Following are the key British Columbia funding and investment sources available for Canadian independent film and television program development, production and/or distribution.

BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTS COUNCIL PROJECT ASSISTANCE FOR MEDIA ARTISTS PROGRAM
Development $$$: Eligible development costs cannot exceed 10% of award.
Production $$$: Up to $25,000 is available for ‘senior’ artists with a minimum of five years experience and an accumulated body of work in their field. Less experienced artists are eligible for a maximum of $10,000. Support is capped at 50% of the budget.
Post $$$: Funding of up to 50% of the post-production budget is available.
Criteria: Applicants must be independent filmmakers, video or new media artists who reside in B.C. (one year required) and have completed at least one prior professional production. Applicants must have final editorial authority over the project.
Eligible projects: Innovative, experimental and non-industrial film, video and new media projects. Animation, documentary, experimental and drama qualify.
Ineligible projects are those intended exclusively for theatrical release or primetime TV, industrial promotions or sponsored works.
Deadline: Under revision; see website for details
Contact: Walter Quan
Tel: (250) 356-1728
walter.quan@gov.bc.ca
www.bcartscouncil.ca

BRITISH COLUMBIA FILM
*Note: B.C. Film’s program slate is subject to change. Check the website at www.bcfilm.bc.ca for up-to-date information.
Development
Project Development Fund: Provides ‘market-triggered’ development financing for individual B.C.-based projects on a first-come, first-served basis.
Slate Development Fund: Offers a financing envelope for the development and marketing activities of a slate of projects.
International treaty coproductions and interprovincial coproductions are encouraged and are eligible, provided the project meets program guidelines.
Digital Readiness Program: Assists with the development of a company’s strategic digital business plan.
Optioning Fund: Provides financing for the initial optioning of a work by a Canadian author published by an eligible B.C. publisher.
Multi-Platform Exploration Fund: Provides financial support to proposals examining the multi-platform potential of a project or story concept.
Skills Development
Professional Internship Program: Supports the skills development of resident B.C. filmmakers in the areas of producing and television story editing through matching salary funding under the guidance of a veteran mentor.
Kick Start: In partnership with the Directors Guild of Canada – B.C., Kick Start offers funding annually for five emerging directors to produce a calling-card short film (see separate Kick Start listing).
Scholarship Program: Provides assistance to B.C. filmmakers chosen to attend various professional skills development opportunities.
Marketing opportunities
Passport to Markets Program:
Supports B.C. film and television production companies or sales agent/distributors to attend individual international markets and/or coproduction conferences/exchanges.
Passport to Markets Envelope Program: Supports B.C. film and television production companies or sales agents/distributors with a track record in film and television to attend multiple international markets and/or coproduction conferences/exchanges over the year.
Canada Pavilion: Partners with Telefilm Canada and other provincial and federal agencies to offer cost-shared business centers at select international markets.
Contact:
Tel: (604) 736-7997
bcf@bcfilm.bc.ca
www.bcfilm.bc.ca

EQUITY CAPITAL PROGRAM
B.C. residents who invest in a Venture Capital Corporation that invests in eligible small-business ventures, including ongoing B.C. indigenous film production, can garner a 30% tax credit. A total of $5 million can be invested in one company. Investors must be B.C. residents or taxable corporations.
New Media Venture Capital: This is an add-on to the ECP that provides an additional $5 million in tax credits for share capital that is invested in eligible small businesses engaged in the development, within B.C., of commercial interactive digital media products that educate, inform or entertain.
Contact: Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development
Tel: (604) 660-2421
1-800-663-7867 (toll free)
EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
www.cse.gov.bc.ca

