Creative BC and Canada Media Fund launch a $1M joint partnership to support video game companies in British Columbia

Vancouver, B.C. (August 30, 2024) – Today, Creative BC and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) are proud to announce a new program that will invest $1,000,000 in grants of up to $200,000 to support the growth of video game businesses in British Columbia. Funding for these businesses will be available through the Video Games Business Development Program (the Program).  

This Program marks the launch of a pilot aimed at creating new funding opportunities to foster the success and growth of video game companies based in British Columbia. While studios in this province have achieved commercial success globally, this Program was created to establish domestic funding models. The Program will offer grants to B.C.-owned and controlled companies to develop their own creative Intellectual Property (IP), encouraging growth for mid-level and experienced studios beyond the constraints of project-by-project funding. 

The Program will support video game companies with a significant track record of production in the province, and proposals must be business-focused with plans for ongoing content production and capacity building. Companies applying to the Program must submit plans that must be achievable, appropriately resourced, and structured to obtain the best economic outcomes from public funding, as measured by audience reach and domestic and international market success.  

Under the Program, eligible applicants can apply for business development activities to support growing companies. These activities are not restricted to direct project costs, and can include promotion and marketing, user acquisition strategies, labour and personnel, technology, content and design, playtesting for quality assurance and usability, travel costs, foreign market expansion, consulting fees, and more.  

An evaluation panel of industry professionals representing the groups this program is intended to serve will be established by Creative BC and the CMF to determine successful projects based on business viability, impact, and additional criteria, as outlined in the program guidelines, which are now available online.

Learn more about the Video Games Business Development Program, eligibility criteria, and deadlines online at www.creativebc.com/video-games-business-development.  

This partnership is supported by the Province of British Columbia’s historic announcement made on April 19, 2023 of $3 million investment, over three-years to support innovation and growth for independent B.C.-owned interactive digital media companies through 2027.  

Media Contacts:
Lisa Escudero, Creative BC
media@creativebc.com 
+1 604-730-2235  

Maxime Ruel, CMF
mruel@cmf-fmc.ca  

Quotes:
Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
“In B.C. we have top-notch skill in the gaming industry, and we know there are companies poised for growth. Through this unique partnership with the Canada Media Fund, we are providing B.C. companies with a strong advantage to develop a slate of projects in a highly competitive global market. We know that these grants will support innovation, stimulate growth and build success for video game creators, boosting B.C.’s profile as a creative powerhouse.”

Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC
“Creative BC is proud to partner once again with the CMF, backed by historical investment from the Province of BC, to offer this first-of-its-kind support to video game companies in B.C. Through this funding, we’ll be able to support successful domestic companies to accelerate their growth and develop highly competitive IP for the global market.” 

Valerie Creighton, President & CEO, Canada Media Fund
“The CMF is delighted to partner with Creative BC to support B.C.-owned video game companies in developing intellectual properties and building capacity. This program will not only bolster the local industry but also empower studios to compete on the global stage. This collaboration is a vital step in promoting more growth and innovation across Canada’s digital media landscape.” 

Loc Dao, Executive Director, DigiBC
“This has been a challenging time for many sectors, and DigiBC welcomes these new supports for B.C. indie video game and XR studios at a time when we’re seeing a new generation of local studios ready to grow.” 

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About Creative BC
Creative BC is an independent society created and supported by the Province to sustain and help grow British Columbia’s creative industries: motion picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing. The organization delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.’s creative economy. These activities include: administration of the provincial government’s motion picture tax credit programs; delivery of program funding and export marketing support for the sector; and provincial film commission services. Combined, these activities serve to attract inward investment and market B.C. as a partner and destination of choice for domestic and international content creation. The agency acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help B.C.’s creative sector reach its economic, social, environmental, and creative potential both at home and globally. Website: www.creativebc.com

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. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors. Website: www.cmf-fmc.ca