Closed
Last Update: June 9, 2026
Funding available
$ 15,000 - $ 37,500
Timeline
- Open Date : August 31, 2026
- Closing date : September 11, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
The Development Program supports Canadian feature films at the development stage. It offers funding for projects in the first, second, third or subsequent draft script, or packaging, through the Prequalified Stream, General Stream, Indigenous Stream, and Stream for Black People and People of Colour.
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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 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : August 31, 2026
- Closing date : September 11, 2026
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
- Indigenous Peoples
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Development of Canadian feature films.
- Development of feature films at the script or packaging stage.
Documents Needed
- Application form in Dialogue
- Required documents for the selected stream
- Declaration Regarding the Producer’s Previous Experience
- Declaration of Canadian Status and Corporate Information
- Most recent creative material
Official resources
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian feature film production companies
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
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Creative elements of the project.
- Track record of the key creative personnel.
- Cultural impact and audience potential.
How to apply
1
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).
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
Submit the Application
Submit your application through the Dialogue platform before the closing date and time.
6
Confirmation
- Receive confirmation of your application submission via Dialogue.
- Keep a record of your submission and any reference numbers provided.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed after submission and assessed according to the program guidelines.
- For the Prequalified Stream, eligible companies are notified in advance of their eligibility and funding amount.
- For selective streams, projects are reviewed through a selective process using advisory committees.
- Applicants may be asked to provide missing documents within five business days if the file is incomplete.
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.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Development program — Black and People of Colour streamFunding for Canadian feature film development
- Development program — Indigenous streamSupport for Canadian feature film development
- Development program — Prequalified streamSupport for feature film development
Frequently Asked Questions about the Development program — General stream Program
What is the Development program — General stream?
The Development Program supports Canadian feature films at the development stage. It offers funding for projects in the first, second, third or subsequent draft script, or packaging, through the Prequalified Stream, General Stream, Indigenous Stream, and Stream for Black People and People of Colour.
How much funding can be received?
Development program — General stream Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $37,500 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
Applications will open on August 31, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Development program — General stream program?
To be eligible for the Development program — General stream program, you must:
Canadian feature film production company
Head office in Canada
Feature-length project in development
What expenses are eligible under Development program — General stream?
Development of Canadian feature films.
Development of feature films at the script or packaging stage.
Who can I contact for more information about the Development program — General stream?
You can contact Telefilm Canada by email at coordination@telefilm.ca or by phone at 438-806-4865.
Where is the Development program — General stream available?
The Development program — General stream program is available across Canada.