How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 30% of admissible expenses, capped at $15000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Documentary + Factual Development Fund?

Documentary + Factual Development Fund is funded by Creative BC

What are Documentary + Factual Development Fund's eligibility criterias?

Applicants must be a production company incorporated in British Columbia or Canada with its head office in British Columbia. Companies must have a proven track record in production and should have produced a minimum of two completed B.C. owned and controlled film or television productions. The primary owner/majority common voting shareholder(s) of the applicant company must be a B.C. resident—either a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident—who has resided in British Columbia for at least 200 of the 365 days prior to the application.

Documentary + Factual Development Fund

grant_single|update February 22, 2025

BC, Canada

Early-stage development funding for B.C. documentary projects

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Grant and Funding

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Information and cultural industries

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Creative BC

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The Documentary + Factual Development Fund, a collaboration between Creative BC and the Rogers Group of Funds, supports BC-based production companies by providing up to $15,000 for the early-stage development of documentary and factual projects. Eligible activities include research, treatment and pitch document development, and creating proofs of concept or trailers.

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Financial aid of up to $15,000 per project is provided in the form of a non-recoupable advance.
Overall funding envelope for Round 5 is up to $200,000.
Funds are designated for early-stage development activities such as research, treatment development, and creating pitch documents.
No market trigger is required for application, but letters of interest from the market will enhance competitiveness.
Funding recipients are required to publicly acknowledge Creative BC and Rogers Group of Funds by displaying logos at the end of the completed project.
Adherence to sustainable production practices is mandated throughout the development process.
A payment schedule and development deliverables will be outlined in the contract for funded projects.

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Development of documentary films for television broadcast, streaming, or theatrical release.
Creation of hybrid-documentaries for various formats including television and web platforms.
Production of documentary or factual series, pilots, and mini-series.
Development of documentary short films.
Creation of documentary web series.

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$ 15,000

Create a factual series about renewable energy initiatives

$ 15,000

Produce a short film on environmental impact in Surrey

$ 15,000

Explore historical narratives in New Westminster documentary

$ 15,000

Create a documentary film about Okanagan wine industry

$ 15,000

Develop a documentary series on Vancouver's tech industry

$ 15,000

Develop a web series about Indigenous arts in Victoria

grant_single_labels|admissibility

The applicant must be a production company incorporated in British Columbia or Canada with its head office in British Columbia.
The company must have a proven track record in production, having produced at least 2 completed B.C. owned and controlled film or television productions.
The primary owner or majority common voting shareholder(s) must be a B.C. resident, either a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident, who has resided in British Columbia for at least 200 of the 365 days prior to the application and filed income tax returns in B.C. for the preceding taxation year.
The project must be 100% owned, controlled, or optioned by the applicant, except for inter-provincial or international treaty co-productions.
The company must be in good standing with Creative BC.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Production companies incorporated in British Columbia (B.C.) or Canada with their head office in B.C.
Companies with a proven track record in production, having produced a minimum of two completed B.C.-owned and controlled film or television productions.

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Research related to project development.
Treatment development as part of the project.
Development of pitch documents for market presentation.
Creation of proof of concept materials or trailers.

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British Columbia

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Applicant team:
Knowledge, experience and track record. (15 points)
Capacity to execute and successfully deliver the project. (15 points)
Connection to the subject matter, and how well-suited the team is to tell this story. (5 points)
Additional equity factors of applicant or project (language, regional representation). (5 points)
Creative Elements:
Creative merit of proposed project. (20 points)
Potential to secure production support. (10 points)
Feasibility of development budget for proposed activity. (10 points)
Market Potential:
Audience for the project and feasibility of proposal to reach that audience. (10 points)
Appeal of the project, including international sales potential. (10 points)

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Successful recipients are required to publicly acknowledge both Creative BC and the Rogers Group of Funds by including their logos at the end of the completed project.
It is strongly recommended that applicants familiarize themselves with the "Reel Green" initiative to reduce environmental impacts and adopt sustainable practices.
Participants with successful applications must undertake Sustainable Production Training as part of their commitment to sustainability.
The program encourages inclusivity and cultural respect, particularly when projects involve Indigenous content. Applicants should consult "On Screen Protocols & Pathways: A Media Production Guide to Working with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Communities" prior to application.
Creative BC supports a respectful workplace environment, adhering to the Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct, which all applicants and recipients are expected to follow.