Closed
Development program — Black and People of Colour stream
Financing for filmmakers who self-identify as black and people of colour
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 15,000 - $ 37,500
Timeline
- Open Date : September 3, 2024
- Closing date : September 24, 2024
Location
Canada
Overview
The Development Program — Black and People of Colour stream finances Canadian feature films in their development stage, offering a maximum funding amount of $35,000 per project. This initiative aims to support projects that enhance cultural and creative equity in film production.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 37,500 $
- Minimum amount : 15,000 $
Timeline
- Open Date : September 3, 2024
- Closing date : September 24, 2024
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
Next steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
This grant is exclusively available to Canadian feature film production companies as specified by the funding body. Companies must have their head office and carry out their activities within Canada.
- Companies with their head office in Canada.
- Organizations operating within Canadian borders.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian feature film production companies
Eligible expenses
- Budget breakdown
- Corporate overhead (max 20% of direct costs)
- Demo
- Design
- Director fees (if the Director and the Screenwriter are not the same person or if it's at packaging phase)
- Fringe benefits
- Graphic bible
- Legal fees
- Option fees including on a literary work (unless paid to the producer)
- Preproduction casting
- Preproduction scouting
- Producer fees (max 20% of direct costs)
- Research
- Screenwriter fees, in accordance with the agreement
- Scriptwriting workshops
- Storyboard
- Story Consultant/Script Editor, e.g., sensitivity, EDI (independent from the producer)
- Travel and related costs to assist in the preproduction scouting, the financing, or the final packaging of the film
- Costs related to non-Canadian script editors and consultants whose services do not result in any copyright ownership in the project
- Costs related to obtaining an option on literary work or on an original idea
Additional information
- The Springboard Initiative is a pilot starting in Summer 2024, designed to support projects that were unsuccessful but ranked highly in the Production Program by inviting them to apply for development funding.
- IT support for application submission is only available on business days until 5:00 pm EST.
- Applicants are advised to ensure all documentation is submitted in one official language, either English or French, even if the project involves another language.
- Projects submitted to select streams must ensure the financial and creative control is maintained by individuals from the specified groups (e.g., Indigenous, Black, or People of Colour).
- The guidelines for the Development Program are subject to changes and applicants should always refer to the latest version available online.
- Applicants must update their filmography in the Dialogue portal to accurately reflect their previous works and ensure the correct calculation of the performance ratio.
- Each applicant can only submit one application per year to the Development Program and can apply to only one stream, which cannot be changed after the application is submitted.
- Invitations to apply to the Springboard Initiative are based on the evaluation of projects in the Production Program.
Documents and links
Frequently Asked Questions about the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream?
The Development Program — Black and People of Colour stream finances Canadian feature films in their development stage, offering a maximum funding amount of $35,000 per project. This initiative aims to support projects that enhance cultural and creative equity in film production.
How much funding can be received?
Development program — Black and People of Colour stream Funds up to $37,500 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was September 24, 2024.
Who is eligible for the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream program?
To be eligible for the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream program, you must:
Applicants must be Canadian-controlled corporations, in accordance with sections 26 to 28 of the Investment Canada Act.
They must have their head office and carry out their activities in Canada.
Applicants must operate as audiovisual production companies.
What expenses are eligible under Development program — Black and People of Colour stream?
This grant is exclusively available to Canadian feature film production companies as specified by the funding body. Companies must have their head office and carry out their activities within Canada. Companies with their head office in Canada.
Organizations operating within Canadian borders.
Where is the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream available?
The Development program — Black and People of Colour stream program is available across Canada.
Is the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Development program — Black and People of Colour stream is a Grant and Funding
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