Telefilm Canada announces funding for 25 medium to large-scale film festivals

Press Release

08 January 2025

Telefilm Canada is supporting 25 additional Canadian film festivals, under the Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program (in its second round of decisions). A total of 50 film festivals are supported under this program in fiscal year 2024-2025 with 25 film festivals supported in the first round¹. This second intake of the program represents an additional investment of $1.9 million.

Telefilm’s Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program provides financial support to long-established medium to large-scale Canadian film festivals that help promote Canadian films and talent and stimulate demand for our multiscreen content.

As a partner of choice, Telefilm is committed to advancing the development of the industry and reaching audiences where they are. Through this program, Telefilm supports film festivals across the country and remains committed to foster and support an industry that is representative of all communities in Canada. Further funding decisions will be announced later this year.

List of all medium to large-scale film festivals supported by Telefilm (starting between April 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025):

• 2025 Atlantic International Film Festival
• 2025 Calgary International Film Festival
• 2025 Calgary Underground Film Festival
• 2025 CaribbeanTales International Film Festival
• 2025 Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival
• 2025 DOXA Documentary Film Festival
• 2025 Gimli International Film Festival
• 2025 Hot Docs Festival
• 2025 ICFF – IncluCity Festival
• 2025 Images Festival
• 2025 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
• 2025 Inside Out Film Festival
• 2025 Lunenburg Doc Fest
• 2025 Ottawa International Animation Festival
• 2025 Toronto Animation Arts Festival International
• 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival
• 2025 Vancouver Queer Film Festival
• 2025 Yorkton Film Festival
• Festival cinéma du monde de Sherbrooke 2025
• Festival de cinéma de la Ville de Québec 2025
• Festival du film de l’Outaouais 2025
• Festival Fantasia 2025
• Festival international de cinéma et d’art Les Percéides 2025
• Festival international de cinéma Vues d’Afrique 2025
• Festival International du Film Black de Montréal 2025

These funding decisions were made as part of the promotion program modernization, which began in 2021 in collaboration with the industry, to allocate funding more efficiently and transparently. As announced in September 2022, the promotion program has been segmented by the type of activity into different funding programs to better meet different needs and to meet clear criteria, and further refinements to the program have been done for this year’s program. For the Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program, internal representatives evaluated the applications with the input of external advisors to ensure fair and equitable evaluations.

¹ One application was initially on hold at the time of the news release, was funded after the announcement of the first round of decisions.

About Telefilm Canada

As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on X and on LinkedIn.

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Media contact

Joyce Richards
Advisor, Strategic Communications
Telefilm Canada
Joyce.Richards@telefilm.ca

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