SODEC — Development Aid Program
QC, Canada
The Development Assistance Program (2024-2025) by SODEC aims to support and foster the growth of quality, original, and engaging projects within Quebec's production companies.
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateMarch 01, 2024
- grant_single|closingDateMarch 31, 2024
grant_single|financingType
Loans and Capital investments
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Information and cultural industries
grant_single|grantors
- Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The SODEC Development Assistance Program for 2024-2025 aims to financially support the development of high-quality, original, and engaging projects, including long fiction films, medium and long documentaries, and animation feature prototypes. Eligible activities include writing, rewriting, and prototyping, with a focus on enhancing creative conditions and preparing projects for eventual production and screen presentation.
grant_single_labels|projects
The grant program by SODEC supports the development of long fiction films, medium and long documentaries, and prototyping for animated long films. It aims to help Quebec-based production companies by providing selective or corporate financial aid for project development.
- Development of long fiction films
- Development of medium and long documentaries
- Prototyping for animated long films
- Scriptwriting for first-time or experienced screenwriters
- Rewriting for projects transitioning to new production companies or screenwriters
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$85,000
Ottawa
Prototyping an animation feature film about Indigenous stories of Ottawa regions
$95,000
Toronto
Creation of a medium documentary on the environmental impact of urban sprawl
$150,000
Montreal
Development of a long fiction film about Montreal's historic neighborhoods
$45,000
Quebec City
Rewriting a script for a long fiction film that shifts to a new production company
$150,000
Vancouver
Developing a long fiction film about the history of Vancouver's Chinatown
$100,000
Calgary
Scriptwriting and research for a long documentary on Canadian Arctic exploration
grant_single_labels|admissibility
The grant supports Quebec-based production companies' development projects for feature films and mid-length and feature documentaries. Eligibility is based on the company meeting general program conditions and specific criteria for each grant component.
- A Quebec-based cinematographic and television production company must submit the financial aid application.
- First-time applicants must contact SODEC at least one month before the submission date to establish eligibility.
- Experienced production companies submitting a new format project must also establish eligibility with SODEC one month before the submission deadline.
- Applications without prior established eligibility will not be considered.
- Eligibility is determined based on the project's parameters and the specific conditions of each program component.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Yes, there are eligible types of companies for this grant. The SODEC supports Quebec-based film and television production companies under certain conditions.
- The company must be a Quebec-based film or television production company.
- First-time applicants must contact the SODEC at least one month before the submission date to establish eligibility.
- Experienced production companies wishing to apply for a different format must also contact the SODEC at least one month before the submission date to establish eligibility.
- Companies must demonstrate proof of rights and options for the development and production of the project.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
Certain types of companies are not eligible for this grant.
- Broadcasting companies holding a license under the Broadcasting Act (L.R.C., c. B-9).
- Companies that become holders of such a license during the fiscal year in which the aid request is made.
- Companies that held such a license during the 24 months preceding the fiscal year in which the aid request is made.
- Companies that control, or are controlled by, a holder of such a license during the fiscal year in which the aid request is made, or during the 24 months preceding this fiscal year.
- Production companies with a minority stake in a broadcasting company or vice versa, unless the production is not intended for broadcast by the linked broadcaster.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
Yes, there are eligible expenses for this grant. These expenses include costs for scriptwriting, research, production, and various other project-related expenditures.
- Scriptwriting fees
- Research expenses
- Production costs
- Travel and accommodation expenses
- Prototyping expenses for animation projects
- Equipment rental and technical services
- Expenses related to the creation of storyboards
- Consulting fees
- Distribution rights acquisition
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The eligible geographic zones for the grant are those within Quebec. The applicant must be a Quebec-based enterprise that meets the specified conditions for eligibility.
- Quebec-based enterprises must have their principal establishment located in Quebec.
- Applicants must meet specific residence and operational conditions set by SODEC.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The grant has specific evaluation and selection criteria to assess project submissions for development. These criteria focus on the creative, financial, and exploitation aspects of the projects.
