CMF — POV Program

Who is eligible?

• Canadian companies producing auteur or creative documentaries

Who is not eligible

• Companies affiliated with a Canadian broadcaster (broadcaster-affiliated productions).
• Companies producing internal productions (in-house productions).

Eligible expenses

• Production costs directly related to the creation of the documentary.
• Eligible broadcast rights fees paid to Canadian broadcasters and, if applicable, eligible distribution fees.
• Costs that can be claimed for Canadian and certain international broadcast or distribution rights, provided the majority come from Canadian broadcasters or eligible Canadian distributors.
• Personnel salaries and fees associated with the production and creative teams, including payments that demonstrate gender parity or diversity targets.
• Expenses covered by eligible third-party Canadian financial commitments, such as contributions from traditional/digital distributors, public or private funding agencies, provincial organizations, or confirmed crowdfunding campaigns.
• Canadian federal, provincial, or territorial film tax credits and audiovisual incentives, where applicable to the project's financing structure.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada

• Projects that do not have a confirmed broadcast agreement at the time of application may still apply, provided distribution rights that meet the financial trigger requirement are eventually secured.
• If the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) participates as distributor and provides an advance, it counts as an eligible third-party financial commitment; as a co-producer with equity, it does not.
• The duration of all broadcasting windows for a supported project, including exclusive and non-exclusive periods, is capped at six years.
• Tax credits and public/private funding can be included as part of the required third-party financial commitment, if Canadian broadcast or distribution agreements are confirmed.