National fund Canada, Montreal

Development Program

Run by Telefilm Canada

Canada's federal feature film agency pays for script drafts and packaging through a production company, from a first draft to the attachment of a director and distributor. A project can be funded up to four times, and the money comes back to Telefilm only once the film shoots. Telefilm is retiring the General Stream after fiscal 2026-2027.

Repayable, up to CA$100,000Open to writers in CanadaA production company

Next dates not yet published

The money

Amount
Up to CA$100,000Prequalified companies: up to CAD 100,000 (Tier A, up to three projects) or CAD 60,000 (Tier B, up to two projects) per application; the selective streams' ceilings are set in the guidelines. Every development advance is repaid on the first day of principal photography.
What it is
RepayableA loan, an advance on receipts or a conditionally repayable grant: it is paid back only out of what the film earns.
To apply
Free

Who can apply

Applicant
A production company
Where you write
In Canada
Rules
A Canadian feature film production company with its head office and activities in Canada, applying through Telefilm's Dialogue portal. Prequalified companies are chosen by a performance score; the selective streams (General, Indigenous, and one for Black people and other people of color) weigh the lead producer's track record. Every writer attached at the first draft stage has to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Stages
Development
Formats
Feature, Animation
Language of the application
English, French

When to apply

The fund opens once a year. The next cycle's dates are not yet published; we add them when they are. One intake a year. The 2026-2027 window ran August 31 to September 11, 2026; the 2027-2028 dates are not yet published.

RoundCloses
2026-2027 cycle closedSep 11, 2026 passed

Dates are as the funder states them. Check the time of day and the time zone on the official page.

What it gives besides money

A business affairs analyst and a regional feature film executive follow each funded project.

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