Project Development Fund

Reel Focus BC

The Project Development Fund enables B.C.-owned and controlled production companies to build on development commitments secured from broadcasters, distributors and funding agencies.

The fund encourages support for existing and emerging domestic companies and provides financing in the form of non-recoupable advances for feature film script development, dramatic or animated TV projects, or documentaries.

Applications are evaluated on a first come/first served basis, and funding is available until the budget for the program is expended. A non-recoupable advance, matching up to 50% of the eligible triggering agent commitment is available.

Please note that international treaty or inter-provincial co-productions are eligible under this program.

  Program Closed

The Project Development Fund is closed as of March 1, 2024 5:00 PM PST as the budget has been fully committed for the fiscal year. 

The Fund will reopen for applications in April 2024. 

DOES MY COMPANY NEED TO BE INCORPORATED TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT FUNDING?
Creative BC will only accept Project Development Fund applications from companies incorporated in British Columbia (or Canada) which are majority owned and managed by residents of British Columbia. The head office of the company must be in BC. Companies extra-provincially incorporated in British Columbia are not eligible to apply for funding.

ARE CO-VENTURES AND/OR CO-PRODUCTIONS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT FUND?
Yes. As per the Project Development Fund guidelines, co-productions and co-ventures are eligible to apply for funding, and are encouraged however; proper written documentation must be included in the application. Documentation is demonstrated through an executed co-production deal memo and/or agreement outlining the percentage of ownership and level of control given to the eligible BC Company and the obligations by each party during the development phase.
Copyright ownership granted to the BC applicant must be equal to the BC applicant financial, technical and creative contribution and control and must not be less than 20%. For applications that are co-production betweens 2 BC companies, the application is then a joint-application and the contract must be addressed to and signed by both BC companies.

WILL THERE BE A CREATIVE EVALUATION OF THE PROJECTS ACCEPTED INTO THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT FUND?
No. Review and analysis of the application does not include a creative evaluation. A review is conducted to determine eligibility which includes proof of a commitment from an eligible triggering agent (the triggering agent) to advance funds for the development of a specific project. Applications are evaluated on a first come/first served basis until the allocated budget for the program is fully expended.

ARE PRODUCER FEES AND CORPORATE OVERHEAD CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE EXPENSES?
Yes, producer fees and corporate overhead are acceptable development costs and can be calculated as a combined maximum 40% of the above approved direct development costs (the base budget). In the case of co-productions, additional money over and above general corporate overhead can be included in the office line item to accommodate increased long distance phone and/or fax costs.

WHAT IF THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE BEING FUNDED TAKES LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED?
An estimated Completion Date is included on the Non-Recoupable Advance Agreement Schedule A. This is the date by which the Producer promises that all development will be completed and final deliverables will be sent in for approval. In general, Creative BC will agree to amend this date at the Producers request only once.

For all inquiries

Mathew Parry
Email: mparry (at) creativebc.com

Christine Larsen
Email: clarsen (at) creativebc.com

Downloads + Forms
Project Development Fund 2023/2024 Guidelines
Project Development Fund Final Report
Schedule B - Incumbency Certificate