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 — General stream?

Development program — General stream is funded by Telefilm Canada, Government of Canada

What are Development program — General stream's eligibility criterias?

Canadian-controlled corporation with head office and operations in Canada Operates as an audiovisual production company For-profit production company eligible

Development program — General stream

Last Update: June 5, 2025

Canada

Money to develop feature films

Development program — General stream at a glance

Eligible Funding

From $15,000 to $37,500

Timeline

Open Date : September 3, 2024
Closing date : September 23, 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 — General stream program

Get a repayable advance of up to $37,500 in the development stage of your feature film. To be eligible, you need to have released at least 1 fictional or documentary feature film in the last 6 years, and 1 film that premiered at a qualifying festival.

Financing terms and conditions

Telefilm’s financial participation is a repayable advance, ranging from a minimum of $15,000 up to 100% of the development budget within set caps.
For the Prequalified Stream: Tier A allows up to $100,000 for a maximum of 5 projects per application; Tier B up to $60,000 for 3 projects; Tier C up to $35,000 for 1 project.
For Selective Streams (General, Indigenous, Stream for Black People and People of Colour): maximum funding is $35,000 for 1 project per application.
Applicants may only receive funding for a project a maximum of four times, and the cumulative development funding must be repaid on the earlier of first day of principal photography or sale/transfer of the script.
For the Springboard Initiative: maximum funding is $35,000 for 1 project, with the funded phase to be completed within 6 months of agreement signature.

Eligible projects & activities

Development of feature-length Canadian films, including both fiction and documentary projects (minimum 75 minutes).
Advancement of scripts through stages such as first, second, third or subsequent draft, or packaging.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 37,500

Produce an animated feature about Canadian wildlife with emphasis on preproduction and key team engagement

$ 37,500

Create a thought-provoking documentary about climate change, focusing on the coastal cities of Vancouver

$ 37,500

Create a feature film depicting the tech startup culture, focusing on script and creative team engagement

$ 37,500

Develop a romantic comedy set in modern-day Toronto involving preproduction and script development

$ 37,500

Develop a historical drama exploring the Indigenous history of Montreal, focusing on script and story editing

$ 37,500

Develop a horror film set in the haunted forests of Halifax with script writing and preproduction focus

Eligibility criteria of the Development program — General stream program

The applicant must be a Canadian-controlled corporation with its head office and business activities carried out in Canada.
The applicant must operate as an audiovisual production company.
The project must be a feature-length (75 minutes or more) film, either fictional or documentary, intended for theatrical release.
The script must be written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and the project must be intended to qualify as Canadian content or as an Audiovisual Treaty Coproduction.
For the General Stream, the producer must have previously produced at least one Canadian fiction or documentary feature film that meets specific release or festival presentation requirements and has received a Producer or Co-Producer credit.

Who is eligible?

Canadian feature film production companies
Audiovisual production companies based and operating in Canada

Who is not eligible

Companies that are not Canadian-controlled corporations.
Companies that do not have their head office and do not carry out their activities in Canada.
Companies that do not operate as audiovisual (feature film production) companies.

Eligible expenses

Budget breakdown preparation.
Corporate overhead (up to 20% of direct costs).
Production of demos.
Design and graphic bible creation.
Director fees (if different from the screenwriter or for packaging phase).
Fringe benefits related to project personnel.
Legal fees.
Option fees for acquiring rights to literary works (unless paid to the producer).
Preproduction casting and scouting.
Producer fees (up to 20% of direct costs).
Research costs linked to the project.
Screenwriter fees as per agreement.
Scriptwriting workshops and storyboarding.
Story consultant or script editor fees (independent from the producer, including sensitivity and EDI consulting).
Travel and related costs for preproduction scouting, financing, or final packaging of the film.
Expenses for non-Canadian script editors and consultants (if no copyright ownership results).
Costs for obtaining an option on non-Canadian literary work or original idea.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies with their head office and activities in Canada.

Eligibility criteria of the Development program — General stream program

Originality and quality of the creative materials, such as synopsis, pitch document, and script.
Cinematic potential and ability to stand out in the current cinematic landscape.
Relevance and resonance to Canadian experiences and audiences, including presentation of a distinctly Canadian point of view.
Track record and screen-based industry experience of the key creative team (producer, screenwriter, and, if applicable, director) including critical and audience success.
Potential cultural impact and audience reach, including ability to connect with Canadian and international or underrepresented audiences.

How to apply to the Development program — General stream program

Review Program Guidelines

Read the guidelines and essential information to ensure your project meets all eligibility criteria and requirements.
Familiarize yourself with the required documents for your specific stream (Prequalified, General, Indigenous, Stream for Black and People of Colour).

Prepare Required Documents

Gather all necessary documentation as per the list provided for your stream.
Complete any required forms such as the Declaration Form Regarding the Producer’s Previous Experience and the Declaration of Canadian Status of Corporation.

Access Dialogue

Log in to the Dialogue platform, ensuring you have access well before the submission deadline.
Ensure your company's contact and corporate information is up to date in your Dialogue profile.

Complete Application in Dialogue

Fill out the online application form, providing all required details about your project.
Upload all the required documents through the Dialogue platform.
Ensure that all submitted information is accurate and complete.

Submit the Application

Submit your application through the Dialogue platform before the closing date and time.

Confirmation

Receive confirmation of your application submission via Dialogue.
Keep a record of your submission and any reference numbers provided.

Additional information

Applicants can only submit one application per year to a single stream, and the choice of stream is final after submission.
Each applicant must ensure all related parties are acting independently when more than one application is considered from a corporate group.
Projects previously unsuccessful twice in this program cannot be resubmitted; each project can receive a maximum of four rounds of development funding.
Compliance with guidelines does not guarantee funding, as all decisions are at Telefilm's full discretion and subject to available funds.