Grant and Funding Programs Offered by STORYHIVE (STORYHIVE)

STORYHIVE is a community content funding initiative associated with TELUS that supports new and emerging creators across Western Canada, with a primary focus on British Columbia and Alberta. It runs a portfolio of recurring programs that combine production grants, training, mentorship and distribution opportunities for filmmakers, podcasters and digital storytellers. STORYHIVE’s funding typically targets locally reflective stories that spotlight specific communities, cultures and experiences in the region.

Programs such as Voices, Editions, Video Podcast, On Location, Empowered Filmmaker and Youth Community Stories are designed for creators with zero to emerging experience. Many of these initiatives provide cash grants (for example, Voices 2026 offers $10,000 grants with higher tiers for returning creators), along with access to equipment, workshops and peer support networks. Completed projects are distributed through TELUS Optik TV, Stream+ and STORYHIVE’s YouTube channel, amplifying the reach of funded creators.

STORYHIVE focuses on local, non-fiction and episodic content, often in documentary or community storytelling formats. Funding supports a wide range of formats—including episodic series, short documentaries, video podcasts and live interview-style livestreams—provided they are rooted in local stories and include synchronized audio and video.

The initiative places strong emphasis on underrepresented and emerging voices. Focused Editions, such as Pan-Asian, Indigenous or Black creators editions, and partner programs like Empowered Filmmaker and Youth Community Stories, specifically seek participants from Indigenous and youth communities or other groups that face barriers to accessing media production. Many programs are free to apply to, and STORYHIVE clearly outlines application windows, eligibility criteria and project requirements.

For program-based grants like Voices, STORYHIVE publishes detailed timelines, including opening and closing dates for applications, announcement of recipients and production start dates. Applicants must create a STORYHIVE creator profile, review submission rules and FAQs, and complete an online application form before the deadline. There is no application fee, and incomplete or late submissions are not considered for funding.

Project requirements and evaluation themes focus on local reflection, episodic structure (where applicable), and alignment with program goals. For example, Voices specifies minimum episode counts and total running times for each season, while other programs focus on short documentaries or livestream interview formats. STORYHIVE encourages how-to series, lifestyle and fitness content, educational and children’s programming, cooking or variety shows, provided they serve local audiences.

STORYHIVE works with sector partners such as VoVo Productions, Reel Youth, the National Screen Institute and Jar Audio to deliver training, mentorship and specialized supports. Empowered Filmmaker offers intensive five-day workshops and community film festivals, while Youth Community Stories collaborates with Reel Youth to build media literacy and leadership skills among youth aged roughly 14 to 24 or 30, depending on the cohort.

Beyond financial support, STORYHIVE’s model integrates hands-on training, peer communities and professional mentorship, enabling first-time and early-career creators to complete and showcase high-quality projects. By providing both funding and distribution, STORYHIVE helps creators “own their narrative” and strengthens the local screen-based production ecosystem across Western Canada.