Confirmation of Eligibility: OSM Recommendation to Telefilm Canada's Talent to Watch Program 2026-2027
Language
  • English (US)
  • Français

  • Confirmation of Eligibility: OSM Recommendation to Telefilm Canada's Talent to Watch Program 2026

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

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

    • Guidelines: https://telefilm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines_Talent_to_Watch_26-27.pdf
    • Essential Information Guide: https://telefilm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2.-TTW-Essential-Information-Guide-26-27_NewBranding.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?*

  • On Screen Manitoba requires you to read the Talent to Watch program's Guidelines and Essential Information Guide to determine your eligibility before submitting.

  • Applicant Eligibility

    If you have any questions, please contact Maryam Decter, maryam@onscreenmanitoba.com
  • 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?*
  • Is the director of the project an active member of On Screen Manitoba?*

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

  • Component Eligibility

    If you have any questions, please contact Maryam Decter maryam@onscreenmanitoba.com
  • For which component would you like to submit your project?*

  • By selecting the Indigenous component, I confirm that all the key members of the project’s creative team (producers, directors and screenwriters) are Indigenous.

    “Indigenous peoples” is a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants. “Indigenous” refers to First Nations, Inuit, or Metis.

  • By selecting the OLMC component, I confirm that either:

    a) the project is primarily produced in French, and is produced, written and directed outside of Quebec. All key members of the project’s creative team (producers, directors and screenwriters) self-identify as Francophones outside of Quebec.

    or

    b) the project is primarily produced in English, and is produced, written and directed in Quebec. All key members of the project’s creative team (producers, directors and screenwriters) self-identify as Anglophones in Quebec.

  • Do you confirm the above?*

  • Project Eligibility

    If you have any questions, please contact Maryam Decter maryam@onscreenmanitoba.com
  • 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 the project being done on contract for, or produced by, a government agency?*
  • Is the project being produced primarily for industrial, corporate or institutional purposes?*
  • Is the project advertising?*
  • Is the project using film as a tool to record or document existing artworks such as a stage play?*
  • Is the project a conventional form of television entertainment, such as a pilot, movie-of-the-week, or news report?*
  • Is the project a student film?*

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

  • Should be Empty: