Project Development Fund

Who is eligible?

• British Columbia owned and controlled production companies.
• Companies involved in feature film script development.
• Organizations developing dramatic or animated TV projects.
• Companies working on documentaries.
• Co-productions and co-ventures with appropriate agreements and documentation.
• Applicants with projects for scripted feature films intended for various platforms.
• Companies creating television movies, pilots, series, and mini-series for broadcast or streaming platforms.
• Producers of short films and web series as a development step for longer projects.

Who is not eligible

• Companies extra-provincially registered in British Columbia.
• Television productions that are 100% owned and controlled by the National Film Board of Canada.
• Projects that contain elements of serious or gratuitous sexual violence, exploitation, obscene, indecent or pornographic content, or any elements unlawful under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Eligible expenses

• Acquisitions of rights including option payments and license fees for platforms or formats.
• Research including the creation of a report, bible, outline and/or treatment.
• Writing of a script stage including editing and various breakdowns (outline, treatment, first draft, second draft, final draft and polish).
• Production of a demotape, such as a sizzle reel, presentation pilot, webisode or storyboards.
• Creation of a character model pack (for animated projects).
• Pre-production planning, finance packaging and/or casting, including the creation of a casting reel.
• Travel costs necessary for creative work, such as interviewing or demotaping.
• Audience Development and Community Outreach Plan.
• Producer fees and corporate overhead, calculated as a combined maximum of 40% of the approved direct development costs.
• Business affairs and legal services associated with the above activities.

Eligible geographic areas

• British Columbia, Canada

• Funding is in the form of non-recoupable advances, with a focus on building development commitments secured from qualifying parties such as broadcasters and distributors.
• The program will not conduct a creative evaluation of the projects, focusing solely on eligibility and securing of commitments from a triggering agent.
• Producer fees and corporate overhead can comprise up to 40% of approved development costs.
• The program supports co-ventures and co-productions provided that proper documentation, such as a co-production agreement, is submitted.
• The 2024/25 application window opens on May 15, 2024, at 12:00 PM PDT, and applications are evaluated on a first come, first served basis.
• In case of any delay in the development phase, Creative BC allows for one amendment to the completion date upon request.
• A $105 non-refundable application fee is required, with preference for payment via direct deposit.
• Sustainable production practices are encouraged, with requirements to use industry-standard carbon calculators for environmental footprint estimation.
• There is a specific focus on engaging diverse communities with protocols, including expectations around authentic and inclusive content creation.
• Successful applicants are required to adhere to Creative BC’s Code of Conduct ensuring a respectful, harassment-free workplace.