FILM INCENTIVE BC
FIBC is an economic initiative of corporate refundable tax credits to encourage film and television production in British Columbia.
Basic Credit: 35% of qualified B.C. labor expenditures.
Regional Credit: 12.5% of qualified B.C. labor expenditures prorated by the number of days of principal photography in British Columbia outside of the designated Vancouver area to the total days of principal photography in B.C. This tax credit must be accessed in conjunction with the Basic Credit.
Distant Location Regional Credit: 6% of qualified B.C. labor expenditures prorated by the number of days of principal photography in British Columbia within a prescribed area to the total days of principal photography in B.C. This tax credit must be accessed in conjunction with the Regional Credit.
Training Credit: 30% of the amount paid to a B.C.-based individual registered in an approved training program. The tax credit is capped at 3% of the corporation’s qualified B.C. labor expenditure and must be accessed in conjunction with the Basic Credit.
Digital Animation or Visual Effects (DAVE) tax credit: 15% of the B.C. labor expenditures directly attributable to digital animation or visual effects activities. This tax credit must be accessed in conjunction with the Basic Credit.
Criteria: The corporation claiming the tax credit must be Canadian and have controlling ownership of the copyright in the production. The production must achieve a minimum of 6/10 Canadian-content points. At least 75% of principal photography must be shot in B.C. and at least 75% of total production costs and 75% of post-production costs must be paid to B.C.-based individuals or companies for goods or services provided in British Columbia.
The Regional Credit is for productions that shoot a minimum of five days in B.C. outside of the designated Vancouver area, representing more than 50% of principal photography days in B.C.
Trainees must be registered in an approved training program for the Training Credit.
Special rules apply for treaty coproductions, interprovincial coproductions and documentaries.
Contact: Robert Wong, director, Tax Credit Program
Tel: (604) 736-7997 x104
bcf@bcfilm.bc.ca
www.bcfilm.bc.ca

KICK START
The Kick Start Program is a joint initiative of the Directors Guild of Canada – British Columbia and British Columbia Film with the post-production assistance of Finalé Editworks, Post Modern Sound and Sharpe Sound.
Kick Start 2010 will award a $20,000 cash grant plus post-production ‘in-kind’ services to five emerging directors for the production of a 10-minute dramatic film or video. The successful recipients of this award must complete their projects under the guidance of a mentor from the industry, who will act as a consultant and resource person to the production.
Criteria: Applicants must be a B.C. resident and either a graduate from a post-secondary institution or a recognized film school, or possess equivalent experience in the film industry. Projects must be completed within a year and have a maximum cash budget of $50,000.
Contact: Sorrel Geddes, DGC BC Kick Start administrator
Tel: (604) 688-2976 x2231
communications@dgcbc.com
www.dgcbc.com

PRODUCTION SERVICES TAX CREDIT
The PSTC is an economic initiative of corporate refundable tax credits to encourage film and television production in British Columbia.
Basic PSTC: 25% of accredited B.C. labor expenditures.
Regional PSTC: 6% of accredited B.C. labor expenditures prorated by the number of days of principal photography in British Columbia outside of the designated Vancouver area to the total days of principal photography in B.C.
This tax credit must be accessed in conjunction with the Basic PSTC.
Distant Location Regional PSTC: 6% of qualified B.C. labor expenditures prorated by the number of days of principal photography in British Columbia within a prescribed area to the total days of principal photography in B.C. This tax credit must be accessed in conjunction with the Regional PSTC.
Digital Animation or Visual Effects (DAVE) tax credit: 15% of the accredited B.C. labor expenditures directly attributable to digital animation or visual effects activities.
This tax credit must be accessed in conjunction with the Basic PSTC.
There is no limit on the amount of the PSTC that can be claimed with respect to production, and there is no limit on the amount of the PSTC that a corporation or corporation group can claim.
Criteria: The corporation must have a permanent establishment in B.C. and must either own the copyright in the production or be contracted directly with the copyright owner of the production to provide production services.
Minimum budget levels:
For episodic television:
• Episodes that are less than a half-hour – $100,000 per episode.
• Episodes that are greater than a half-hour – $200,000 per episode.
• Where episodes are all or substantially all animated and are less than a half-hour – $0.
• All other cases – $1 million.
Contact: Robert Wong, director, Tax Credit Program
Tel: (604) 736-7997 x104
bcf@bcfilm.bc.ca
www.bcfilm.bc.ca