Production program
This program supports Canadian production companies looking to finance the production and/or postproduction stage of their feature film project(s).
Who can apply
Canadian production companies in search of financing for the production and/or post-production stage of their feature film project(s).
Objectives and Guiding Principles
The guiding principles of the Production program are:
- To support feature films that will speak to Canadian and international audiences, and that will bring both cultural impact and audience engagement. Telefilm seeks to fund films that will build and contribute to our Canadian cultural legacy.
- To support filmmakers with strong sensibilities and perspectives who will bring original voices and approaches and will advance cinematic expression.
- To support emerging and established filmmakers in advancing their artistic career through ambitious and impactful films.
- To support greater equity and representation in storytelling, that reflects gender parity and diversity from various communities including Indigenous, Black and People of Colour as well as members of LGBTQ2+ communities and People with Disabilities from all regions of the country.
- To support Indigenous content that is produced by creators who are Indigenous and/or have engaged in meaningful research, collaboration, and cooperation with Indigenous communities impacted by their projects.
- To support creative teams who are from underrepresented communities or who have engaged in meaningful research, collaboration, and cooperation with underrepresented communities, where films are dealing with the experiences of those communities.
Telefilm is launching the 2021-2022 program guidelines before the current pan-Canadian consultations are completed in the interest of supporting the industry and producers who require financing for upcoming production. Current changes reflect the ongoing feedback from the consultations and may be updated once the consultation process is completed.
Applicants may submit their projects any time during the program’s opening period. (See Key Dates below.)
Eligibility requirements
Please consult the Guidelines for specific eligibility requirements.
All applicants must meet the following criteria:
- be a Canadian controlled corporation
- have its head office in Canada and carry out its activities in Canada
- operate as an audiovisual production company
- producers and other key members of the production team must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents (unless the project is an audiovisual treaty coproduction)
All projects must meet the following criteria:
- be feature length (at least 75 minutes long), fictional, and be produced or completed in French, English or an Indigenous language
- be aimed primarily at the Canadian theatrical market while maximizing distribution on alternate platforms
- be under the ownership of the Canadian applicant(s)
- have its copyright owned by Canadians (unless the project is an audiovisual treaty coproduction)
- be under the financial, creative and distribution control of the eligible applicant(s)
- be solely written and directed by Canadian citizens or permanent residents (unless the project is an audiovisual treaty coproduction)
- have a budget of no less than $250,000
- if a post-production application, be submitted following rough assembly and prior to picture-lock
- English–language project budgeted at 3.5M or more: the project must have a firm commitment from an eligible Canadian distribution company for theatrical release in Canada within one year of delivery
- French-Language projects budgeted at $2.5M or more: the project must have a firm commitment from an eligible Canadian distribution company for theatrical release in Canada within one year of delivery
- Indigenous stream: Telefilm will set aside funding for projects by Canadian filmmakers from Indigenous communities. These projects will be assessed by an external jury selection committee having Indigenous representation. Applicant companies applying for funding under this Stream will have to show that:
- at least 51% of the project’s copyright is held by a production company majority-owned and controlled by Indigenous persons;
- the project is under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons;
- two of the three key members of the creative team (producer, director or screenwriter) are Indigenous.
Evaluation and Decision-making
Please consult the Guidelines, and the Essential Information Guide for details.
Advisory committees composed of external and internal experts will evaluate the projects based on the evaluation criteria described below and submit their recommendations to Telefilm. Each advisory committee will use an evaluation grid to score and rank eligible projects.
Evaluation criteria:
-
- Creative Elements including the originality, quality and production-readiness of the script, and the director’s vision for the film (for production applications) or the quality of the footage and potential of the film to reach audiences (for post-production applications)
- Track record of the Key Creative Personnel (Producer(s), Director and Screenwriter)
- Project Viability including the financial feasibility and creative viability of the project
- Cultural Impact and Audience Reach Potential
- If the project is an Audiovisual Treaty Coproduction, Telefilm will also assess the investment optimization, capacity-building and visibility and promotion of Canada’s audio-visual industry.
