Telefilm and CBC announced a deal on Thursday that will see at least four Telefilm-funded movies a year destined for primetime on the public broadcaster.

CBC plans to contribute to the development and production of the films, which will go into commercial release in cinemas before being aired on TV.

Both CBC and Telefilm will be collaborating with independent producers on creation and promotion of the films.

CBC said it would air the films on Sunday evenings, a short time after they disappear from the cinemas.

This will allow for cross-promotion of Canadian films, which often get ignored amid the huge marketing spending for Hollywood films.

The public broadcaster refused to put a dollar figure on the agreement.

Telefilm, a federal agency that provides financial support to independent producers of Canadian films, said in release Thursday that it is seeking innovative ways to advance Canadian films.

CBC arts and entertainment head Fred Fuchs will take on a new role as general manager of production enterprises, with the feature film collaboration to be one of his new responsibilities.

CBC's head of creative drama, Sally Catto, will take over Fuchs's former post as executive director of arts and entertainment for English services.

With files from The Canadian Press