Eligibility

Who can apply?

An eligible applicant to this program must meet all of the following minimum eligibility criteria:

  • Self-declared as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Colour.
  • A Canadian resident.
  • Available to attend the BANFF Festival in-person from June 14-17, 2026 in Banff, Alberta.
  • A producer, writer, or director credited on a produced factual or dramatic feature film and/or broadcast/streamer-affiliated television series
  • Have third-party development funds (i.e. Broadcaster, CMF, third-party private funding) attached to submitted project 

The program has a key intersectional mandate to increase accurate and meaningful disability representation on and off screen throughout the Canadian media landscape.  It is also designed to support Canada’s francophone production community. 

**Please note: While you may apply with a project that you are co-creating or co-producing with a partner(s), this program is a professional access opportunity for individuals. Applications will be assessed and participants awarded on an individual basis. Only one project per application.

Program Participant Qualifications

MID-CAREER PARTICIPANTS:

Mid-career participants must have a minimum of 2 professional producer and/or writer and/or director screen credits but may not be owners, operators employed by an established media production, broadcast or digital media company with more than three (3) full-time employees.

To qualify for the program, please ensure that at least one of your two qualifying credits is from a feature film or long format television series, as short-form or branded content credits do not meet this specific requirment. 

ESTABLISHED PARTICIPANTS:

Established participants must have 3+ professional producer and/or writer and/or director screen credits, but may not be owners, operators or employed by an established media production, broadcast or digital media company with more than three (3) full-time employees.

To qualify for the program, please ensure that at least one of your two qualifying credits is from a feature film or long format television series, as short-form or branded content credits do not meet this specific requirment. 

 

Project Guidelines

Every applicant must submit one (1) project that they wish to develop and sell with the support of this program.  (See Submission Guidelines)

Projects must meet these criteria:

  1. It is currently under Canadian ownership and Canadian executive and creative control;
  2. It is currently under the financial control of Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
  3. The applicant owns all rights (including copyright) and options necessary for the production and its distribution and retains an ongoing financial interest in the project.

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