Film Completion & Marketing Support

For BIPOC Filmmakers

 

Supports the post-production, marketing, promotion and distribution activities of BIPOC-led films. The award is open to shorts and feature films directed and produced by Black, Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, Inuit), and racialized People of Colour.

 

Key Dates & Contribution Amounts

 

Not currently open for applications.

The maximum contribution towards a feature film is $20,000 (CAD). For short films, the maximum contribution is $7,500 (CAD).

Applicant Eligibility

  • The project is under the financial and creative control of BIPOC creatives. The key creative team members—producer, director, screenwriter—must be Black, Indigenous or racialized Persons of Colour.

  • The production company must demonstrate a shared commitment to anti-racism and decolonization.

  • Eligible projects must have at least 90% of principal photography completed and a rough cut at the time of application.

  • Applicants must be residents of Canada.

  • Projects must have a producer attached and must be original works. A complete chain of title will be required to prove ownership.

  • The production company or main applicant must hold 100% of the copyright of the project: must be owned, controlled, or optioned by the applicant (except for inter-provincial or international treaty co-productions).

  • The production company is BIPOC-owned (minimum 51% ownership) and is registered as a corporation with its head office in Canada.

  • The main activity of the corporation is the production or support of screen-based content, including TV, film, web, digital narrative content, and XR (VR, AR).

  • The applicant must be able to accept a direct deposit in the name of the corporation and must hold 100% of the copyright of the project.

Eligible Activities

  • Post-production activities (picture editing, sound editing, VFX)

    Hiring of additional post-production creatives and technical expertise

    Music licensing and original music or score composition (including the hiring of a music supervisor or composer)

  • Hiring of publicists, community liaisons, and social media management

    Networking and participation at film or media arts festivals and markets

    Alternative distribution strategies including local marketing strategies

    Marketing or publicity strategies; engagement with primary and secondary audiences

    Impact campaigns that increase audience reach

    Production of trailer and marketing/promotional materials

INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

Funding may not be used towards script development or production costs, and may not be used toward fees for Director, Writer, Producer or Cast and Crew labour.

Eligible Expenses*

*Recoupable expenses are not eligible for support within this program

  • Special effects and colour grading

  • Online edit or title creation

  • Music composition (original song or score); sound editing and mixing

  • Voice-over work, versioning

  • Mastering, output time and materials

  • Master copies and some screening formats (such as DCP)

  • Travel costs for marketing, promotion and distribution

  • Advertising costs and fees

  • Publicity-related costs, including hiring a publicist or a PR consultant

  • Registration fees for festival submissions and markets

Application Requirements

NOTE: Applicants may receive less than the requested amount, as determined by the review committee.

We will not be providing funding above the maximum contribution limits per project.

  • Articles of incorporation or relevant ownership agreements, including information re: individual percentages of ownership

  • Bios and CVs for all owners and key creative roles in the project

  • Project description of previous relevant project work and outcomes and intended impact

  • Confirmation letters or contracts for confirmed funding sources

  • A link to the rough cut

  • A post-production and/or marketing and distribution budget

  • A detailed post-production schedule or a marketing and distribution strategy outline

  • A link to the production trailer (if applicable)

Final Reporting & Recognition of Contribution

A final report will be required within three months following the completion of the project.

Upon project completion, a private screener link must be delivered to BIPOC TV & Film along with production stills, a trailer, a final budget, and an activity summary.

Recipients must acknowledge BIPOC TV & Film’s support with textual reference and/or logo in the credit sequence or appropriate placement in the completed work (where applicable).

The application portal is closed.

FAQs

  • Yes. Projects that completed some principal photography outside of Canada are eligible, as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements.

  • Yes, if you meet the ownership and copyright requirements and have financial and creative control over the project.

  • No. For this specific finishing fund, only shorts and features are eligible.

  • Yes, a Chain of Title is still required. Documents like your crew and talent agreements, certificate of copyright, sales agent and distributor agreements, and previous financing agreements are all examples of what can be included in a Chain of Title.

  • No, the fund is not restricted to genres or topics – production companies can demonstrate a shared commitment to anti-racism and decolonization through the stories you tell, how marginalized people are portrayed in those stories, who owns and authors your projects, and how your hiring practices include BIPOC creators and actors.

  • The project is considered complete when you have executed the post-production, marketing and/or distribution activities outlined in your application. Projects are given 12 months to complete their post-production, marketing, or distribution activities from the start date outlined in the application.

  • A Chain of Title is the series of legal documents or agreements that establishes proprietary rights or ownership in a motion picture or project. It often includes a cover sheet that outlines the dates changes are made to ownership of the project.

  • No, the Finishing Fund does not stipulate or facilitate any exclusive distribution rights attachments with NBCUniversal for selected projects.

  • Yes, you can apply for post-production as well as marketing and distribution funding.

  • Yes, if you have completed 90% of your principal photography, you can apply to the fund to secure archival footage as part of your post-production activities.

This initiative was made possible thanks to the generous support of NBCUniversal.

Want to help us support even more Indigenous, Black and Racialized filmmakers?