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  • Talent to Watch Prep Series

    If you have any questions, please contact Peter Nielsen, Programs Coordinator, peter@onscreenmanitoba.com

  • The Talent to Watch Prep Series is designed to support emerging Canadian filmmakers preparing to apply to Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch Program through the Industry Partner Stream. Delivered over three 3-hour sessions and one individual coaching meeting, this hands-on series helps participants strengthen their project’s creative vision, production viability, and submission materials.

    Through guided workshops, feedback, and mentorship, participants will gain the clarity, tools, and confidence needed to pitch a competitive first feature film project that aligns with Telefilm’s Talent to Watch funding and evaluation criteria.

     

    Eligibility
    This preparation series is for emerging filmmakers who intend to apply to Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch Program through the Industry Partner Stream.

    To apply you must:

    • Be eligible under Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch Program guidelines.
    • Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
    • Be emerging filmmakers (producer, director, or writer) with experience in short films, web, TV, or other screen-based work.
    • Have not yet produced, directed, or written a feature film.
    • Have a completed script or a script in advanced development (nearing completion).
    • Have a project intended as their first feature film (fiction or documentary).
    • Be connected to the Designated Partner offering the prep program (as a recent alumni, active member, or incubator participant).
    • Be available to attend all three group sessions and one individual coaching session.

    Recommended Readiness:

    • Have a short film or previous project that demonstrates your creative voice.
    • Be developing a story suitable for a $150K–$500K micro-budget.
    • Be open to feedback and collaborative discussion.

  • The following form will ask questions to confirm your eligibility for the Talent to Watch program. If successful, you will then be able to register and pay for the program. 

  • Applicant Eligibility

    If you have any questions, please contact Peter Nielsen, peter@onscreenmanitoba.com

  • Please consult the Talent to Watch program's Guidelines and Essential Information Guide:

    • Guidelines: https://telefilm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3.-Guidelines_Talent-to-Watch-25-26.pdf
    • Essential Information Guide: https://telefilm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TTW-Essential-Information-Guide-24-25.pdf

    These can also be found on the Talent to Watch Program webpage:
    https://telefilm.ca/en/programmes/talent-to-watch-program

  • Have you read the Talent to Watch program’s Guidelines and Essential Information Guide?*
  • Are all the key members of the project’s creative team (producers, directors and screenwriters) Canadian citizens or permanent residents?*

  • Definition of Emerging Talent for the Talent to Watch program:

    • They must have previously produced, directed and/or written at least a short film (30 minutes or less), web production, television content, commercials, music videos, or equivalent experience in the screen-based industry.
    • AND they must not have previously held the same key position on a feature film (75 minutes or more — Telefilm may consider a project of a lesser duration as a
      feature film if it was considered as such by the industry).

    Note 1: Producers who have previously produced one feature film that has received funding under the Talent to Watch Program (previously referred to as the “Micro-Budget Production Program”) are also considered as emerging talent.

    Note 2: Telefilm will show flexibility in the eligibility evaluation of key creatives who have previously produced, written or directed a feature film project of microbudget scope (examples: films which were self-financed or produced within a festival incubator or school program) funded outside of this program and that had a limited release.

  • According to the definition above, are the key members of the project’s creative team (producers, directors and screenwriter) emerging talent?*

  • Unfortunately, your team is not eligible to submit for the Talent to Watch program.

  • Project Eligibility

    If you have any questions, please contact Peter Nielsen, peter@onscreenmanitoba.com
  • Will your script for submission be completed or will be completed by March 2026?*
  • Have you submitted this project to Talent to Watch before?*
  • Will the project be primarily produced in English, French, an Indigenous language or, for artistic imperatives, in another language?*
  • Is the project intended to be a fictional, or documentary audiovisual project?*
  • Is the project a feature length film of 75 minutes or more?*

  • Telefilm Canada requires that projects, with respect to Canadian content certification, upon completion be either:

    a) certified by the Canadian Audio-visual Certification Office (CAVCO) as a “Canadian film or video production” with a minimum of 8 out of 10 points under the provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada);

    For live action productions, refer to https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/cavco-tax-credits/canadian-film-video-production/application-guidelines.html#a7b

    For animation productions, refer to https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/cavco-tax-credits/canadian-film-video-production/application-guidelines.html#a7c

    For documentaries, refer to https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/cavco-tax-credits/canadian-film-video-production/application-guidelines.html#a7d

    or

    b) recognized as a treaty coproduction by the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

    Refer to Telefilm’s guidelines on Audiovisual Coproductions at https://telefilm.ca/en/programmes/coproduction-submission-recommendations

  • Upon completion, can the project be either: a) certified by CAVCO as a “Canadian film or video production” or b) recognized as a treaty coproduction by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, as defined above?*
  • Does the project have a total budget ranging between $150,000 and $500,000?*

  • Telefilm Canada requires that projects:

    1. conform to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Code of Ethics and to all other programming standards endorsed by the CAB or the CRTC;

    Refer to the CAB Code of Ethics at https://www.cbsc.ca/codes/cab-code-of-ethics/

    and

    2. not contain any element that is an offence under the Criminal Code, is libellous or in any other way unlawful.

    Refer to the Criminal Code at https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/

  • Does the project conform to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Code of Ethics and to all other programming standards endorsed by the CAB or the CRTC?*
  • Does the project contain any element that is an offence under the Criminal Code, is libellous or in any other way unlawful?*
  • Is your project any of the following?*

  • Unfortunately, your project is not eligible to submit for the Talent to Watch program.

  • Are you a member of any of the following?*
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