Film and Television : Program Guidelines
This program aims to project Canada and Canadian culture abroad by supporting the presence of professionals in the Canadian film and television industry at international festivals abroad and certain pre-selected foreign markets. The grant program offers financial support for participation in international events abroad for the purpose of promoting a product, selling distribution rights, securing financing for a production and stimulating international co-productions.
Preference will be given to individuals with international experience and a proven success record. A detailed marketing strategy with clear objectives will be a critical evaluation factor of your application. The event to which the candidate is applying will also be evaluated based on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's (DFAIT) priorities and level of visibility for Canada.
Within this program, we offer travel assistance to producers and travel assistance to directors. The following are the eligibility criteria, guidelines and assistance amounts for both the producer and director programs.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant (producer/director) of the production must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;
- The production must be Canadian;
- The production must be in competition or in the main section of non-competitive events. (The Department will decide which section will be deemed "main section" in non-competitive events).
Inelgible Candidates And Projects
- Talent from the film (i.e. actors)
- Executive Producers
- Invitation to be a programmer for an international film festival
- Invitation to be a jury member for an international film festival
- Invitation to be a panelist at an international conference
- Business development and export promotion trips
- Project research, development or production
- Attendance at annual meetings of international associations
- Translation or subtitling of audiovisual productions
- Shipping of films
Guidelines And Timelines
- A complete application includes an on-line application, a videocassette (or DVD) copy of your project or a synopsis of your project, a copy of your letter of invitation, and a press kit;
- Conformity with these guidelines does not guarantee funding by the program;
- An applicant will generally be granted assistance once per fiscal year (April 1st-March 31st);
- The applicant must indicate all other organizations to which he/she has applied for funding or the application may be rejected;
- An applicant can request funding for ONE individual to attend ONE event per application;
- As part of the grant agreement, grant recipients MUST contact the Canadian representative in the country to which they are traveling to notify them of your purpose of travel (a directory of Canadian cultural attachés abroad can be located at:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/arts/abroad-en.asp);
- A requirement of the grant agreement, is the online submission of a TRIP REPORT and FINAL BUDGET after returning to Canada. Failure to submit these documents will impede subsequent funding;
- The applicant must receive confirmation that the Department has received a complete application no less than TWO WEEKS PRIOR to your date of departure or your application may be rejected;
- The applicant should be aware that confirmation of grant approval may not be received until a few days prior to departure;
- The applicant should be aware that payment may not be received until after the event is completed.
Amount Of The Grant
Subject to the availability of funds, grants are allocated in fixed amounts based on the travel destination. The amount generally covers the cost of a return economy airfare. The grant amounts are set as indicated below:
North America: $750-1,000
Europe and Latin America: $1,200- $1,500
Australia and New Zealand: $2,000
Asia and Africa: $2,000
Important Note:
In order to be eligible for funding, the Program for Export Market Development (PEMD) or any other federal or provincial source CANNOT be used to cover the same travel cost (i.e. return economy airfare). Total funding (federal and/or provincial) cannot exceed 75% of the total budget.
Payment:
Once the grant is approved a grant agreement will be sent out to the applicant, which must be signed before the payment procedures can be initiated. Please note that cheques are issued by Public Works and Government Services Canada and not by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Please also note that payment may not be received until after the trip is completed.
During the evaluation process, the Department may consult, on a confidential basis, with other arts funding agencies and/or our Canadian representatives abroad on your application.
Eligible Events For Producers
To festivals abroad
The grant program offers support to Canadian producers to accompany directors to an international festival abroad where their work has been selected for official competition. Consideration will also be given to producers who will attend a film festival as the sole representative for the film (i.e. the director cannot attend the festival). A written confirmation from the director confirming his/her absence from the festival must be submitted with the application package.
If several Canadian films are selected in an eligible festival section, the Department will request that the festival organizers select which producers should receive travel assistance.
To pre-selected foreign markets or pitching sessions
If a project has been pre-selected for a pitching session at an international event or market, the producer of the project is eligible to apply for a travel grant. The following markets have been identified as a priority for this initiative:
International Film Project - New York
International Documentary Forum- Amsterdam (IDFA)
Cinemart - Rotterdam
INELIGIBLE EVENTS include markets such as MIPCOM, MIPTV, NATPE, MIFED, Cannes marché du film and Berlin Market.
For export promotion assistance, please refer to the Program for Export Market Development at http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/pemd/menu-en.asp
Eligible Events For Directors
Directors are eligible to apply for travel assistance to international events, which have received the endorsement of the Canadian Embassy, High Commission, Consulate or Trade Office in the territory. The Canadian Mission abroad will be consulted during the application process to confirm their involvement in the event. The festival in question must be credible, have an international participation, and be recognized as a good venue for Canadian visibility.
The director cannot apply to this program if he/she is receiving travel assistance from another federal source, namely Telefilm Canada or the Canada Council for the Arts, or provincial sources.
This program enables Canadian international festivals to invite foreign buyers for the purpose of promoting Canadian films, videos and television programming to an international market. Priority will be given to festivals with an international reputation that aim to launch the careers of filmmakers and to develop market demand for Canadian film and television programming abroad.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The festival must be in existence for at least THREE years in its current format and location;
- The festival must have an industry or professional component such as a forum, market, symposium or conference which aims to promote international business development and co-productions with Canada;
- Festivals must clearly demonstrate innovation and creativity in the ways in which the presence of their foreign guests will be maximized at the festival to develop international market opportunities for Canadians.
Guidelines:
- A complete application includes an on-line application with more detailed documents such as budgets, press coverage and the proposed program sent by mail;
- Conformity with these guidelines does not guarantee funding by the program;
- Applications should be completed no less than FOUR MONTHS prior to the festival start date;
- A list of proposed buyers to be invited by the festival must be included as part of the application; a final list of buyers must be submitted prior to the beginning of the festival;
- The Department's financial support of the festival must be acknowledged in all media, print, signs and web-based material produced for the festival: deadlines for printed material should be provided in the application, particularly if a message from the Minister is desired;
- The festival must submit an on-line final budget and a final report with results, including sales opportunities that emerged from the presence of the subsidized buyers and a final list of foreign invitees.
Amount of the grant:
Subject to the availability of funds, the amount of the grant will generally cover the cost of return economy airfares for the foreign buyers invited by the festival. 10% of the grant will be withheld until the final report and budget are approved.
Important Notes:
- During the evaluation process, the Department may consult, on a confidential basis, with other arts funding agencies and/or our Canadian representatives abroad on your application;
- Decisions will generally be communicated two to four months after receipt of the application.
International Cultural Relations Division (PCR)
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1A 0G2
Email: culture.pcr@international.gc.ca
Telephone: (613) 992-6283
Toll free: 1-888-757-7752
Fax: (613) 992-5965
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