Closed
Development program — Indigenous stream
Financing for Indigenous filmmakers
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
Get a repayable advance of up to $30,000 to cover costs in the development stage of your feature film. To be eligible, you must meet certain criteria for recent theatrical releases, including having 1 project funded by Telefilm.
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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
- Optimize production processes
- Reduce environmental footprint
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
- Indigenous Peoples
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Development of feature-length Canadian films (75 minutes or longer), including both fiction and documentary projects.
- Advancement of film projects through stages such as first, second, third, or subsequent script drafts, and project packaging.
- Creation of feature film content entirely developed and controlled by Indigenous-owned and -led production companies.
- Support for film projects intended for theatrical release and reflecting Canadian or Indigenous perspectives.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian feature film production companies
Who is not eligible
- Companies that are not audiovisual production companies.
- Companies that are not majority-owned and controlled by Indigenous persons (for the Indigenous Stream).
- Companies whose head office is not in Canada or do not primarily operate in Canada.
Eligible expenses
- Budget breakdown costs.
- Corporate overhead (maximum 20% of direct costs).
- Demo production costs.
- Design-related expenses.
- Director fees (if applicable at packaging phase or when director and screenwriter are not the same person).
- Fringe benefits associated with development activities.
- Graphic bible creation.
- Legal fees related to the project.
- Option fees for literary works (excluding fees paid to the producer).
- Preproduction casting and scouting.
- Producer fees (maximum 20% of direct costs).
- Research expenses directly linked to development.
- Screenwriter fees as per agreement (mandatory for all phases except packaging, except for animation's second and subsequent drafts).
- Scriptwriting workshops.
- Storyboard development.
- Independent story consultants or script editors, including sensitivity or equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) advisors.
- Travel and related costs for preproduction scouting, financing, or packaging activities.
- Costs for non-Canadian script editors or consultants (if no copyright ownership results for them).
- Costs to obtain an option on literary work or original idea (can be non-Canadian).
Eligible geographic areas
- Companies with their head office and activities in Canada.
Additional information
- Applicants can only submit one application per year and must choose a single stream, which cannot be changed after submission.
- All applications must be submitted online through Telefilm’s Dialogue portal, and incomplete applications will have a five-business-day window for corrections.
- Projects may only receive funding from this program up to four times cumulatively.
- Compliance with program guidelines does not guarantee funding, as funding decisions are at Telefilm's discretion and subject to availability.
Documents and links
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Development program — Indigenous stream Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Development program — Indigenous 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 — Indigenous stream?
Get a repayable advance of up to $30,000 to cover costs in the development stage of your feature film. To be eligible, you must meet certain criteria for recent theatrical releases, including having 1 project funded by Telefilm.
How much funding can be received?
Development program — Indigenous 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 — Indigenous stream program?
To be eligible for the Development program — Indigenous stream program, you must:
Canadian-controlled corporation with head office and activities in Canada
Operates as an audiovisual production company
Majority-owned and controlled by Indigenous persons (for Indigenous Stream)
What expenses are eligible under Development program — Indigenous stream?
Development of feature-length Canadian films (75 minutes or longer), including both fiction and documentary projects.
Advancement of film projects through stages such as first, second, third, or subsequent script drafts, and project packaging.
Creation of feature film content entirely developed and controlled by Indigenous-owned and -led production companies.
Support for film projects intended for theatrical release and reflecting Canadian or Indigenous perspectives.
Who can I contact for more information about the Development program — Indigenous stream?
You can contact Telefilm Canada by email at adriana.chartrand@telefilm.ca or by phone at 6474754911.
Where is the Development program — Indigenous stream available?
The Development program — Indigenous stream program is available across Canada.