- Creative aspects:
- Interest and engagement of the overall proposal
- State of completion and qualitative attributes like originality, significance, and potential to resonate in Quebec or abroad
- Strength of narrative structure, character development, and the ability to evoke emotion and identification
- Quality of the directorial treatment indicated
- Quality of production oversight and the experience of producers
- Financial aspects:
- Amount requested in relation to the screenwriter's fee, including social benefits if applicable
- In the case of storyboarding, the amount requested in relation to production expenses
- For prototyping, the degree of financial structuring, requested amount concerning the budget, diversity of financial partners, and the producer's investment
- Exploitation aspects:
- Strategies for ensuring discoverability, accessibility, visibility, public engagement, promotion, and dissemination in Quebec and abroad
- For prototyping, strategies for securing financing and engaging financial partners, distributors, and broadcasters within Quebec and internationally
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Determine Eligibility
- Ensure the enterprise is a Quebec-based film or television production company.
- For first-time applicants, contact SODEC at least one month prior to the application date to establish eligibility.
- For experienced companies venturing into new formats, contact SODEC at least one month prior to the application date.
- Step 2: Gather Required Documents
- Ensure all documents needed for opening or updating the master file are prepared.
- Ensure all rights and options necessary for the development and production of the project are secured and documented.
- Step 3: Access the Portal
- Make use of the secure electronic submission portal, SOD@ccès, for application submission.
- Step 4: Submit Application
- Submit the application along with all required documents by the specified deadlines indicated in the SODEC calendar available on the website.
- Step 5: Wait for Evaluation
- Await the comparative and selective evaluation based on creative, financial, and exploitative criteria provided by SODEC.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
The grant includes additional information concerning program evaluations, regionalization agreements, tax declarations, and encouragement for sustainable practices.
- The SODEC periodically evaluates the program and conducts various studies to adapt its intervention strategy or tools to the needs of cultural enterprises. Recipients must provide all necessary records and information for up to five years after receiving financial assistance, which will be kept confidential and only published as aggregated data.
- The SODEC may sign specific regionalization agreements with regional organizations aimed at concretizing regional development objectives, in partnership with other entities that contribute to the cultural enterprises' growth.
- The SODEC is required to submit an information return to the Ministry of Revenue for any contractual payment or grant issued to a company or partnership, and will provide the beneficiaries with a Relevé 27 for the sums paid during the year.
- The SODEC encourages its clientele to develop green and responsible business practices and models.
Apply to this program
SODEC Development Assistance Program 2024-2025
The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) offers financial support to Quebec-based film and television production companies for developing high-quality, original projects. This program aims to enhance conditions for creation and promote projects ready for production and subsequent screen adaptation.
Comprehensive Insight into the SODEC Development Assistance Program 2024-2025
The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) has introduced the Development Assistance Program for the fiscal years 2024-2025, aimed at bolstering the Quebec cultural landscape through targeted financial support for film and television production companies. This robust initiative is strategically structured to foster the creation and advancement of diverse, innovative, and engaging projects that hold the potential to resonate both within Quebec and internationally. Below is a detailed exploration of the program’s range, eligibility criteria, participation modes, and obligations.
General Objectives
The Development Assistance Program by SODEC is crafted with the following core objectives: 1. To encourage the development of quality projects that are original, engaging, diverse in genres, and possess a significant potential to thrive in Quebec or internationally. 2. To ensure that projects are adequately developed to be production-ready, facilitating their eventual transition to the screen. 3. To improve the overarching conditions for creation, allowing cultural enterprises to nurture and execute their creative visions effectively.
Eligibility Criteria
General Conditions
- The program supports development projects for feature-length fiction films and medium to feature-length single documentary works under both selective (Component 1) and corporate assistance modes (Component 2). Additionally, it backs the prototyping phase for feature-length animation films under selective assistance. - Applications for financial aid must be submitted by Quebec-based film and television production companies compliant with the general and specific conditions detailed in the program guide. - New applicants or those seeking to venture into a new format must contact SODEC at least a month before their intended submission date to confirm eligibility. - Eligibility is based on both the project’s parameters and the specific conditions of the respective aid component, mandating the submission of all necessary documentation at the time of filing.
Exclusions
- Broadcasting companies holding or acquiring a broadcasting license under the Broadcasting Act (L.R.C., c. B-9) are either ineligible or conditionally eligible under specified terms. Companies affiliated corporately with a licensed broadcaster are also subject to these conditions.
Forms of Aid and Recovery Method
Form of Aid
- Financial aid for developing feature-length fiction films, and medium to feature-length documentaries is provided as an investment. - For prototyping feature-length animations, aid is given in the form of a grant. - In co-productions, SODEC’s financial participation covers only the Quebec portion of the budget. - Note: Retroactive aid is generally not available across all program components.
