Closed
Source verified August 1, 2026
Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program
Support for established Canadian film festivals
Latest source updateLast Update: May 11, 2026Latest change: The program now shows the next intake dates and updated contact details, with minor wording and navigation changes.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: May 11, 2026
Latest change: The program now shows the next intake dates and updated contact details, with minor wording and navigation changes.
Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program updated
The Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program now includes specific opening and closing dates for the second intake window, which was previously listed as coming soon. The contact section also appears to have been updated with named regional contacts and an enrolment email, and the page layout/navigation has been simplified in places. No visible change was identified to applicant eligibility, funding terms, or the program’s target scope.
Funding available
$ 250,000
Deadline
July 7, 2026
Opened June 16, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
Telefilm Canada’s Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program supports Canadian-controlled organizations running medium to large-scale film festivals in Canada. It covers programming, communications and promotion, production, administration, and complementary activities such as film markets, forums, workshops, conferences, and professional networking meetings.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Enhance an existing program
- Implement environmental initiatives
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- General public
- Artists / creatives
Revenue structures
- Mixed revenue (50%+ earned)
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Medium to large-scale film festivals
- Complementary activities held only during the festival dates, including forums, workshops, conferences, professional networking and meetings
- Film markets that stimulate the sale of Canadian works and facilitate pre-financing of productions and coproduction partnerships
Documents Needed
- Authorization/Revocation of Representative with regards to Telefilm
- Audience Development and Engagement Proposal
- Activity Proposal
- Budget and Final Cost Report Template
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian-controlled organizations
- Organizations working in the film, television or digital media sectors
- Organizations with experience and expertise in organizing film festivals or markets
Who is not eligible
- Online-only festivals
- Broadcast-only festivals
Eligible expenses
- All salaries, professional fees and direct expenses incurred in connection with the funded activities only
- Programming: direct costs related to the development and delivery of the funded activities’ programming
- Communication and promotion: direct costs related to the communication and promotion strategy of the funded activities
- Production: direct costs of delivering the funded activities to its targeted audiences
- Administration: direct and reasonable costs related to the various costs of administering the funded activities
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs associated with year-round activities that are not associated with the festival or are not only held during the festival dates
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Promotion and support of Canadian content and talent, including the percentage of Canadian works exhibited in the previous edition, the measures taken to highlight Canadian content and talent, and the festival’s reach and impact
- Impactful audience development and engagement, including attendance in the previous edition, target audience understanding, outreach initiatives, community partnerships, and innovative programming
- Sound fiscal and operational management and timely reporting, including the financial situation of the festival and the applicant, the ability to deliver the proposed activities, key personnel experience, compliance history, and governance
- Dedication to meaningful inclusion and environmental sustainability measures
- Telefilm may prioritize festivals whose mandate is to only showcase and promote the work of creators who belong to communities supported through its Inclusion Initiatives
How to apply
- Ensure your Dialogue account and Organization have been created and are in good standing before submitting an application.
- Submit the application online via Dialogue during the appropriate application period.
- Include the documents from the list of required documents available on the Program’s webpage.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below and will be scored using an evaluation grid.
- External advisors with expertise in the arts and culture, event, marketing/communications or non-profit sector may be consulted in the evaluation of the applications.
- The decision-making process takes into account Telefilm’s objective to fund an equitable and balanced portfolio in terms of regional representation and diversity of voices.
- Telefilm reserves the right to reduce its funding upon review of final cost reports submitted by applicants.
- Not all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria are guaranteed to receive funding.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program Program
What is the Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program?
Telefilm Canada’s Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program supports Canadian-controlled organizations running medium to large-scale film festivals in Canada. It covers programming, communications and promotion, production, administration, and complementary activities such as film markets, forums, workshops, conferences, and professional networking meetings.
How much funding can be received?
Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program Funds up to 10% of admissible expenses, capped at $250,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was July 7, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program program?
To be eligible for the Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program program, you must:
Canadian-controlled organization with a head office in Canada
Experience organizing film festivals or markets in film, television or digital media sectors
Medium to large-scale festival with at least 7 editions, a minimum total activity budget of CAD 300,000, and an in-person or hybrid format
What expenses are eligible under Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program?
Medium to large-scale film festivals
Complementary activities held only during the festival dates, including forums, workshops, conferences, professional networking and meetings
Film markets that stimulate the sale of Canadian works and facilitate pre-financing of productions and coproduction partnerships
Who can I contact for more information about the Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program?
You can contact Telefilm Canada by email at coordination@telefilm.ca or by phone at 438-806-4865.
Where is the Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program available?
The Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program program is available across Canada.