Closed
Source verified July 31, 2026
Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M
Finances feature film production and post-production
Funding available
Up to 49% of project cost
Deadline
February 10, 2026
Opened January 27, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
The Production Program finances Canadian audiovisual production companies at the production or post-production stage of feature film projects. It supports feature-length fictional films in French, English, an Indigenous language, or another language for artistic imperatives, aimed primarily at the Canadian theatrical market.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Up to 49% 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
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Production or post-production of feature-length fictional films.
Documents Needed
- Community Engagement Plan
- Audience Engagement and Discoverability Plan
- Sustainability Plan
Official resources
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian audiovisual production companies.
- Broadcaster-affiliated production companies based outside of Quebec that meet the basic eligibility criteria.
Who is not eligible
- Individuals
Eligible expenses
- Costs associated with the final polish of the script, closing agreements with financial participants, attaching cast and early pre-production.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Projects done on contract for, or produced by, a government agency, or produced primarily for industrial, corporate or institutional purposes.
- Advertising, student projects, and projects using film as a tool to record or document existing artworks.
- Documentary or non-fiction projects.
- Conventional forms of television entertainment, such as pilots, movies-of-the-week, and news reports.
- Projects not destined for a theatrical or festival audience.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- Outside Quebec for broadcaster-affiliated production companies
Selection criteria
- Creative Elements: 50 points for projects under $3.5M, 40 points for projects of $3.5M or more, and 20 points for minority coproductions with a Canadian share of 30% or less.
- Track Record of the Key Creative Personnel (Producer(s), Director(s), Screenwriter(s)): 10 points for projects under $3.5M, 20 points for projects of $3.5M or more, and 25 points for minority coproductions with a Canadian share of 30% or less.
- Project Viability: 20 points for projects under $3.5M, 20 points for projects of $3.5M or more, and 35 points for minority coproductions with a Canadian share of 30% or less.
- Cultural Impact and Audience Reach Potential: 20 points for all three categories.
- The decision-making process considers diversity of voices and a balanced portfolio of productions reflecting a variety of genres, budgets and company sizes, regions across the country, and different viewpoints. Telefilm may prioritize projects whose key creative personnel are Indigenous, Black people, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, Gender-diverse identities and expressions, Persons with disabilities, or Members of Official Language Minority Communities; gender parity remains a priority and intersectionality is considered.
How to apply
- Complete the online application form and upload the required documents using Dialogue.
- For treaty coproduction recommendations, file the application separately at the earliest of 40% of the financing confirmed (exclusive of tax credits) or after an offer of financing from Telefilm has been received, and in all cases no later than 30 days before the start of principal photography; 60 days for coproductions with Poland, Hungary or Hong Kong.
- If the application is incomplete, submit the missing documentation within five business days of the notice.
Processing and Agreement
- Provided the applications are complete, Telefilm aims to make funding decisions on production financing requests within 80 business days of the closing date.
- Applicants with incomplete files will be notified and given five business days to submit missing documentation.
- Documentation submitted after the application form, or after the notice period for incomplete files, may not be considered in the decision-making process.
- Telefilm may request additional information at any time.
Additional information
- It is recommended to contact your Feature Film Executive before submitting, especially if you are a first-time applicant or if Telefilm is not yet aware of your project.
- IT support is only available on business days until 5:00 pm EST.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M Program
What is the Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M?
The Production Program finances Canadian audiovisual production companies at the production or post-production stage of feature film projects. It supports feature-length fictional films in French, English, an Indigenous language, or another language for artistic imperatives, aimed primarily at the Canadian theatrical market.
How much funding can be received?
Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M Funds up to 49% of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was February 10, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M program?
To be eligible for the Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M program, you must:
The applicant must be a Canadian-controlled corporation with its head office and activities in Canada.
The applicant must operate as an audiovisual production company.
Individual producers and other key production personnel exercising creative and financial control must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
What expenses are eligible under Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M?
Production or post-production of feature-length fictional films.
Who can I contact for more information about the Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M?
You can contact Telefilm Canada by email at coordination@telefilm.ca or by phone at 438-806-4865.
Where is the Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M available?
The Production program — English market budgets under $3.5M program is available across Canada.