In The News Government Announces $500 Million for Canadian Heritage, Loosens CERB Requirements In mid-April, the federal government announced that it will provide $500 million to Heritage Canada in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations aims to help address the financial needs of affected organizations within these sectors so they can continue to support artists and athletes, according to the Prime Minister’s office. Meanwhile, the government also expanded eligibility requirements for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to include workers earning up to $1,000 a month, as well as creators making royalties from prior copyrighted works who meet other requirements.
CBC Partners with Hot Docs for FestivalAt-Home Experience, Launches Creative Relief Funds CBC and Hot Docs in April announced Hot Docs at Home on CBC, a multiplatform festival-at-home experience providing Canadians with access to 2020 Hot Docs Festival premieres on Thursday nights starting April 16. Following the postponement of the 2020 Hot Docs Festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a selection of exclusive firstrun feature documentaries that would have debuted at the festival premiered on CBC, CBC Gem and documentary Channel each Thursday. CBC and Hot Docs also partnered to expand the athome audience experience with interactive, livestreamed Q&As with filmmak-
ers and other original digital content at CBC Docs. Meanwhile, in response to the pandemic, CBC in April launched the CBC Creative Relief Fund to provide immediate support to Canadian creators. The fund will provide $2 million in development and production funding for a diverse range of original Canadian storytelling. CBC and the Canada Council for the Arts also announced the creation of Digital Originals, a new timelimited funding initiative to help artists, groups and arts organizations pivot their work for online audiences during the pandemic. The funding will directly benefit creators of original digital content. The Canada Council will provide a total of $1 million in funding to successful applicants to develop, create and share original or adapted works with Canadian audiences online. CBC will showcase and amplify the discoverability of select projects on one or more of its platforms.
CSC Awards “virtual cocktail hour” hosted on April 4 via Zoom
Canadian Cinematographer - June 2020 •
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