The decision-making will also take into account Telefilm’s objective to foster a diversity of voices in the industry, ensuring Telefilm funds a balanced portfolio of productions reflecting a variety of genres, budget and company sizes, regions across the country, and different viewpoints. To that effect, Telefilm may notably prioritize projects whose key creatives (director and/or screenwriter and/or producer) self-identify as Racialized Persons (including, but not limited to, Black and People of Colour), Indigenous, Women, and members of Official Language Minority Communities.
For more information, see the Guidelines, and the Essential Information Guide below.
Latest updates
UPDATED GUIDELINES
A new version of the Production Program guidelines is now available.
UPDATED DOCUMENTATION
New versions of the Essential Information Guide, the List of Required Documents, the Filmography, the Declaration regarding Indigenous Projects and the Summary of Audience Reach/Promotional Strategy are now available.
Guidelines
Current
Previous
Program applications must be submitted online.
Key Dates
Production program – English Market
Budgets under $2.5M
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Production program – English Market
Budgets under $2.5M
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Note IT support is only available until 5 pm EST
Production program – English Market
Budgets of $2.5M and higher
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Production program – English Market
Budgets $2.5M and higher
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Note IT support is only available until 5 pm EST
Production program – French Market
Budgets under $2.5M
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Production program – French Market
Budgets under $2.5M
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Note IT support is only available until 5 pm EST
Production program – French Market
Budgets $2.5M and higher
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Production program – French Market
Budgets $2.5M and higher
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Note IT support is only available until 5 pm EST
Please note that the opening dates for French-Language projects budgeted at less than $2.5M will be announced this spring.
Production program – Indigenous Stream
All budget levels
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Language(s): French, English, Indigenous languages
Production program – Indigenous Stream
All budget levels
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Language: English, French, Indigenous languages
Note IT support is only available until 5 pm EST
Production program –Audiovisual Treaty Coproductions With a Majority Canadian Coproducer
All budget levels
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Language(s): French, English, Indigenous languages
*Subject to availability of funds.
**Please contact your Feature Film Executive before applying
Production program –Audiovisual Treaty Coproductions With a Majority Canadian Coproducer
All budget levels
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Language: English, French, Indigenous languages
*Subject to availability of funds.
**Please contact your Feature Film Executive before applying
Note IT support is only available until 5 pm EST
Audiovisual Treaty Coproductions with a Minority Canadian Coproducer
Regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Western region
Language: English, French, Indigenous languages
Budget: all budget levels
*Subject to availability of funds.
**Please contact your Feature Film Executive before applying
Resources
Presentation – Information Session on Production Program
List of Required Documents
Designation of Main Applicant and Sharing of Project Score
Elements of Track Record (currently under review)
Scoring Grid – Success Index (currently under review)
Telefilm Canada's Success Index : List of festivals and events (currently under review)
List of Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Requirements for Feature Films
Authorization/revocation of representative with regards to Telefilm
Questionnaire on the independence of the independent auditor
Templates
Standard Budget Template
Standard Budget Template for Greenlight Funding
Breakdown of Expenditures Incurred Outside the Coproducing Countries
Summary of Audience Reach/Promotional Strategy
Explanation of Cost Report Variances Template
Exploitation Report Template
Short Exploitation Report Template
Filmography for Producer, Director and Screenwriter
Declarations & Affidavits
Declaration of Canadian Status of Corporation and Corporate Information
Declaration of Related-Party Transactions at Final Costs
Declaration of Costs Incurred and Paid to Date
Affidavit – Final Costs
Declaration – Canadian Content
Declaration Regarding Indigenous Projects
Business policies
Distribution Terms & Contracts Requirements (currently under review)
Budgets and Production Financing Requirements
CFFF Outside Readers Policy
Accounting and Reporting Requirements (2016)
Accounting and Reporting Requirements (2016) - Summary of Changes
Accounting and Reporting Requirements (2014)
Accounting and Reporting Requirements (2006)
Contact persons
Atlantic & Quebec
Carmela Sciortino
Ontario, Nunavut & West
Lead, Inclusion Initiatives and Content Analyst
Inclusion Initiatives Advisor and Content Analyst, French Market
If you are applying to the Indigenous stream for the first time, or have questions about the Indigenous jury process, please contact info@telefilm.ca.