to $100,000. Living in a historic manor in the Montréal area, the players compete in a series of missions with the goal of building and winning the cash prize fund, with the catch being that amongst the Faithful contestants are Traitors, who attempt to deceive, manipulate, and eliminate the Faithful. Among the cast are MuchMusic personality Rick Campanelli, drag performer Miss Fiercealicious (Canada’s Drag Race), MasterChef Canada contestant Mai Nguyen, and The Amazing Race Canada Season 2 winner Mickey Henry.
Crave Original series Bria Mack Gets A Life premieres Friday, Oct. 13. The six-episode, half-hour comedy is the vision of creator and showrunner Sasha Leigh Henry, who was named one of Variety’s “10 Canadians to watch” in 2022. Bria Mack Gets A Life follows a 25-year-old Black woman (Malaika Hennie- Hamadi) as she navigates adulthood in a predominantly white world, made all the more difficult, but also more tolerable by Black Attack (Hannan Younis), her invisible hype girl.
Sportsnet has announced the network’s regional NHL broadcast schedules, which get underway Oct. 11. Sportsnet will serve up national and regional coverage of all 82 Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks games this season, plus 56 exclusive national and regional Toronto Maple Leafs broadcasts, across all platforms throughout the 2023-24 campaign.
OneSoccer, the dedicated soccer channel operated by MEDIAPRO Canada, has renewed the media rights in Canada to the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League, a national team tournament involving all 41 Concacaf Member Associations (North and Central America and the Caribbean). Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team is one of the four top seeds in the league and will enter the tournament at the Quarter Final stage in November, with home and away matches scheduled for Nov. 16-17 and 20-21. The deal marks the third consecutive season OneSoccer has acquired the rights to the pan-regional tournament.
OneSoccer will show live, exclusive coverage of the upcoming Concacaf W Olympic Play-In matches between Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team and Jamaica. Fans across Canada will be able to watch the qualifying series on OneSoccer, available as a linear channel on Telus Optik TV (Channel 980), fuboTV Canada and online at OneSoccer.ca and through the OneSoccer app. Live coverage of the away match, to be played at the Jamaica National Stadium in Kingston on Sept. 22, will air on OneSoccer at 8 p.m. ET, while the second leg, to be played at Toronto’s BMO Field on Sept. 26, will kick off at 7 p.m. ET. MEDIAPRO Canada will produce live coverage with a 40-strong crew working across nine cameras through one of the company’s fleet of HD mobile units.
Corus Entertainment news and entertainment programs will recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 by amplifying Indigenous voices. ET Canada will broadcast a half-hour special Sept. 29 shining a spotlight on artists making their mark in Artists & Icons: Inspiring Change, featuring Bones of Crows star Grace Dove and director Marie Clements, Tantoo Cardinal, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Kaniehtiio Horn, Shawnee Kish, Don Amero, Tia Wood, Boogey The Beat, Lesley Hampton, Sage Paul, Willow Allen, Braydee Cardinal, Brigette Lacquette, Jade Turner, and Jayli Wolf. Global’s The Morning Show (TMS) will air segments throughout September, kicking off earlier this month with a sit-down interview with author Phyllis Webstad, creator of Orange Shirt Day, who discussed her new book Every Child Matters as the nation marks the 10th anniversary of the movement. On Sept. 29, TMS will feature Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sutherland, authors of Valley Of The Birdtail, who will reflect on the day and their bestselling book. The show also welcomes back Patrick Shannon and Joleen Mitton, co-founders of Supernaturals Modelling, the world’s first all-Indigenous modelling agency.
Hollywood Suite will present a full day of programming in recognition and support of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Sept. 30. Programming to air on Hollywood Suite’s HS00 channel includes the broadcast premiere of Sonia Bonspille Boileau’s Rustic Oracle. The programming lineup also features classic works from Indigenous creators like Alanis Obomsawin’s Incident at Restigouche (1984); Jeff Barnaby’s Rhymes For Young Ghouls (2013); Jeremy Torrie’s The Corruption of Divine Providence (2020); The Journals of Knud Rasmussen (2006); Abandoned: Angelique’s Isle (2018); Zoe Leigh Hopkins’ Kayak to Klemtu (2018); Darlene Naponse’s Falls Around Her (2018); and Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education (2020).
CTV Atlantic delivers the rescheduled IWK Telethon For Children on Saturday, Sept. 23, beginning at 10 a.m. AT. The telethon was postponed from its original airdate in the wake of the wildfires in the Atlantic region in June. Viewers will see familiar faces on this year’s broadcast, including CTV News At Six Chief Anchor Todd Battis; CTV News at Five co-hosts Jayson Baxter and Maria Panopalis; and CTV News at Five entertainment reporter Katie Kelly. Long-time telethon host and CTV Atlantic special correspondent Steve Murphy also returns in a special role.
