In an unprecedented show of support for independent documentary producers, the Rogers Documentary Fund announced $1.6 million in grants to 25 documentary projects. This brings the total funding for 2024 up to $2,600,000 for 42 French and English documentary projects.
The Board of Directors of the Rogers Documentary and Cable Network Fund voted to increase their budget by 30 percent to support the documentary community in a challenging time. "This is a critical time for the documentary production industry as broadcast windows for this genre disappear," said Phil Lind, Chair of the Board of the Rogers Documentary and Cable Network Fund, and Vice Chair Rogers Communications. "Canada has a well deserved world-wide reputation for its excellence in documentary production and we felt it was important that the Rogers Doc Fund increase its funding of projects as a much-needed boost to the doc community."
Documentary projects funded in the latest round included:
"Que vive la mer morte" from Intuitive Pictures in Montréal. "Fruit Hunters" produced by EyeSteelFilm in Montréal; and Toronto's Markham Street Film's, "Ice, Sweat & Tears".
Funding guidelines and deadlines for 2024 will be available in December of this year.
Rogers Documentary Fund, operated by Rogers Documentary and Cable Network Fund, was established in 1996 to foster the growth of documentary film production in this country in both official languages. With an annual budget of up to $2 million per year, the Rogers Documentary Fund offers grants of up to $75,000 per project for documentaries pre-licensed by a national Canadian broadcaster with a prime-time broadcast commitment.
