Production Program

• Application checklist
• Evaluation matrix
• Application form
• Final report form

Who is eligible?

• B.C.-based audiovisual production companies
• Canadian audiovisual companies with head offices in British Columbia
• B.C.-led inter-provincial co-productions
• B.C.-led international treaty co-productions

Who is not eligible

• Companies applying with scripted television series projects.
• Companies applying with web series, short films, or Movies of the Week.
• Companies producing pornography, talk shows, news, live sports events, game shows, reality television, or advertising.
• Applicants seeking support from both streams for the same project in the same funding round.
• Projects intended only for release outside Canada.

Eligible expenses

• New production costs that follow Telefilm Canada or Canada Media Fund industry standards.
• Producer fees and overhead, up to 10% of the budget each.
• Post-production technology and facility costs, including post-production supervision, special effects, and colour grading.
• Editing, title creation, music composition, sound editing and mixing, voice-over work, versioning, mastering, and output materials.
• Master copies, some screening formats such as DCP, translation, language support, and accessibility costs during post-production.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Costs incurred before Creative BC receives the application.
• Producer fees above 10% of the budget and overhead above 10% of the budget.
• Scripted television series, web series, short films, and Movies of the Week.
• Pornography, talk shows, news, live sports events, game shows, reality television, and advertising.
• The same project cannot apply to both streams in the same funding round.

Eligible geographic areas

• British Columbia

• Applicant and key creative team: knowledge, experience and track record (10), capacity to deliver (5), personal connection to the subject matter (5), non-English primary language (2), and regional representation outside Lower Mainland B.C. (3).
• Project creative materials: strength and creative quality of the project plan and script or rough cut, including director’s vision and community engagement plan where applicable (25).
• Originality, freshness, or uniqueness of the story (10).
• Feasibility of the schedule and budget, or for post-production applications, the post-production schedule and budget as supported by the rationale document (10), plus reflection of Canadian topics and issues (5).
• Audience and market potential: target audience and distribution strategy (10), confirmed financing and/or market interest (10), and potential impact with Canadian and international audiences (5).

• Step 1: Review program materials
  • Read the current guidelines, FAQ, application checklist, and evaluation matrix.
  • Choose the Production Stream or the Post-Production Stream.
• Step 2: Prepare your application package
  • Gather applicant and project information, budget materials, schedules, and required creative documents.
  • Prepare stream-specific materials such as a detailed cost report and post-production rationale if applicable.
• Step 3: Complete the online application
  • Fill out the Creative BC online application form.
  • Enter project details, financing information, employment estimates, and key creative personnel.
  • Provide the information needed for mandatory self-identification forms for key creatives.
• Step 4: Upload supporting documents
  • Upload the required administrative, financial, and creative documents for your stream and project type.
  • Include any additional materials required for co-productions, scripted projects, documentary or factual projects, or community engagement where applicable.
• Step 5: Submit the application
  • Submit the completed application online before the published deadline.
  • Keep the confirmation email and copy of the submission for your records.
  • If needed, send up to one revision by email before the deadline, except for updates on decisions from other funders.

• Creative BC first reviews applications for eligibility and completeness.
• If documents are missing, applicants are contacted and given up to 5 business days to provide them; incomplete or ineligible files are withdrawn.
• Eligible applications are assessed competitively, and the full review process takes at least 12 weeks after the application deadline.
• External advisory panels, and sometimes external readers, score and rank projects using the evaluation matrix before Creative BC makes final decisions.
• Applicants are notified by email, and approved projects must complete contracting requirements such as proof of closed financing and verified chain of title before funding can proceed.

• At least 30% of the funding envelope is targeted to projects led by emerging filmmakers and/or systemically excluded groups.
• No application fee is required.
• Any use of AI in the application or the project must be disclosed.
• Funding decisions are final, and projects with three unsuccessful past applications generally cannot be resubmitted unless an exception is approved.