WIDC Nominee for
Telefilm’s Talent to Watch Program
As determined by the CWWA Board, all WIDC Director alumnae are eligible to apply for this nomination. Application requirements are the same as on the Telefilm Canada website.
The Talent to Watch Program – Funding of First Feature Films and Web Projects from Emerging Filmmakers aims to support emerging filmmakers, accelerate their career development, and to allow them to develop an expertise in digital marketing and promotion of audiovisual projects.
Telefilm’s funding will be in the form of a non-repayable financial contribution that may cover up to 100% of the project’s financing. The maximum contribution amount is set at $150,000 for feature films, $125,000 for web series of 75 minutes and more in total length and $100,000 for short films submitted under the Pilot Fast Track Stream for Arctic Chills Projects.
The contribution amount for web series that are under 75 minutes in total length will be prorated based on the total number of minutes of the project, each full 10-minute segment giving access to $15,000 for a maximum contribution of $105,000.
Telefilm’s financial contribution must be used to cover direct expenses relating to the production, postproduction, distribution and promotion of the project, with a minimum of 8% of Telefilm’s contribution being reserved for the promotion of the project. [source: Telefilm Canada web site Talent to Watch Program Guidelines December 19, 2019, p. 9]
Creative Women Workshops Association (CWWA) through our Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) program, is one of the designated partners. Applications for the CWWA-WIDC nomination(s) will be adjudicated by a jury of WIDC peers. The CWWA Board will submit the nomination(s) to Telefilm Canada along with the Nominee’s project portfolio (as provided by the nominee(s)), including the designated partner’s support letter.
To be eligible, at least one of the applicant team members MUST be a current participant or an alumna of the WIDC program. The director must be female or a gender minority identified individual. Only projects that are narrative live-action fiction will be considered. Female or gender minority protagonists would be preferred but not required.
In order to strengthen the chances of WIDC nominated projects being selected by Telefilm Canada in their internal adjudication process, the WIDC Nominee director and the project’s key creative team (writer, producer as the case may be) will be automatically awarded a WIDC Mentorship, specially tailored to the needs of the team. Once selected, the Nominee and team will receive support and guidance to hone their application materials. They will also be required to complete a WIDC mentorship agreement, and submit to WIDC, any additional supporting materials listed in the criteria if they have not already done so.
WIDC Nominee Application Deadline:
January 15, 2020, 11:59 pm PT.
How to Apply:
By January 15, 2020, send link to a Dropbox folder (NOT Google or OneDrive) to: directors@widc.ca
These criteria are also listed in more detail in the Telefilm Application Guidelines
N.B. This Telefilm Canada program, criteria and deadlines are all subject to change and/or cancellation at the sole discretion of Telefilm Canada. WIDC reserves the right to change any part of or cancel this program accordingly.
Further, while Telefilm Canada Talent to Watch is open to both narrative fiction and documentary formats, it should be noted that the WIDC program focuses on narrative fiction project development.
