Equity + Emerging Development
grant_single|update February 22, 2025
BC, Canada
Supports underrepresented filmmakers in British Columbia's film sector
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
grant_single|grantors
- Creative BC
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The Equity and Emerging Development Program offers grants of up to $10,000 to support emerging and equity-seeking filmmakers in British Columbia. The program funds research, concept development, and script writing for various content types, including films, animations, and documentaries.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- A maximum grant of $10,000 is available per project for development activities.
- The total funding envelope for this cycle is $200,000.
- Funding is provided through a competitive process informed by an advisory panel.
- Grants cover specific costs such as research, script writing, optioning fees, and development-related business affairs.
- No requirement for confirmed third-party financing or a market trigger at the application stage; however, any confirmed financing will be considered during evaluation.
- Funding is not provided retroactively for costs incurred prior to contracting with Creative BC.
- Projects awarded funding are subject to a contract outlining payment schedules and deliverables.
- Successful applicants must confirm all rights to develop the project and any additional financing before contracting is finalized.
- Funding drawdowns are dependent on meeting specific development deliverables as per contract agreements.
- Recipients must acknowledge Creative BC funding in their project's credits and marketing materials.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Scripted feature-length films or series.
- Animated features or series.
- Documentaries/factual one-offs or series.
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- The applicant must be a B.C. resident who is either a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident.
- The company must have resided in British Columbia for at least 200 of the 365 days prior to the application.
- The company must have filed income tax returns in B.C. for the taxation year prior to the application.
- The primary owner/majority common voting shareholder(s) of the applicant company must meet the individual criteria.
- The company must be an audiovisual company incorporated in British Columbia or Canada with its head office in British Columbia.
- 100% of the copyright of the project must be owned, controlled, or optioned by the applicant (exceptions for inter-provincial or international treaty co-productions).
- The applicant must be in good standing with Creative BC.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
This grant is open to emerging and/or equity-seeking filmmakers in British Columbia. Both individuals and production companies can apply, provided they meet the following criteria: - Individuals must be B.C. residents, either Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents, who have resided in B.C. for at least 200 of the past 365 days and have filed income tax returns in B.C. for the prior taxation year.- Individuals must self-declare as part of a systemically excluded group or as an emerging filmmaker, having no more than one professional credit in the key roles of director, writer, or producer.- Companies must be audiovisual companies incorporated in British Columbia or Canada with their head office in B.C., meeting the residency requirements for their primary owner/majority common voting shareholder(s).Eligible content types include:- Scripted feature-length films or series- Animated features or series- Documentaries/factual one-offs or series.Note: Projects that received funding in prior rounds of this program are not eligible for additional funding through this program.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Web series projects
- Short films
- Excluded productions as defined by the Film & Television Tax Credit Regulations, which includes pornography, talk shows, news, live sports events, game shows, and advertising
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Acquisition of rights or optioning fees.
- Research or conducting interviews.
- Script writing (all phases).
- Production of a demo tape, storyboards or animatic.
- Workshopping.
- Pre-production planning, finance packaging and/or casting.
- Business affairs and legal services associated with these activities.
- Producer fees (capped at 10%).
- Corporate overhead (capped at 10%).
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- Projects must ultimately be produced in British Columbia.
- Individual applicants must be residents of British Columbia.
- Company applicants must have their head office in British Columbia and be incorporated in British Columbia or Canada.
grant_single_labels|criteria
- The strength of the project idea, including fresh, innovative or previously unheard stories.
- The viability of the project and its ability to move forward and secure production support.
- The potential impact of the project and its ability to reach and connect with an audience.
- Capacity, knowledge, and background of the applicant.
- Articulation of the applicant's career plan.
grant_single_labels|apply
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grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- Applications can be made either by individuals or companies but each applicant can only submit one application per funding round.
- Applicants must be in compliance with Creative BC's Code of Conduct and adhere to a respectful workplace policy.
- Successful applicants must publicly acknowledge Creative BC's financial support in their project's marketing materials and credits.
- Creative BC reserves the right to request repayment of funds advanced if the terms of the contract are violated.
- No appeal process is available for funding decisions; however, applicants can apply for future funding rounds if eligible.
- Advisory panels, consisting of external and internal experts, will use an evaluation matrix to score and rank projects.
grant_single_labels|contact
mryan@creativebc.com
Apply to this program
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