Export and cultural visibility support program
Last Update: July 22, 2025
QC, Canada
Financing for Quebec cultural exports
Export and cultural visibility support program at a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $160,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : July 1, 2024
- Closing date : September 30, 2024
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
Grant Providers
- Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)
- Gouvernement du Québec
Program status
Open
Overview of the Export and cultural visibility support program program
The Export and Cultural Visibility Support Program (SODEXPORT) provides Québec-based cultural companies with financial assistance of up to $160,000 to expand internationally, promote cultural works, and participate in key export activities. Eligible activities include strategic business development, securing international business opportunities, attending festivals, supporting film releases abroad, collective market presence, and undertaking strategic international initiatives.
Financing terms and conditions
- Financial assistance is provided as a grant or, in certain cases, a repayable contribution, covering up to 50% of eligible project expenses.
- Maximum funding per project or stream varies: up to $160,000 over two years for strategic development abroad; $140,000 for short film distributors, with a possible performance bonus of up to $20,000; $20,000 per year for business opportunities abroad; $100,000 for strategic initiatives; and $25,000 per territory (up to $75,000 per film) for film promotion abroad.
- The cumulative limit of government funding (including tax credits) is 70% of the total project budget; beneficiaries must contribute at least 30% from other sources.
- Disbursement occurs in two phases: 70% upon signing the funding agreement, and the remaining 30% after completion and acceptance of a final project report.
Eligible projects & activities
- Strategic development of international business activities to expand or consolidate markets for Quebec cultural content.
- Export projects targeting specific business opportunities abroad to increase international sales or attract investors.
- Participation of Quebec works in international festivals or prestigious awards ceremonies outside Quebec.
- Promotion and release of Quebec feature films in foreign territories (including cinema, video-on-demand, and digital platforms).
- Implementation of major or unique international initiatives that are significant for the industry or the company's growth.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 70,000
Participating in a overseas book fair to promote local publishing houses
$ 75,000
Promoting local indie films at the Toronto International Film Festival
$ 65,000
Launching a local literature promotional campaign
$ 80,000
Establishing local music representation at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival
$ 60,000
Supporting bilingual dubbing for local TV series for distribution in Latin America
$ 50,000
Strategic business development mission for local artists
Eligibility criteria of the Export and cultural visibility support program program
- The applicant must be a Quebec-based company operating in the cultural sectors of audiovisual, music and variety shows, book publishing, arts and crafts, visual arts market, or interactive works within these domains.
- The company must have its head office located in Quebec, where the main decision-making activities take place.
- Eligible applicant types include for-profit businesses (including sole proprietorships), non-profit organizations, cooperatives, consortiums of Quebec companies, and sectoral associations of cultural enterprises.
- The applicant must meet SODEC's Quebec ownership requirements relevant to their specific cultural domain.
- The applicant must have fulfilled all obligations from any previous participation in SODEC programs.
Who is eligible?
- Quebec-based cultural enterprises in the audiovisual sector
- Companies operating in music and variety shows
- Firms in the book and publishing sector
- Businesses in the crafts and art market
- Companies producing interactive works within these domains
Who is not eligible
- Companies that do not operate in the cultural sectors of audiovisual, music and variety shows, book and publishing, fine crafts and art market, or interactive works within these fields.
- Enterprises whose headquarters are not established in Quebec.
- Applicants who have not respected previous commitments to SODEC under this or other SODEC programs.
- Projects eligible under other SODEXPORT program components cannot apply to Volet 5 (Strategic Initiatives).
Eligible expenses
- International and local transportation costs in economy class.
- Accommodation expenses in the targeted territories.
- Promotion, press, and publicity expenses (traditional and digital).
- Production of promotional materials designed for export activities, including translation costs where applicable.
- Accreditation fees and space rental costs (when no collective SODEC presence exists at the event).
- Consulting fees for independent experts for work performed outside Quebec and for negotiating commercial agreements (subject to specific caps).
- Legal fees related to commercial agreements outside Quebec.
- Interpreter fees, if required.
- International film festival registration fees (for short films only).
- Subtitling, dubbing, or voice-over expenses not covered by other funds for up to two episodes per series/miniseries and for trailers of feature films.
- Networking expenses (for category 1 festivals).
- Copy and third-language subtitling expenses when mandatory (certain festival categories only).
- Transport or transfer of copies (when applicable for festivals).
- All other expenses deemed relevant and necessary for carrying out the proposed commercial strategy or project.
Eligible geographic areas
- Companies whose head office is established in Quebec.
Eligibility criteria of the Export and cultural visibility support program program
- Clarity and relevance of the proposed strategy or project in relation to the company's development.
- Commercial potential of the strategy or project.
- Feasibility and practicality of the proposed activities.
- Company's capacity and experience to successfully execute the project.
- Expected outcomes and anticipated impacts of the proposed activities.
How to apply to the Export and cultural visibility support program program
1
Create an account SOD@ccès
- Access the secure electronic submission portal SOD@ccès.
- Create an account if you haven't done so already, or log in if you already have an account.
2
Preparation of the application
- Draft the export business development strategy detailing the activities, target markets, and expected results.
- Develop a detailed budget forecast for the business strategy, including a financing structure.
- Gather the financial statements from the last two fiscal years of the company, if not already provided.
- Calculate the gross sales outside Quebec for the last two years and project those for the next two years.
3
Submission of the request
- Log in to the SOD@ccès portal with your account.
- Download all required documents, including the strategy, budget, financial statements, and sales forecasts.
- Fill out the online application form accurately.
- Submit the application before the deadline specified on the SODEC website.
4
Confirmation and follow-up
- Receive confirmation of the submission of the application via the portal or by email.
- Save this confirmation for future reference and follow-up.
Additional information
- Incomplete applications or missing documentation will result in inadmissibility.
- The SODEC reserves the right to request original supporting documents or additional information at any stage.
- Submission deadlines and program numbers for each funding stream are detailed on the SODEC website and may vary by component.
- Final reports are required within three or six months of project completion, depending on the funding stream, and are a condition for final grant disbursement.
Contact Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)
CinemaTele.International@sodec.gouv.qc.ca
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