Recovery of Development Investments
- If SODEC subsequently funds the production, the development investment is integrated into the production investment. - If SODEC does not fund the production, the development investment may be converted into a production subsidy under specific conditions, including meeting criteria for Quebec production and holding Quebec distribution rights. - If these conditions are unmet, the investment must be repaid on the first day of shooting. - Conversion to a production subsidy invalidates eligibility for further production or postproduction aid for that project.
Enterprise Obligations
- Financial assistance requires adherence to the program conditions and a formal financial aid agreement with SODEC. - Ongoing compliance with conditions of previous financial aid from SODEC is required. - SODEC reserves the right to request necessary information or documentation for processing and monitoring and to validate declared expenses.
Submission and Deadlines
Applications for aid must be submitted electronically through the secure SOD@ccès portal, with all required documents attached, by the deadlines specified in SODEC’s submission calendar available on their website.
Selective Assistance to Production Companies (Component 1)
Objectives
- To financially support the development of scenarios for feature-length fiction films and single medium to feature-length documentaries. - To facilitate prototyping to expedite funding processes for feature-length animations.
Specific Eligibility Conditions
- This component targets Quebec-based production companies with significant expertise in feature-length fiction or documentaries. - Companies must demonstrate having produced and screened at least one feature-length film or equivalent work, or a medium to feature-length documentary within the eight years preceding the application. - Aid covers all script development phases or, in co-productions, the Quebec-incurred writing costs.
Project Evaluation
- Fiction projects are assessed based on creative merit, financial realism, and exploitation strategy, focusing on quality, originality, team experience, budget alignment, and market strategy. - Documentary projects are evaluated on the project’s depth, narrative engagement, potential reach within Quebec and internationally, financial realism, and market strategy. - The program is competitive and selective, with funding allocations influenced by available SODEC resources, prioritizing French-language projects up to 80% of the budget.
Financial Participation
- Development aid can reach up to $50,000, covering 100% of the writer’s fees for fiction and justified research, shooting fees, and other documentary expenses. - Rewriting aid up to $10,000 for scenarios undergoing significant changes is available, equating to 100% of the writer’s fees. - Prototyping aid, available as grants, can fund up to 50% of Quebec expenses to a maximum of $250,000.
Disbursement Modalities
- Generally, aid is disbursed in two installments, with final payments contingent on project cost reports or audited cost approvals, particularly for budgets over $500,000.
Corporate Assistance to Production Companies (Component 2)
Objectives
- To support active companies in producing various long-form media, granting flexibility and autonomy in diverse project development. - To encourage the renewal and diversification of creative subjects and genres.
Eligibility
- This triennial aid component targets highly active Quebec production companies qualifying through a point-based system in either fiction or documentary categories. - Eligibility is based on the number of qualifying productions released or supported within the past eight years, with minimum point thresholds outlined in specific scoring grids.
Obligations and Conditions
- Companies receiving corporate aid cannot apply for selective aid but may apply for animation prototyping aid. - Aid must exclusively fund project development fitting Quebec production definitions, with at least half the projects involving female writers, and 80% in French. - Companies must fully utilize the corporate envelope within the three-year cycle, with any unused funds requiring repayment.
Financial Participation
- Corporate aid takes the form of a development investment for an array of projects, ranging from $150,000 to $200,000 depending on the achieved score, valid for three years. - Disbursements follow a predetermined schedule, with unused funds deducted from final payments or clawed back if exceeding the final installment.
Transitional Period
- A transitional allowance is available for companies mid-cycle at program implementation, providing prorated compensation until the next triennial application in 2027-2028. This includes compliance with the new program's obligations.
Definitions and Additional Information
Key Definitions
- Clear definitions for terms like “Quebec enterprise,” “Production Quebecoise,” and categories of content are provided, detailing the specific conditions terms must meet to qualify for aid.
Required Documentation
- A master file with necessary corporate documentation must accompany applications, along with updates and project-specific documents.
Additional Considerations
- The SODEC conducts periodic program evaluations and may require data from beneficiaries. - Specific regional development agreements may supplement the program following signed agreements with regional organizations to foster cultural growth. The SODEC Development Assistance Program aims to strengthen the cultural fabric of Quebec by ensuring that innovative and diverse projects receive the necessary development support, facilitating their successful transition to production and broader dissemination.
