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First Look – EFM 2027

Berlin, Germany, February 10 to 16, 2027

Deadline

November 16, 2026

CALL FOR ENTRIES

(Market screening – Narrative feature films currently in post-production)

Organized by Telefilm Canada for a third consecutive year, FIRST LOOK at EFM is an export and promotion initiative that will showcase a selection of 6 to 8 Canadian feature-length fiction films to the international acquisition community at the European Film Market (Berlin).

The aim of the showcase is to promote Canadian feature films with export potential, with an objective of finding an international sales agent.

First Look is centered around a market screening and the services of a consultant. The screening will present 6 to 8 excerpts (6 minutes/each) of the selected films in post-production to international buyers. Sales agents, distributors and festival programmers will be targeted, invited and actively solicited by the consultant to attend the screening. This showcase will present a selection of films that should hit the international festival circuit and market in 2027.

Selection will be based on the information requested in the Telefilm Canada form. An excerpt from the film will only be required at a later stage if the film is selected.

Producers will be notified of the selection results in November. Selected participants will then have a private virtual meeting with the Montreal-based specialist to discuss an export strategy for their film.

The consultant will also provide guidance on the preparation of promotional materials (synopsis, stills and film clips), promote the film’s EFM screening, conduct follow-ups with sales agents after the market, and provide each participant with an individual report.

The production companies behind the films selected for this initiative are not required to be present.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS

To be considered eligible, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a Canadian controlled corporation, as determined under sections 26 to 28 of the Investment Canada Act.
  • Have its head office in Canada and carry out its activities in Canada.
  • Operate as an audiovisual production company.
  • Be in the search for an international sales agent for the submitted project.
  • If selected, be able to produce and deliver to Telefilm Canada a file that includes an excerpt (6 minutes) of the film by January 9, 2027.
  • If selected, be available to participate in a virtual meeting with the consultant in November and December 2026.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FILM

To be considered eligible, a film must:

  • Be a narrative feature length film financed in production by the Canada Feature Film Fund.
  • Not have a sales agent attached to the film.
  • Be at the post-production phase.
  • Be directed by a Canadian director.
  • If the film is a coproduction, be recognized as a majority treaty coproduction by the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
  • Be aimed primarily at the Canadian theatrical market, with a strong potential for international sales.
SELECTION CRITERIA

Telefilm Canada will select 6 to 8 films to participate in this initiative. Decision-making will be based on qualitative information to select the projects with the best potential for success on the international market. The following criteria will serve as a guide, and no specific weighting will be attributed to each of the components:

  • International track record of the applicant production company.
  • International track record of the filmmaker.
  • Creative elements of the project, including originality and quality of the synopsis.
  • The marketability of different elements of the film (e.g. renowned director, screenwriter, and/or performer(s), genre of the film, etc.).

In addition, decision making may consider region of applicants to ensure a balanced portfolio of projects that reflects a variety of genres and regions across Canada.

SUBMIT HERE

MORE INFORMATION

If you have any questions regarding the submission process, you may contact Justin Clement.

If you have questions about the initiative, you may contact Danielle Belanger.

Promotion and Communications
Telefilm Canada, Montréal
DL-Festivals@telefilm.ca
1 800 567-0890