Telefilm Canada announces new details on the Short-Term Compensation Fund

As announced on February 11, 2022, the Short-Term Compensation Fund (STCF) for Canadian Audiovisual Productions has been extended to March 31, 2023.  

Key dates: 

Opening date:  March 4, 2022 (11:00 am EST) for coverage starting on or after April 1, 2022.  

Closing date: March 31, 2023, or when the available funds allocated to the STCF will be exhausted (whichever comes first). 

*All applications must be submitted online via Dialogue. For new clients, please create an account here. 

Important information: 

Producers who have already applied to the STCF for a project that begins shooting before March 31, 2022 and extends beyond that date must reapply with a new, complete application for the portion of filming that takes place after March 31, 2022. This measure has been put in place to allow all eligible producers to apply on the new opening date (as stated above). Applications under the STCF will be processed on a first come, first served basis, incumbent on earliest date of start of principal photography. 

The STCF has updated the 2022-2023 guidelines by changing the maximum coverage amount for abandonment to $1.5M, which is the same maximum amount of coverage for interrupted projects. This change provides the needed flexibility to issue STCF Pre-Eligibility Agreements sooner for applications that are complete. To date, no STCF claims have been due to the abandonment of a project. 

The updated STCF Guidelines, the Applicant Designation Form and the Pre-Eligibility Attestation Form are available on our website. As well, you will find a new User Guide to assist with the enrolment and Dialogue application process.  

Telefilm will continue to accept new applications for projects with principal photography starting before March 31, 2022. Clients are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and a minimum of 10 business days prior to the commencement of shooting. Please reach out to the coordinator or analyst assigned to your STCF application, or email your questions to Covid-19@telefilm.ca.  

Interesting facts: 

The STCF has served and will continue to serve all eligible production companies including those from underrepresented groups. Between December 1, 2020 and December 1, 2021, 265 companies had applied to the STCF. Among those companies: 

• 34 (13%) are majority owned and controlled by Black and People of Colour 
• 27 (10%) are majority owned and controlled by members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities 

• 5 (2%) are majority owned and controlled by persons with disabilities 
• 24 (9%) are majority owned and controlled by Indigenous persons 
• 87 (33%) are majority owned and controlled by women 
• 28 (11%) are majority owned and controlled by members of Official Language Minority Communities 

Overall, 143 companies (54%) are majority owned and controlled by persons belonging to at least one under-represented group.