Million dollar initiative to encourage media collaboration

Media Release
26 September 2014

New million dollar initiative to encourage digital media collaboration between NZ and Canada

New Zealand and Canada are together establishing a million dollar fund to encourage the co-production of innovative digital media projects for online audiences.

The Canada-New Zealand Digital Media Fund has $1.1million NZD ($1million CDN) available in the 2014/15 financial year to be allocated to approximately three eligible projects. Guidelines including details on the selection process will be announced onOctober 10 with a call for ideas.

NZ On Air and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) have developed the initiative, the first international digital production funding partnership for both organisations.

The fund was created for innovative and experimental interactive and/or multiplatform digital media projects that have at least one Canadian and one New Zealand producer.

NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson says she expects the collaboration to produce highly original projects. “As the way we consume media changes, NZ On Air is keen to explore and encourage new ideas for making content. We were thrilled to find our Canadian counterparts have similar aspirations and look forward to seeing how producers rise to the challenge of creating appealing content for audiences in both countries.”

Valerie Creighton, CMF President and CEO says, ”As the CMF pursues its objective of finding innovative solutions to support digital media content, we are pleased to announce this new collaboration with NZ On Air. We look forward to having the audiovisual industry in both countries benefit from the wealth of innovative ideas our talented producers have to offer.”

The idea was conceived at a meeting between the chief executives of both organisations in Australia late last year. Having compared notes on the NZ and Canadian funding organisations, the two CEO’s realised they could contribute to each country’s digital media industry by joining efforts and extending funding opportunities for digital media production.

NZ On Air and CMF are contributing equally to the fund and will jointly choose and monitor the successful projects.

Guidelines for applicants will be available on both organisations’ websites on October 10:

www.nzonair.govt.nz/digital

www.cmf-fmc.ca

About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters,develops, finances and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voice and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. For more visit www.cmf-fmc.ca

About NZ On Air
NZ On Air (formally known as the NZ Broadcasting Commission) is a government broadcast funding agency investing in diverse local television, radio, music and digital media for New Zealand audiences. The content NZ On Air funds reflects and develops NZ’s identity and culture and increases diversity on screens, the airwaves and in the digital world. For more visit www.nzonair.govt.nz

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