Development program — Prequalified stream
Canada
Financing for feature film production companies
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateSeptember 03, 2024
- grant_single|closingDateSeptember 24, 2024
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
grant_single|grantors
- Government of Canada
- Telefilm Canada
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
Get funding in 1 of 3 tiers; up to $37,500, 75,000 and $125,000, respectively, if you have produced a fiction or documentary feature film financed by Telefilm with a theatrical release in the last 6 years.
grant_single_labels|projects
This grant is available exclusively to Canadian feature film production companies. Eligibility is determined based on the location of the company's head office and activity operations within Canada.
- All provinces and territories within Canada.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$75,000
Vancouver
Historical documentary about Canadian railroad construction
$67,500
Ottawa
Drama feature film about the struggles of urban immigrants
$75,000
Toronto
Development of a feature film exploring indigenous folklore
$75,000
Calgary
Animated feature film for children promoting environmental awareness
$75,000
Montreal
Sci-fi feature film exploring artificial intelligence concepts
$65,000
Halifax
Documentary about Canadian artists in the 21st century
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's business profile and location.
- The applicant must be a Canadian feature film production company.
- The company's head office must be located in Canada.
- The company's activities must be carried out within Canada.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Canadian feature film production companies who:- Have their head office in Canada.- Carry out their activities in Canada.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The Development Program supports the creation of Canadian feature-length films during the development stage. This includes drafting scripts and packaging projects for further production stages.
- Development of first, second, third, or subsequent draft scripts for feature-length films.
- Packaging of feature-length film projects to enhance production readiness.
grant_single_labels|criteria
There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant.
- Artistic and financial objectives alignment
- Originality and creativity of the project
- Balance between creators, production team, and target audience
- Potential for domestic and international distribution
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
- Step 1: Review Guidelines
- Access and carefully read the "Guidelines" and "Essential Information Guide."
- Ensure that your project and company meet the eligibility criteria.
- Step 2: Gather Documents
- Prepare the documents listed in "List of required documents" relevant to your stream.
- Complete templates such as "Declaration Form Regarding the Producer’s Previous Experience" and others as applicable.
- Step 3: Create Dialogue Account
- If not already done, create an account on the Dialogue platform provided by Telefilm.
- Step 4: Prepare Application
- Log into the Dialogue platform to access the application form.
- Input required information, ensure accuracy and detail about your project, including a development plan.
- Step 5: Submit Application
- Upload all prepared documents and complete the application form on Dialogue.
- Submit the complete application by the deadline of September 23, 2024, 11:59 PM EST.
- Step 6: Confirmation of Receipt
- Receive confirmation of submission through Dialogue.
- Keep the confirmation as a proof of application submission.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- IT support is only available on business days until 5:00 pm EST.
- Notification to production companies eligible to the Prequalified Stream will occur on June 21, 2024, via Dialogue.
- The Springboard Initiative will start in the summer of 2024, allowing unsuccessful Production Program projects to apply for development funding.
- Applicants can receive updates directly through email by subscribing to program updates.
Apply to this program
Development Support for Canadian Feature Films
This grant program offers financial assistance to Canadian feature film production companies at the development stage of their projects. It aims to nurture creativity and diversity within the Canadian film industry by providing support throughout various development phases.
In-Depth Understanding of the Feature Film Development Program
The Development Program by Telefilm Canada is strategically designed to support high-quality Canadian feature films at the crucial development stage, ensuring the vibrancy and sustainability of the national film industry. This initiative recognizes various project types and stages, focusing on feature-length films that have reached the script drafting or packaging phases. With the aim of fostering diverse storylines and inclusive narratives, the program encompasses multiple streams, namely the Prequalified Stream, the General Stream, the Indigenous Stream, and the Stream for Black and People of Colour, ensuring opportunities for varied cultural expressions and viewpoints.
The program is inclusive, inviting submissions from Canadian feature film production companies that maintain a strong operational presence and head office in Canada. Notably, the initiative endeavors to elevate projects that, while unsuccessful in previous attempts in the Production Program, demonstrated great potential. Such projects might be considered for the innovative Springboard Initiative set to commence in the summer of 2024, offering a fresh opportunity to strengthen these film projects and enhance their chances of fruition.
Structured with clear, comprehensive guidelines updated as recently as July 2024, the Development Program delineates a systematic approach for potential applicants. Eligible production companies are contacted directly via Dialogue, Telefilm's communication platform, ensuring a straightforward process when navigating application requirements. The program emphasizes timely submission, with a well-defined open window from early to late September for applications. Throughout this period, comprehensive IT support is provided during business hours to streamline the application process.
With an eye on long-term impacts, the Development Program ensures that selected projects align with both cultural and economic priorities, thus contributing to the enrichment of Canadian narratives on a global scale. It stipulates a series of documents and templates, such as the Declaration Form Regarding the Producer’s Previous Experience, and various Final Cost Report Templates, guiding applicants through a structured reporting and evaluation process.
Moreover, the Development Program is underpinned by robust business policies, including specific accounting and reporting requirements to maintain transparency and accountability in financial management. These policies ensure that beneficiaries adhere to a standardized code of conduct and operational efficiency, safeguarding the allocation and use of funds across the full scope of development activities.
The strategic emphasis of the Development Program on diversity and inclusivity is particularly noteworthy. By fostering projects housed under the Indigenous Stream and the Stream for Black and People of Colour, Telefilm Canada not only amplifies underrepresented voices but also enriches the cultural tapestry of Canadian cinema. Such commitment underscores the organization’s mission to support innovative projects that reflect the broad spectrum of Canadian society and its stories.
Through this comprehensive support structure, Telefilm Canada’s Development Program positions itself as a beacon for feature film creators, providing them with the resources, guidance, and platform needed to bring compelling Canadian stories to life. The program reaffirms its commitment to nurturing and advancing the country’s cultural narrative, ensuring that the storytellers of today have the opportunity and support to create the films of tomorrow.
