How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 37500% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream?

Development program — Black and People of Colour stream is funded by Telefilm Canada, Government of Canada

What are Development program — Black and People of Colour stream's eligibility criterias?

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.

Development program — Black and People of Colour stream

Last Update: April 4, 2025

Canada

Financing for filmmakers who self-identify as black and people of colour

Development program — Black and People of Colour stream at a glance

Eligible Funding

From 15,000 to 37,500

Timeline

Open Date : September 3, 2024
Closing date : September 24, 2024

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries
Arts, entertainment and recreation

Grant Providers

Telefilm Canada
Government of Canada

Status

Closed

Overview of the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream program

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.

Financing terms and conditions

Telefilm’s financial participation is provided as a repayable advance.
Minimum financial participation per project is set at $15,000.
The financial contribution can cover up to 100% of the project's development stage budget, subject to specific caps.
Funding availability varies by stream, including automatic funding for the Prequalified Stream and selective funding for others.
The maximum funding amount for projects in the Prequalified Stream varies: Tier A: $100,000, with a maximum of 5 projects per application.
Tier B: $60,000, with a maximum of 3 projects per application.
Tier C: $35,000, with a maximum of 1 project per application.
The Selective Streams have a maximum funding amount of $35,000 for one project per application.
Eligible costs include but are not limited to: budget breakdown, corporate overhead, demo, design, director and screenwriter fees, option fees, research, and travel costs.
Eligible development costs must include scriptwriting fees, unless the project is an animation in certain draft stages.
Financial participation is contingent on completion of the specific development phase within 24 months of the financing agreement signature.
Projects previously funded under a different producer must have outstanding repayment obligations satisfied before additional funding is granted.

Eligible projects & activities

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.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 20,500

Development of a documentary on Indigenous cultures in Canada

$ 32,500

Science fiction film set in a dystopian future of urban Canada

$ 19,500

Drama film project about mental health in rural Canadian communities

$ 22,500

Animated film project focusing on Canadian wildlife conservation efforts

$ 14,000

Development of a historical drama film set to explore Canada’s railway construction era

$ 23,000

Comedy film project exploring the humor in Canadian multiculturalism

Eligibility criteria of the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream program

All applicants must be Canadian-controlled corporations, in accordance with sections 26 to 28 of the Investment Canada Act.
Applicants must have their head office and carry out their activities in Canada.
The company must operate as an audiovisual company.
For the Stream for Black People and People of Colour, the production companies must be majority-owned and controlled by Black persons and/or people of colour.

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

Eligibility criteria of the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream program

The originality and quality of the creative materials, including the synopsis, pitch document, and treatment or script.
The cinematic potential of the film.
The elements that speak to Canadian experiences and audiences.
The level, nature, and quality of the engagement as described in the Community Engagement Plan.
The screen-based industry experience of the creative team, primarily including the producer, screenwriter, and director during the packaging phase, along with their critical acclaim and audience success.
The cultural and/or commercial potential of the project.
The potential to find and reach its target audience.
Whether the project speaks to Canadian and international audiences or targets an underrepresented audience.
The project’s capacity to stand out in the current cinematic landscape.
The project's potential for cultural resonance, such as critical reviews, film festival acclaim, adding to representation in content, and generating new perspectives and cultural conversations.

How to apply to the Development program — Black and People of Colour stream program

Review Guidelines and Prepare Documents

Familiarize yourself with the program guidelines and requirements, available on the Telefilm Canada website.
Gather and prepare the necessary documents as per the list provided for the appropriate stream you are applying for (Prequalified, General, Indigenous, or Stream for Black and People of Colour).
Ensure all declarations and templates are properly filled, including the Declaration Form Regarding the Producer’s Previous Experience and the Declaration of Canadian Status of Corporation and Corporate Information.

Access Dialogue

Log into the Dialogue portal, Telefilm’s online application system. Ensure that your company profile on Dialogue is updated and accurate.
If you do not have an account, create one to access the application portal.

Complete the Application Form

Start a new application by selecting the appropriate stream under the Development Program.
Complete all sections of the online application form, making sure to provide comprehensive and accurate information about your project.

Upload Required Documents

Upload all required documents to the Dialogue portal as per the guidelines for your chosen stream.
Check the document upload section to ensure all files are uploaded correctly and visible.

Review and Submit Application

Review your application in its entirety to confirm that all information and documents are correctly filled and attached.
Submit the application through the Dialogue portal before the closing date.

Confirmation and Follow-Up

Receive an automated confirmation email acknowledging the receipt of your application.
Retain the confirmation number for your records and potential follow-up.

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

Development program — Black and People of Colour stream

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