Applications open for Passport to Markets Program (Canada)

Deadline: 27 September 2024

The Creative BC is now inviting applications for its Passport to Markets Program to provide travel support to B.C.-based film, TV, digital media, media producers, and sales agents.

This program is intended to assist producers explore co-production partnerships and develop relationships with broadcasters, distributors and financiers. Sales agents are able to exploit their portfolio of film and tv projects, and attempt to secure pre-sales and/or distribution rights for various territories around the world.

These creative media professionals are able to access key international markets, conferences, co-production and co-financing events. Creative BC’s support offsets a portion of travel, accommodation and registration expenses.

Funding Information

A maximum participation of between $1,000 and $2,500 is set by Creative BC depending on the location and costs of the event, and represents no more than 50% of the applicant’s final cash expenditures to attend.

Eligible Expenses

Per Diem – $60 per day in Canada and $80 per day outside Canada.
Accommodation – up to $300.
Registration Fees (if applicable).
Return airfare (based on economy fare).
Ground transportation (ride share, rental car, vehicle fuel costs, taxi, shuttle bus, transit costs, etc.).
Passport to Markets Guidelines
Design and printing of marketing materials, payable to third parties (e.g. brochures, pitch packages, one sheets, etc.) capped at no more than 20% of the approved direct travel costs.
Overhead allowance is capped at a maximum of 10% of the approved direct travel costs (to cover related long distance, in-house photocopying, courier costs and administrative expenses).

Eligibility Criteria

Applications will be considered from any of the following:
- BC resident producers who have a track record in the domestic film and television industry.
- BC resident producers who have been pre-selected to attend a particular market site.
- BC residents who have experience producing domestically owned and controlled digital media content.
In the case of a competitive call for applications, preference will be given to producers who can demonstrate recent production credits (i.e. in the last two years). Producers and companies who have received support four or more times over the past two years will have to demonstrate either recent production credits or provide evidence that a significant amount of financing has been raised from third parties for the projects in their development slate.
BC residents include Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents who have resided in BC for at least 200 of the 365 days immediately preceding the date of application and who have filed income tax returns in BC in the taxation year prior to the date of application.
Individual producers are eligible for support to attend a maximum of four market sites over two fiscal years. One producer per company or project may apply for support to an individual market site.
Producers with only Executive Producer, Co-Producer and Associate Producer credits are not eligible.

Deadlines