Services
Expertises
Resources
Who we are
Contact us
Closed

CMF — Prototyping Program

Early-stage interactive digital media prototyping support

Offered by
Canada Media Fund (CMF)
Official source: cmf-fmc.ca

Source change captured

Funding available
$ 350,000
Up to 75% of project cost
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Canada
Who can apply
For-profit production companies that are taxable Canadian corporations
See full eligibility

Overview

The Prototyping Program supports Canadian production companies and broadcasters developing early-stage interactive digital media projects, with funding of up to 75% of eligible costs to a maximum of $250,000, or $350,000 for applicants meeting past success thresholds. Eligible costs include research, team labour, technology infrastructure, prototype development, marketing, and sustainability-related activities.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$350,000
Maximum share of project costs
75%
Financing goals
  • Develop a new product or service

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Canada
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
All revenue ranges
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
  • Canadians
Legal structures
For-profit business

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 1

Latest changes

Programme de prototypage: guide update

The prototyping program’s updated guidelines now show a lower top funding share, a revised tie-break rule, and new document requirements for certain eligible rights.

See more

The updated guidelines document for the Prototyping Program now shows the top funding share for the highest-ranked projects changed from 85% to 65% of requested funds. The same update removes a third-party contribution tie-break rule, adds reserved funds language tied to the first deadline for certain applicants, and expands PCAR language flexibility to allow access to another funding program. A separate revision to Annex A: Definitions and Core Requirements now makes a signed licence agreement form required for all eligible broadcasting rights and a signed distribution agreement form required for eligible distribution advances. The annex also now reflects June 2026 editing and the revised wording affects the application documents and funding conditions that applicants must satisfy.

Official source: cmf-fmc.ca
July 9, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • For-profit production companies that are taxable Canadian corporations
  • Canadian broadcasters

Eligible expenses

  • Research and preparation of content
  • Salaries, benefits, wages, and contracts for the Project team, including project management, business development, coding, design, system infrastructure, and content development
  • Technology infrastructure, including hardware and software, plus design or construction costs only as deemed necessary to test immersive / experiential works when digital content remains the primary component of the budget
  • Expenses to put content online, including copyright clearance, documentation, design and development of the prototype, and translation costs
  • Travel and accommodations, project audit fees, other technical and administrative expenses, marketing and promotion, and reasonable costs related to environmentally-sustainable activities, practices and personnel connected to the Project

Eligible geographic areas

  • Canada

Activities funded

  • Early-stage projects that have developed a solid concept and design
  • Experimenting, testing and validating different concepts and hypotheses
  • Arriving at a first functional prototype build before the Production phase

How to apply

  • In Dialogue, fill in all the requested information and upload all the required documents to your application.
  • To save and continue later, click on SAVE at the bottom of the page.
  • To retrieve a saved application form that has not yet been submitted, click on Tasks then on Complete Application.
  • The Statement box must be checked to submit your application.
  • Applications must be submitted according to the deadlines published on the CMF website.

Documents Needed

  • Narrative Positioning Attestation; Narrative Positioning Statement
  • Community Engagement Plan; Sustainability Plan; Team Description; Curriculum Vitae
  • Detailed Project Summary; Project Description for the Publication in the Media; History; Originality, Creativity and Advancement Description; Support Material
  • Budget (incl. Cashflow); Financing Commitment Letters or Agreements / Co-Development Agreement; Description of the Applicant’s Financial Stability; Revenue Model Description; Market Study
  • Certificate of Incorporation of the Applicant; Financial Statements; Declaration of Canadian status of the organization and corporate information, if applicable

Selection criteria

  • Stage One assesses Originality, Creativity and Advancement, and only Projects scoring 45 or higher out of 60 move forward.
  • Team criteria include the experience and achievements of the Applicant and team members, their track record working together, the feasibility of the team, and how well-positioned they are to create the Project (13 points).
  • Parity awards points to Eligible Projects that meet the Gender Balance (Ownership) Project definition in Appendix A (2 points).
  • Diversity awards points to Eligible Projects that meet the Diverse Community (Ownership) Project definition in Appendix A (2 points).
  • Community and Sustainability assess the quality of the Community Engagement Plan (2 points) and Sustainability Plan (2 points), including commitments and final written reporting at the final costs stage.

Processing and Agreement

  • The CMF may request other documentation and information to conduct an assessment and evaluation of the project and complete CMF file reviews.
  • Applicants will not receive an acknowledgement letter, and missing information may be requested as needed.
  • If the Project goes into production and the CMF does not provide further funding through the Innovation and Experimentation or Commercial Projects Programs, the Applicant may repay the entire repayable advance no later than the first day of the start of production or allow the repayable advance to be converted into a recoupable investment after a formal request and acceptance by the CMF.
  • Any Applicant receiving approval for funding will be required to sign a legally enforceable agreement.

Additional information

  • Accessibility Support resources are available for persons with disabilities applying for CMF funding.
  • Applicants can connect PERSONA-ID to their application, and key personnel may submit PERSONA-ID numbers as part of the application.
  • Applicants may opt for interim financing by assigning payments under the financing agreement to a bank as security.
  • If interim financing is used in Quebec, a copy of the hypothec must also be forwarded to the business analyst.

Contacts

cmf.fmc.coordination@telefilm.ca

Official sources

Prototyping Program

Program guide

Appendix B Business PoliciesInteractive Digital Media (IDM) Content Programs CORE Guidelines 2026-2027Prototyping Program Guidelines 2026-2027

Supporting document

Canada Media Fund / Fonds des médias du Canada (the “CMF”)

Other relevant PDF

HOW to SIGN Forms Electronically
Add helloDarwin as a preferred source on Google

Frequently Asked Questions about the CMF — Prototyping Program Program

What is the CMF — Prototyping Program?

The Prototyping Program supports Canadian production companies and broadcasters developing early-stage interactive digital media projects, with funding of up to 75% of eligible costs to a maximum of $250,000, or $350,000 for applicants meeting past success thresholds. Eligible costs include research, team labour, technology infrastructure, prototype development, marketing, and sustainability-related activities.

How much funding can be received?

CMF — Prototyping Program Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $350,000 per project.

Who is eligible for the CMF — Prototyping Program program?

To be eligible for the CMF — Prototyping Program program, you must: The applicant must meet section 3.1 of the IDM Content Programs – Core Guidelines. All new Applicants to the CMF through an IDM Program must complete a Pre-Application consultation with CMFPA staff. Applicants may apply with one Eligible Project per spring or fall deadline period and must close previous Prototyping files, including the cost report, before applying again.

What expenses are eligible under CMF — Prototyping Program?

Research and preparation of content Salaries, benefits, wages, and contracts for the Project team, including project management, business development, coding, design, system infrastructure, and content development Technology infrastructure, including hardware and software, plus design or construction costs only as deemed necessary to test immersive / experiential works when digital content remains the primary component of the budget Expenses to put content online, including copyright clearance, documentation, design and development of the prototype, and translation costs Travel and accommodations, project audit fees, other technical and administrative expenses, marketing and promotion, and reasonable costs related to environmentally-sustainable activities, practices and personnel connected to the Project

Who can I contact for more information about the CMF — Prototyping Program?

You can contact Canada Media Fund (CMF) by email at cmf.fmc.coordination@telefilm.ca.

Where is the CMF — Prototyping Program available?

The CMF — Prototyping Program program is available across Canada.

Is the CMF — Prototyping Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

CMF — Prototyping Program is a Grant and Funding