EAVE and the CMF launch report on inclusive production practices

EAVE and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) today announced the Canadian launch of the 2025 EAVE IMPACT Think Tank Report on Inclusive Co-Production, a bold new framework to transform international co-production models through equity, transparency, and narrative sovereignty. 

The Canadian launch coincides with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where the report will be at the centre of a special panel on September 6 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Glenn Gould Studio B. The panel, titled Perspectives: Building Inclusive and Collaborative Productions, will feature Canadian and international experts discussing insights gleaned from the report and how they can be applied across the audiovisual sector. Moderated by Tamara Dawit of Gobez Media, the panel is comprised of Ama Ampadu (British Film Institute), Jennifer Podemski (Redcloud Studios Inc./Shine Network Institute), and Karen Harnisch (Film Forge). 

READ THE 2025 EAVE THINK TANK REPORT 

Developed through a global, multi-partner think tank facilitated by EAVE in partnership with When East Meets West, and supported by the CMF, Telefilm Canada, and the International Emerging Film Talent Association, the report responds to an urgent need to address systemic barriers in the co-production ecosystem. 

“International co-productions have long been a tool for collaboration, but too often they replicate inequitable systems and silence the very voices they aim to amplify,” said Kristina Trapp, CEO, EAVE. “With this report, we offer not just a critique—but a roadmap—for producers committed to co-creating a truly inclusive and globally representative screen industry. At EAVE, we believe this work is essential to the future of international storytelling.” 

“Building a truly inclusive global screen industry demands more than goodwill—it requires frameworks for action,” said Joy Loewen, VP of Growth and Inclusion at the CMF. “This report is a powerful step forward, offering guiding principles and tangible tools that can reshape how we collaborate across borders, cultures, and communities to bring stories to life. The CMF is honoured to support this important work, and we are grateful for the strong partnerships that made it possible.” 

Practical tools and strategies highlighted in the report include: 

• Story development: Engaging local communities in early narrative design and embedding cultural consultants to ensure authenticity in cross-border stories. 
• Financing and contracts: Introducing shared risk/reward models, transparent budgeting practices, and contract templates that protect the rights of underrepresented producers. 

• Production practices: Setting up inclusive crew recruitment guidelines, mandatory codes of conduct on set, and wellbeing measures such as capped working hours and access to support services. 

• Post-production: Establishing cultural review checkpoints during editing and creating processes to safeguard narrative sovereignty for Indigenous, Black, and racialized creators.  

• Distribution and exhibition: Coordinating festival premieres and release windows to give equal visibility to all producing partners, while developing equitable revenue-sharing across territories.  

READ THE 2025 EAVE THINK TANK REPORT 

About EAVE 

EAVE is Europe’s leading training, development and networking organization for producers. In addition to their flagship program, the renowned EAVE Producers Workshop, they are involved in a variety of programs in Europe, Asia, Latin America, North America, Africa and the Middle East. Founded in 1988, EAVE’s objectives are to provide professional training opportunities and to bring producers from different regions of the world together with the aim of facilitating co-production relationships. EAVE’s unique international network comprises over 2,900 producers and key decision-makers. 

About the Canada Media Fund 

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances, and promotes the production of Canadian and Indigenous content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voices, and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors.