Telefilm has made a number of changes to its Export Assistance and International Marketing programs as the funder looks to further support the export-focused mandate of its 2018-2020 strategic plan.

In the Export Assistance program, Telefilm has doubled the maximum amount that a single project can receive to $90,000, from $45,000.

The Export Assistance program aims to support the promotion and international marketing strategy for Canadian features by providing financial backing to distribution companies that have picked up the rights to Canadian films in select foreign territories. The program is open to projects that have received production financing from Telefilm and have budgets of $2.5 million or less.

Telefilm has also expanded the number of countries included in the program, adding Australia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, New Zealand and Sweden to the list, which also includes Brazil, Germany, Italy, South Korea, the U.K. and Switzerland. In addition, the funder also increased the maximum amount of support it will give to a certain project per territory to $45,000.

Under the Export Assistance program’s revised guidelines, Telefilm will also now match the mimimum amount guaranteed by the foreign distributor for a certain project.

Elsewhere, Telefilm added around 40 festivals, short-film festivals, coproduction forums and markets to the list of eligible events for its International Marketing – Participation in International Festivals and Events program. The program provides funding to Canadian prodcos looking to finance the promotion and international marketing of productions that have been selected for international festivals.

Films that get into festivals including Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Reykjavik International Film Festival and Slamdance Film Festival are eligible to receive the funding. (A full list of the eligible events is here.)

Last month, Canadian Heritage announced $7-million-per-year funding program aimed at fostering relationships between Canadian and international businesses. The funding, which is part of the government’s $125-million export strategy, has been earmarked for organizations including Telefilm, the Canada Book Fund and the Canada Periodical Fund to increase export funding. Details on exactly how those funds will be allocated has not yet been announced.

Most recently, Telefilm revealed the 45 projects to receive funding through the inaugural round of its Talent to Watch Program, with each receiving up to $127,500. The projects picking up funding included Ted Stenson’s Events Transpiring Before, During, and After a High School Basketball Game, Denver Jackson’s Esluna: The World Beyond, Madison Thomas’ Ruthless Souls, Ho Che Anderson’s Le Corbeau, Amelia Moses’ Bleed With Me, Jillian Acreman’s Queen of the Andes and Taylor Olson’s Bone Cage.

Image: Shutterstock