Telefilm - Talent to Watch Program
Submissions are Currently Closed
Submissions are due by April 21st, 2023
OSIF is honoured to be a designated partner of the Telefilm Talent to Watch Program.
OSIF is just one of close to 70 organizations across Canada, that gets to present feature length films, or documentary based film projects to Telefilm each year for consideration for funding.
The Telefilm Talent to Watch Program 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.
The maximum contribution amount through this program is $250,000 for fiction feature films and $150,000 for feature length documentary projects.
How to Apply
Application Deadline:
April 21, 2023 - 12 noon
Eligibility - Only OSIF Members are eligible for consideration. Current Okanagan residents only need apply. You must live in the Okanagan. OSIF is only looking to support projects that include the majority of talent, locations, crew and production being done in the Okanagan.
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Please start by visiting the Talent to Watch website to read through all the updated guidelines and the very helpful FAQ, and checklist.
To submit your application, put all of the above into ONE File Transfer Service folder (DropBox, Google Drive, WeTransfer, etc.) and send the link to info@osif.org. Please put Telefilm Talent To Watch Program Application in the subject heading of your email.
All applications must have all the submission materials required by Telefilm. Incomplete packages will not be considered by OSIF. Only standout projects will be delivered to Telefilm by OSIF.
Submission Materials:
1) A Completed Screenplay
2) Presentation Video: a downloadable pitch video of maximum 5 minutes that will:
- state the project’s working title;
- identify the key creative team involved in the project and their individual track records (including samples of past work if applicable or relevant);
- identify the genre, the type, and the length of the project;
- provide a synopsis of the story;
- outline the creative team’s vision/visual treatment of the material;
- outline any other relevant information that sets the project apart (e.g.: confirmed appearance by an established actor, successful crowdfunding campaign, relationship with VFX professionals or animators);
- identify the target audience;
- include 1 minute segment of the director’s previous short films;
NOTE: the video must NOT include footage from other projects that are not the team’s own work.
3) Support Materials (as PDFs):
- Synopsis of the project (max. 750 words) which includes the main story development and tells the basic story from beginning to end;
- Director’s Vision (up to 3 pages);
- Promotion and Distribution Plan (up to 2 pages) which identifies the project’s audience (age, sex, sensibility, culture, etc.). It must also identify how the team will find and access this audience and why will they connect with the project
- Creative Team Filmography (writer, director and producer) – submit a filmography using the template available on the Website, which will indicate training, education, experience, accolades, outline past projects and history of team collaboration;
- A Production Schedule – (from pre-production to digital release) that will ensure completion of the project within 24 months of the receipt of Telefilm’s invitation to apply, as described below;
- Budget Top Sheet – use template on the Telefilm website;
- Additional Information (up to 1 page) – any other info which sets the project apart (eg: personal connection to the story material, successful crowdfunding campaign, confirmed cameo by a well known actor, established fan base on social media).
- Indigenous Projects – Projects submitted under the Indigenous component and all other projects with Indigenous content shall address the issue of how the team sought to engage the various Indigenous communities that will be impacted by the project. Suitable means of achieving this may include the following, as applicable: letters of support from the community, letters of support from Indigenous advisors, contracts between the communities and the creative team for the project, community engagement plans, etc.
4) A link(s) to previous work.
Evaluation
Proposals submitted to OSIF will be evaluated by a peer jury of local filmmakers and film professionals. The evaluation of the projects submitted to OSIF and Telefilm will take into consideration the following elements:
- the quality of the track record of the creative team;
- the quality, originality, and innovativeness of the creative content;
- the understanding of the marketplace for the project and the innovativeness of the promotion and distribution strategy;
- the feasibility and level of production readiness of the project.
- Does this project support OSIF's initiatives, and it's members?
Resources
Talent to Watch Guidelines Talent to Watch FAQQuestions?
It is best to contact Telefilm directly for any questions you may have regarding your submission package.