In addition to breathtaking landscapes, Nova Scotia offers several funding programs that make our province one of the most competitive in the country. Combine provincial and federal funding to make your budget cost-effective, while working with world-class talent and crew.
FINANCING: PROVINCIAL
| NOVA SCOTIA FILM & TV PRODUCTION INCENTIVE FUND
The Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund is based on an all-spend model and payable to producers for eligible Nova Scotia costs. This program is administered by the province’s leading economic development agency, Nova Scotia Business Inc., and enables producers to receive funding up to 32% of eligible costs for all spending in Nova Scotia, including labour, goods and services. Quick facts:
Learn more about the Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund HERE / Download the Fund guidelines. Contact: Linda Wood, Manager, Film & Television Incentives |
| DIGITAL MEDIA TAX CREDIT
Nova Scotia offers a digital media tax credit that rivals all others in Canada – making this the ideal place for video game development and interactive media. Qualifying companies can claim the lesser of 50% of the qualifying expenditures or 25% of total expenditures. Qualifying expenditures could include: 100% of eligible salaries in Nova Scotia, 65% of third party labour remuneration and up to $100,000 in marketing and distribution expenditures. Learn more about the Digital Media Tax Credit HERE. |
| DIGITAL ANIMATION TAX CREDIT Nova Scotia’s animation industry has grown exponentially in recent years. One contributor is the industry-leading animation tax credit, which create significant cost savings for animation companies and studios. The Digital Animation Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit for costs directly related to the development of digital animation in Nova Scotia. This tax credit provides an incentive of up to 60% on labour associated with the project, including a labour bonus of 17.5% on animation-specific activities. Learn more about the Digital Animation Tax Credit HERE. |
PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING
| EASTLINK TELEVISION INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION PROGRAM
Bring your animated and/or live-action TV series to life! Designed to finance Nova Scotian television productions, this program could provide you with an equity investment of up to $300,000, to a maximum of 20% of your total budget. Interested? Start by ensuring your production is high in Canadian content. For news and guidelines, click HERE. Contact: Eastlink TV Independent Production Fund Program |
| INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION FUND (IPF)
The Independent Production Fund was established in 1991 to provide financial support for dramatic television and web series series created by Canadian independent producers. Web Drama Series: Professional Development: The IPF also administers the Bell Fund and the Cogeco Media Fund. For deadlines, guidelines and applications, CLICK HERE. Contact: info@ipf.ca / 416.977.8966 |
| THE HAROLD GREENBURG FUND
The Harold Greenberg Fund is a national funding organization that supports the development of Canadian dramatic feature films. Since 1986, they have invested over $85 million in the Canadian film and television industry. The English-Language Program is supported by Bell Media and The Movie Network. The Fund helps support the development of narrative theatrical feature films at various stages including: Story Optioning; Feature Script Development; and Shorts-to-Features Program. Click HERE for information about their programs and submission guidelines. Contact: Alan Bacchus (416) 384-3446 |
FINANCING: FEDERAL
| TELEFILM CANADA
Telefilm Canada is a team of some 200 professionals serving the industry from four offices located across Canada. Dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, Telefilm, through its various funding and promotion programs, supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm Canada supports all stages of a feature film, from development, to production and post-production, to marketing to audiences both at home and abroad. To learn more about Telefilm Canada’s extensive financing options, click HERE. To discover funds and partnerships opportunities, click HERE. Atlantic Region Office: |
| CANADA MEDIA FUND (CMF) The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, promotes, develops and finances the production of Canadian content and relevant applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF is a not-for-profit corporation that delivers $371.2 million in funding annually to support the Canadian television and digital media industries through two streams of funding: the Experimental Stream and the Convergent Stream. Through the Convergent Stream, the CMF supports the creation of convergent television and digital media content for consumption by Canadians anytime, anywhere. The convergent stream is made up of various programs and incentives that target key activities and audiences. The Experimental Stream encourages the development of innovative, interactive digital media content and software applications.Atlantic Region Contact: 1660 Hollis Street, Suite 401, Halifax, NS, B3J 1V7 Susy MacGillivray, Development Analyst, CMF Program Administrator susy.macGillivray@telefilm.ca / 902.426.8425 x 2724 |
| EURIMAGES (COPRODUCTION)
Canada is the 38th member country of the Eurimages – European Cinema Support Fund and the first non-European member country. This program, through the Council of Europe, aims to support the coproduction of cinematographic works between member countries.Who can apply? Canadian production companies with an eligible coproduction project with at least one other member country. For an overview of the program & eligibility requirements, click HERE. Contact: infocopro@telefilm.ca / 1.800.567.0890 |
COMBINING INCENTIVES
| Combining provincial and federal funding will make your budget even more cost-effective. The federal government offers a tax credit of 16% for service productions and 25% for domestic productions on Canadian labour costs.
Canada Film Capital has created an incentives calculator (CLICK HERE) to calculate your total provincial and federal tax incentives. |
SUPPORT PROGRAMS & FUNDS
| CCH – SCREENWRITERS DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Screenwriters Development Fund will consider investment in direct costs for film and TV scriptwriting. Eligibility: Producers and Writers / Individual filmmakers and film companies. When submitting an application to the Screenwriters Development Fund you will need to demonstrate how your project(s) achieve the following objectives:
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. More info HERE. Contact: Mickey Quase |
| NSBI – TRAVEL SUPPORT NSBI’s Export Growth Program contributes up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $15,000 for a business to cover the following:
NSBI Export Growth Application Form and Guidelines. Please note that this is a continuous intake program, with no deadlines. Contact: Nicole Johnson-Morrison, Export Development Executive |
| NSBI – BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT The Small Business Development Program supports the acquisition of a private sector consultant to provide professional expertise. The program contributes up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum incentive of $15,000. Eligible costs include business planning; market research, feasibility or business case analysis for proposed or existing business activity; product research, development, and design; development plan for e-commerce platform for markets outside of Nova Scotia; matchmaking and business valuations for succession planning.Small Business Development Program Application Form and Guidelines.Contact: Nicole Johnson-Morrison, Export Development Executive njohnson-morrison@nsbi.ca / 902.424.4891 |
| ARTS NOVA SCOTIA
Arts Nova Scotia is the provincial funding agency that provides support to professional artists and arts organizations, arts education programs and a number of arts awards and prizes. For more details on grants and awards for individuals and organizations, please visit HERE. |
PERMITS AND GUIDELINES
Health & Safety Guidelines for the Nova Scotia Screen Based Production Industry (updated April 2017)
Halifax Film Office for location / filming permits in HRM.
