Telefilm Canada has renewed its micro-budget production program to support emerging movie talent for a third year.

Telefilm during the first two years backed 22 films with budgets below $250,000, looking to digital platforms to build audiences and the festival circuit as launch pads.

Those included Christian Sparkes’ Cast No Shadow, named the best Atlantic feature at the Atlantic Film Festival, Kyle Thomas’ The Valley Below, which bowed at TIFF, and Suzanne Crocker’s All The Time in the World.

The third cycle of the micro-budget production program includes the new Program: The Official Language Minority Communities, which comes on top of existing components for mainstream and aboriginal filmmakers.

Films in the low-budget film program are measured by their performance on theatrical release, the number of downloads by internet and digital audiences and festival appearances and awards.

At the same time, the micro-budget program encourages filmmakers to go beyond theaters and festivals to reach new audiences on existing and emerging digital platforms.