Closed
Source verified July 23, 2026
Development program — Prequalified stream
Automatic funding for top-ranked organizations
Latest source updateLast Update: July 15, 2026Latest change: The Prequalified Stream now shows updated key dates and revised application documents, including new checklist and performance-ratio materials.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 15, 2026
Latest change: The Prequalified Stream now shows updated key dates and revised application documents, including new checklist and performance-ratio materials.
Prequalified stream dates and application documents updated
The Prequalified Stream now shows updated key dates, with the application window listed as September 4, 2025 to September 25, 2025 and the eligibility notification noted for July 11, 2025. The supporting materials also now include a Minimum Performance Ratio Requirements document and an Application Checklist per stream, alongside revised guidance and required-document files for the Prequalified Stream.
Funding available
$ 15,000 - $ 100,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Overview
Telefilm Canada’s Development Program prequalified stream provides automatic funding to eligible organizations with one of the 150 highest performance scores, subject to linguistic and regional distribution. It recognizes recent activity through Telefilm-financed projects, theatrical releases, and designated festival selections or awards.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Minimum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Development of Canadian feature films
- Script development from first draft through packaging
- Springboard projects invited from the Production Program
- Animation projects seeking additional development support
Documents Needed
- List of required documents – Prequalified Stream and Springboard Initiative
- List of required documents – Selective streams: General Stream, Indigenous Stream, Stream for Black People and People of Colour
- Declaration Form Regarding the Producer’s Previous Experience
- Declaration of Canadian Status of Corporation and Corporate Information, only for organizations that do not have a Dialogue account
- Production Sustainability Plan Template
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian feature film production companies
Selection criteria
- Eligible organizations are ranked on a performance score calculated over a 6-year reference period.
- The performance score is the sum of commercial and festival scores for Telefilm-financed feature films in a production program, provided the organization holds at least 20% of the project's performance share.
- The commercial score is based on sales totals divided by total production budget, with sales totals made up of 44% of Canadian box office receipts, other domestic gross sales excluding theatrical, and international gross sales.
- The festival score awards 10 points for international festival prizes, 5 points for international festival selections, and 3 points for national festival prizes; national selections do not earn points.
- Access goes to the 150 highest-scoring organizations, subject to linguistic distribution and, for Tier B, regional representation across Canada.
How to apply
- Applications must be submitted through Dialogue.
Processing and Agreement
- All production companies eligible to the Prequalified Stream will be notified of their eligibility and the maximum amount of funding to which they are eligible via Dialogue on July 11, 2025.
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 streamFeature film development support
- Development program — General streamFeature film development support
- Development program — Indigenous streamCanadian feature film development support
Frequently Asked Questions about the Development program — Prequalified stream Program
What is the Development program — Prequalified stream?
Telefilm Canada’s Development Program prequalified stream provides automatic funding to eligible organizations with one of the 150 highest performance scores, subject to linguistic and regional distribution. It recognizes recent activity through Telefilm-financed projects, theatrical releases, and designated festival selections or awards.
How much funding can be received?
Development program — Prequalified stream Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $100,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Development program — Prequalified stream program?
To be eligible for the Development program — Prequalified stream program, you must:
The organization must demonstrate recent activity.
It must have at least one eligible Telefilm-financed project of 75 minutes or more.
The project must have been released in theaters or selected or awarded at a designated festival within the last 4 years.
What expenses are eligible under Development program — Prequalified stream?
Development of Canadian feature films
Script development from first draft through packaging
Springboard projects invited from the Production Program
Animation projects seeking additional development support
Who can I contact for more information about the Development program — Prequalified stream?
You can contact Telefilm Canada by email at coordination@telefilm.ca or by phone at 438-806-4865.
Where is the Development program — Prequalified stream available?
The Development program — Prequalified stream program is available across Canada.
Is the Development program — Prequalified stream a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Development program — Prequalified stream is a Loans and Capital investments