The National Film Board of Canada (NFB), the country's public film producer and distributor, and CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada's public broadcaster, today announced a new phase of collaboration aimed at strengthening Canadian storytelling and better serving Canadians.
A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) seeks to deepen the long-standing relationship between Canada's two national public media institutions, marking a shift from project-by-project cooperation toward a more coordinated, long-term approach.
The agreement establishes a framework for sustained collaboration across documentary production and programming, archives, new technologies, educational offerings, audience engagement and more-identifying new ways of better working together in a rapidly evolving cultural landscape.
"This historic partnership between Canada's public broadcaster and the NFB represents a natural evolution in the relationship between our two institutions. We are moving beyond simple collaboration to a sustained partnership that champions Canadian stories. By sharing our unique knowledge and expertise, we will be able to better support and promote Canadian culture, and offer Canadians richer content and experiences."
- Marie-Philippe Bouchard, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada
"The NFB and CBC/Radio-Canada represent two key pillars of Canadian cultural sovereignty. At a time when we need to work together to affirm and preserve what's special about our country, this MOU opens new possibilities for us to pool our strengths and innovate, and deliver diverse and authentic Canadian experiences to new audiences."
- Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson
Under the MOU, the organizations will explore opportunities for CBC/Radio-Canada to offer more NFB documentaries on its channels and platforms, including the potential for new co-productions. The agreement also opens the door to the NFB lending its expertise in digital archiving to enable the use of archival materials to support new productions, education and meaningful public engagement, while CBC/Radio-Canada brings its audience insights to strengthening the NFB's online public engagement.
The NFB and CBC/Radio-Canada will also explore closer collaboration on emerging digital platforms, audience data and responsible approaches to artificial intelligence. In addition, the organizations will identify opportunities to work more closely on learning initiatives and services to regional and linguistic audiences.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada's trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About the National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world's leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other's stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada's cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 7,000 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 12 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.
