Closed
Source verified July 15, 2026
Development program — Black and People of Colour stream
Feature film development support
Latest source updateLast Update: July 12, 2026Latest change: The Development Program page now shows updated key dates, contact details, and several revised application-document links.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 12, 2026
Latest change: The Development Program page now shows updated key dates, contact details, and several revised application-document links.
Development Program page updated
The Development Program page now shows updated key dates and notifications: the application window is August 31, 2026 at 8:00 AM EDT to September 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT, and Prequalified Stream notifications are now listed as mid-July 2026 instead of July 11, 2025. The page also now exposes named contact details and updated application-document destinations, including revised links for qualifying festivals and final cost report materials, which affects how applicants find the required forms and support contacts.
Funding available
Up to 100% of project cost
Deadline
September 11, 2026
Opened August 31, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
Telefilm’s Development Program supports Canadian production companies developing eligible Canadian feature films in Canada through automatic and selective streams. Projects may be at the first, second, third or subsequent draft script stage, or in packaging, and selective applications are reviewed by advisory committees.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Up to 100% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
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
- Development of eligible Canadian feature films.
- First, second, third or subsequent draft script.
- Packaging.
Documents Needed
- Incorporation Certificate for the applicant production company and parent company(ies), if applicable, if modified since the company’s last application to Telefilm
- Corporate Information for the applicant company and, if applicable, parent company(ies) and any other shareholder company with a Dialogue account
- Track Record Summary for all Producers, Screenwriters and Directors, if applying for packaging
- Pitch Document, maximum of 10 pages
- Declaration Regarding the Producer’s Previous Experience
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian feature film production companies.
Eligible expenses
- Scriptwriting, research, and story development costs
- Packaging and preproduction costs
- Legal, design, and graphic materials
- Producer, director, and screenwriter fees
- Travel and related development costs
Selection criteria
- Creative Elements, including creative quality and originality of the synopsis, strength and creative passion of the pitch, and cinematic potential of the film.
- Track Record of the Key Creative Personnel.
- Cultural Impact and Audience Reach Potential.
- Diversity of voices and a balanced portfolio reflecting a variety of communities.
How to apply
- Complete the online application form and upload the required documents using Dialogue.
- Submit all required documents with the application form at the time of submission.
- If the application is incomplete, submit the missing documentation within five (5) business days after receiving the notice.
Processing and Agreement
- Applicants will be notified if their application is incomplete and given a notice to submit missing documentation within five (5) business days.
- Documentation submitted after the application form or after the notice period may not be considered in the decision-making process.
- Telefilm reserves the right to request additional information at any time.
- Selective-stream applications are evaluated by advisory committees, which score and rank projects using the evaluation criteria in the Guidelines and the evaluation grid.
Additional information
- The Program includes the Prequalified Stream, the General Stream, the Indigenous Stream, and the Stream for Black People and People of Colour; the General Stream will be discontinued as of fiscal 2027-2028.
- An applicant may only apply to one stream even if it is eligible to more than one, and it is not possible to switch streams after an application is submitted.
- An applicant benefiting from the Springboard Initiative may make an additional application to another stream only if it is for a different project.
- The Animation Initiative grants additional funding to animation projects submitted in the Prequalified or Selective Streams.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Development program — General streamFunding for feature film development
- Development program — Indigenous streamSupport for Canadian feature film development
- Development program — Prequalified streamAutomatic funding for top-ranked organizations
Frequently Asked Questions about the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream Program
What is the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream?
Telefilm’s Development Program supports Canadian production companies developing eligible Canadian feature films in Canada through automatic and selective streams. Projects may be at the first, second, third or subsequent draft script stage, or in packaging, and selective applications are reviewed by advisory committees.
How much funding can be received?
Development program — Black and People of Colour stream Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
Applications will open on August 31, 2026.
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:
The applicant must be a Canadian feature film production company.
The company must have its head office in Canada and carry out its activities in Canada.
What expenses are eligible under Development program — Black and People of Colour stream?
Development of eligible Canadian feature films.
First, second, third or subsequent draft script.
Packaging.
Who can I contact for more information about the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream?
You can contact Telefilm Canada by email at coordination@telefilm.ca or by phone at 438-806-4865.
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.