Funding: Digital Creators Pilot Program

Overview

The Digital Creators Pilot Program is designed to support the growth trajectory of mid-career Canadian digital content creators, who are making short-form video content exclusively for digital social media platforms— YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

Applications are encouraged from content creators who (i) have demonstrated some level of success online and wish to focus on content creation for social media as their primary output and (ii) who seek to grow their audience base and monetization opportunities over a 6-month period.

Eligible Content

Eligible Content to be created using the funds from this Program should align with at least one of the following CMF's linear content types:

Drama (scripted and edited content of a fictional nature for entertainment purposes. This can include live action or animated scripted drama, comedy or sketch comedy).
Documentary (an original work of non-fiction, primarily designed to inform but that may also educate and entertain. It should aim to provide an increased understanding of a theme, topic or person. For clarity it is not intended to include first person "rants", opinions or stream of consciousness presentations. See ineligible content below including vlogging, reaction videos, and "streeters").
Children or Youth (educational or entertainment content intended for consumption by an audience under the age of 17 that meets the minimum age of the intended platform's user, or monitored user platforms such as YouTube Kids. It should be designed and produced according to the needs and expectations of the target age range - rather than to those of adults or parents - and ideally reflect reality from their point of view).
Variety or Performing Arts (content that contains one or more on-screen artistic acts or performances such as singing, dancing, acrobatic exhibitions, comedy sketches, drama sketches, magic or stand-up comedy. Performing arts is defined as performances of traditional and popular music, opera, operetta, musicals, ballet and other forms of dance or performance).

Ineligible Content

Notwithstanding the evolving nature of the space, the following is an inexhaustive list of ineligible types of content that cannot
be created using the funds from this Program:

Promotional or advertorial, or content intended as advertising or marketing
Any content that is the result of a brand partnership or sponsorship deal
Unboxing, production reviews, rating videos
Duets, remixes or reaction videos
Live-streaming / Videogame play videos
Vlogging, talk shows, panel shows, or recorded podcasts
Competitions or contests
Compilations, "Listicles" or reposted videos comprised solely of other peoples' content (e.g. clips from films, tv shows, musicians or other influencers)
"Streeters" - random and "surprise" encounter interviews conducted live with strangers on the street
Award shows, galas, fundraising, benefits, tributes
Religious programs
News reporting
How-to, DIY, cooking videos
Official track Music videos or filmed recordings of live events, performances or exhibitions
Longer form and serialized content primarily intended for digital streaming platforms that would be eligible through other CMF programs (ie. Digital series, web series, television series etc.)