Telefilm Canada has decreased the maximum funding amounts for the Development Program’s Prequalified and Selective streams for fiscal 2024-25.

The Crown corporation announced a number of changes to the program on June 21, setting the opening date for Sept. 3.

In the Prequalified Stream, the maximum amount in Tier A has been decreased to $100,000, down from $125,000 in the previous fiscal year; Tier B has been lowered to $60,000, reduced from $75,000; and Tier C has dropped down to $35,000, a $2,000 reduction from last year’s $37,500.

The Prequalified Stream gives automatic development funding to 125 eligible production companies ranked under Telefilm’s performance ratio, which compares a film’s total revenues in relation to its budget, including domestic and international revenue. Tier A includes the top 25 eligible companies, followed by the next 50 eligible companies in Tier B, and the other 50 in Tier C.

Telefilm has also decreased maximum funding for the Selective Streams to $35,000 down from $37,500, which include the General Stream, the Indigenous Stream and the Stream for Black and People of Colour.

Playback Daily reached out to Telefilm to ask for an explanation for the decreases in funding amounts and were told that these changes allow for resources to be refocused back to the Production Program to cover increased production costs. Telefilm also noted that these changes bring the funding amounts back to 2022-23 fiscal levels with the exception of Tier C/Selective streams that are at $35,000 instead of $30,000.

The announcement also introduced a new pilot program called the “Springboard Initiative.” The goal of this pilot program is to identify projects that showed promise in the Production Program but were not selected for funding, and to offer financial support for development to strengthen their project for the next round of Production. Priority will be given to projects whose key creative personnel are from underrepresented groups and/or underserved regions.

According to the Telefilm website, any applicants who may benefit from this new program will be contacted by Telefilm directly and will be able to apply outside of the regular intake period for Development.

Additional details on the Development Program’s revised guidelines are available on the Telefilm website.

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