MEDIA RELEASE

DIRECTORS GUILD OF CANADA HIGHLIGHTS CANADIAN CULTURE NEEDS CANADIAN CONTENT IN SUBMISSION TO MINISTER OF CANADIAN HERITAGE

Ottawa – Tuesday, November 29, 2016 – The Directors Guild of Canada, the national organization representing 5,000 key creative leaders in Canada’s film, television and digital media industries has presented its submission to the Canadian Content in a Digital World consultations.

In its submission, the DGC highlights the importance of Canada’s creative sector and the need to maintain policy frameworks that ensure the greatest participation by Canadian creators in the creation of screen-based content.

Among the submission’s key points:

• The DGC encourages the government to shift the centre of gravity from defining Canadian stories from those who own them to those who make them. Writers and directors are the authors of audio-visual works. Orienting public intervention more directly in support of artists will energize creativity and stimulate much needed creative risk-taking among key players across the system;
• The Guild encourages the government to place distinctive, original content created by Canadians at the centre of its strategy. It is a core principle of our cultural policy that Canadian stories are told by Canadians;
• Diversity is a strategic advantage for Canada. A strategy built on distinctiveness will be enhanced by enlisting the full spectrum of Canadian voices; and
• It is essential that Canadians to have access to high quality made-in-Canada content on all platforms and for all of the players including internet-based broadcasters contribute to the growth of the Canadian system.  

“Audiences are more than ever seeking out stories that are original, distinctive and authentic. Focusing on our distinctive voice is the best strategy to connect with viewers at home and stand out in an increasingly crowded global environment,” states Tim Southam, National President, Directors Guild of Canada.

To read the full submission, please click HERE. 

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The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) is a national labour organization that represents over 5,000 key creative and logistical personnel in the screen-based industry covering all areas of direction, design, production and editing. The DGC negotiates and administers collective agreements and lobbies extensively on issues of concern for members including Canadian content conditions, CRTC regulations and ensuring that funding is maintained for Canadian screen-based programming.

Media: Alejandra Sosa – National Director, Communications

416.482.3803; asosa@dgc.ca