MONTREAL – Following the funding decisions for the first intake of its Career Development Initiatives Program, Telefilm Canada announces an investment of $997,075 in 27 initiatives, including 21 through the Selective Stream and 6 through the Prequalified Stream.

This first intake was open to activities with start dates between October 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027. A total of 60 eligible applications were assessed.

Launched in June 2026, the Career Development Initiatives Program supports activities that contribute to the professional development of talent and members of Canada’s audiovisual industry. The funding  decisions for this first intake reflect Telefilm’s commitment to supporting a balanced portfolio of initiatives, particularly in terms of regional representation, participant diversity, market access and skills development.  
 
Telefilm Canada remains committed to ensuring transparency in its funding decisions by providing information on the projects and initiatives selected under its various programs.

Funded Initiatives – Selective Stream 

2026 – 2027 FILM 5 – Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative Limited 

2026 ACE Program – Animation Career Excelerator (ACE Canada) Society 

2026 BSO Global Markets Accelerator – Black Screen Office 

2026 Feature Film Writer & Producer Incubator and Accelerator – Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association (SMPIA) Inc. 

2026 On Screen Manitoba Mentorship and Work-Integrated Learning Program – ON SCREEN MANITOBA INCORPORATED 

2026 OYA Scale Up – OYA Black Arts Coalition 

2026 QEPC Mentorship Program for OLMC Producers in Quebec – The Quebec English-Language Production Council (QEPC) 

2026 Sustainability Practitioners Internship Program – Sustainable Entertainment Society 

2026 WFF Talent Labs Portfolio – Whistler Film Festival Society 

2027 Breaking Through the Screens: Mentorship Training Program – Charles Taylor Theatre & Media Arts Association 

2027 DSO Industry Event Access Program – Disability Screen Office 

2027 Genre Film Lab (formerly From Our Dark Side) – Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver 

2027 Reelworld E20 Program – Reelworld Screen Institute 

2027 Reelworld Producer Program – Reelworld Screen Institute 

2027 SMI Impact Mentorship – SMI Film Society 

Course des régions pancanadienne 2026 – Course Estrie 

Fusée – Programme d’accélération de carrière 2026 – Coalition M.É.D.I.A 

Initiative Plan séquence du RACCORD 2026 – Regroupement des artistes cinéastes de la francophonie canadienne (RACCORD) 

Initiatives du Wapikoni (Projet Mamowi) 2027 – Corporation Wapikoni Mobile 

Momentum : Incubateur de récits afro-queer francophones 2026 – Fondation Massimadi 

Pitch des scénaristes de l’Académie – Cinéma 2027 – Académie canadienne du cinéma et de la télévision – Section Québec 

Funded Initiatives – Prequalified Stream 

2026 CFC Actors Conservatory – Canadian Film Centre 

2026 CFC Makeup Intensive – Canadian Film Centre 

2026 Conception d’expériences immersives – Institut national de l’image et du son 

2026 NSI AI and Virtual Production for Screen Industry Innovation – National Screen Institute – Canada 

2027 CFC Series Lab – Canadian Film Centre 

Création de l’image et narration visuelle 2027 – Institut national de l’image et du son 

The next application period for the Career Development Initiatives Program, for activities with start dates between April 1 and September 30, 2027, will be open from November 3, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. ET to November 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Telefilm also invites members of Canada’s audiovisual industry to participate in its national survey as part of the development of its 2027-2030 Strategic Plan. The survey is open until September 13, 2026.

Complete the survey. 

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About Telefilm Canada 
Founded in 1967, Telefilm is a Crown corporation dedicated to investing in the development, production, promotion, and distribution of Canadian and Indigenous audiovisual content. As the largest investor in Canadian cinema, Telefilm contributes to the economic strength and cultural impact of the audiovisual sector in collaboration with industry members. Telefilm also makes recommendations to the Department of Canadian Heritage regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund.  

Media inquiries:  

Joyce Richards  
Advisor, Strategic Communications  
Telefilm Canada