Closed
Source verified July 28, 2026
CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program
Funding for innovative Canadian interactive media projects
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Latest source updateLast Update: April 8, 2026Latest change: The CMF Innovation & Experimentation Program has moved to the 2026-2027 funding cycle with updated application requirements, new eligible expense rules for immersive projects, and modified Community Engagement Plan scoring criteria.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: April 8, 2026
Latest change: The CMF Innovation & Experimentation Program has moved to the 2026-2027 funding cycle with updated application requirements, new eligible expense rules for immersive projects, and modified Community Engagement Plan scoring criteria.
Innovation & Experimentation Program Updated to 2026-2027 Cycle
The CMF Innovation & Experimentation Program has advanced to the 2026-2027 funding cycle, with application documents and program dates updated accordingly. Several substantive changes have been introduced: the List of Required Documents now excludes the Project Description for Publication and introduces a new eligible expense rule allowing immersive/experiential project costs up to 20% of Eligible Costs. The Community Engagement Plan scoring has been clarified so that applicants receive points for committing to submit a Plan, rather than being evaluated on plan quality. The Application Guide tab has been renamed from \"Need Help?\" to \"GUIDES\" and now includes the PERSONA-ID Guide as a reference document. The corporate information submission process has been reformatted to offer an electronic form or certification checkbox option instead of PDF upload. The program dates remain the same: First Opening April 10, 2026, First Closing April 21, 2026, Second Opening August 25, 2026, and Fi
Funding available
$ 1,500,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Canada
Overview
The Innovation & Experimentation Program funds innovative Canadian interactive digital media projects, with support of up to 75% of eligible costs or $1.5 million, whichever is less. It covers the creation of a market-ready version of the project, including localization and marketing/commercialization activities.
Receipt of requests is now closed
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Conduct research and development activities
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Other Racialized Persons
- Canadians
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 5
Activities funded
- Development of innovative interactive digital media projects
- Creation of a final, market-ready version of an eligible project
- Localization of the project
- Marketing and commercialization activities
Documents Needed
- Budget (incl. Cashflow)
- Community Engagement Plan
- Declaration of Canadian status of the organization and corporate information (if applicable)
- Narrative Positioning Attestation and Narrative Positioning Statement
- Sustainability Plan
Official resources
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian for-profit production companies
- Canadian broadcasters
- Companies in the interactive digital media sector
Eligible expenses
- Content research and preparation
- Project team salaries, wages, benefits, and contracts
- Technology infrastructure, including hardware and software
- Travel, accommodation, audit fees, and other technical or administrative costs
- Localization, marketing and promotion, and sustainability-related costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Projects that have substantially commenced production before submission
- Projects already publicly available, except for demo or prototype testing in previous phases
- Projects refused funding for the same activity two or more times since 2010-2011
- Projects submitted to both the Innovation & Experimentation Program and the Commercial Projects Program in the same spring or fall deadline period
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Team quality and experience [13 points]
- Parity [2 points]
- Diversity [2 points]
- Community engagement and sustainability [4 points]
- Innovation, creativity and advancement [60 points]
- Financial viability [9 points]
- Strategic positioning and marketing [10 points]
How to apply
- Review the program guidelines, the IDM Main Module, Appendix B, and the reference documents for the selected program.
- Consult the List of Required Documents and complete the forms that must be attached to the application.
- Register online to create a Dialogue account.
- Complete all required information in Dialogue and attach all required documentation.
- If needed, click Save to continue later, then return through Tasks and Complete Application to resume a saved form.
- Check the Declaration box and submit the application by the published deadline.
Processing and Agreement
- Eligible projects are assessed through a selective and competitive review process.
- Applications are evaluated against an evaluation grid, with separate criteria for lower-budget projects and main-stream projects.
- Applicants receive a funding decision after the review process.
- Approved applicants must sign a contract before funding is paid.
Additional information
- Any material that exceeds the maximum page count will not be reviewed during the selective evaluation process.
- Documents uploaded directly to Dialogue must not exceed 25 MB and must be in PDF, Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) format.
- Unsupported file formats, such as Apple Pages and Apple Numbers, will not be evaluated.
- Only video hyperlinks are accepted, and they must not lead to platforms that require registration or the sharing of users’ personal information with the applicant.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program Program
What is the CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program?
The Innovation & Experimentation Program funds innovative Canadian interactive digital media projects, with support of up to 75% of eligible costs or $1.5 million, whichever is less. It covers the creation of a market-ready version of the project, including localization and marketing/commercialization activities.
How much funding can be received?
CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $1,500,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program program?
To be eligible for the CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program program, you must:
Applicant must meet IDM core rules
Project must be innovative
Project needs clear distribution plan
What expenses are eligible under CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program?
Development of innovative interactive digital media projects
Creation of a final, market-ready version of an eligible project
Localization of the project
Marketing and commercialization activities
Who can I contact for more information about the CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program?
You can contact Canada Media Fund (CMF) by email at cmf.fmc.coordination@telefilm.ca.
Where is the CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program available?
The CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program program is available across Canada.
Is the CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
CMF — Innovation & Experimentation Program is a Loans and Capital investments