Telefilm Talent to Watch

Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program supports Canadian emerging filmmakers looking to finance the production of their first feature fiction or documentary film. Program overview HERE.

SFU as an Industry Partner

Applicants can apply through one of three streams: Industry Partner, Festival Selection or Filmmaker Apply-Direct. In 2025, the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University (SFU) became an eligible Industry Partner for the program, thus creating a pathway of support for SFU Film alumni. As an Industry Partner, SFU will nominate only one production by an SFU Film alumni each year.  

Eligibility

Alumni of the SFU Film program who have graduated within the last five (5) years are eligible to apply.  

Please note that SFU will only consider applications to be an Industry Partner once, and will not consider applicants who wish to reapply through SFU after being denied the previous year. For this reason, we encourage alumni to submit only when their project is solid and ready for a competitive assessment.  

How to Apply 

Step 1: Develop your idea for a feature film, referring to the detailed Telefilm guidelines. Applicants should advance to Step 2 only if they are able to clearly demonstrate the project's creative and financial feasibility per the Program guidelines.  

Step 2: Put together a package which contains all the information required in the guidelines and upload it to a file storage service (like OneDrive or Google Drive) and send the link and a brief cover letter to Film Area Coordinator Nadia Shihab (nshihab@sfu.ca) before our internal deadline of Friday, April 11, 2025.  

Step 3: A panel comprised of SFU Film Faculty will review the applications and will choose a shortlist. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by Monday, April 21 and will be provided with feedback in-person to strengthen their projects for their final submission.  

Step 4: Shortlisted applicants will revise and strengthen their applications based on the feedback provided and will submit to Telefilm by the submission deadline of April 30.  

Step 5: Telefilm will review the submissions from all the partner institutions across the country and select the final Talent To Watch winners.