Sector Development Support Program

Overview of the Sector Development Support Program program:

The Sector Development Support Program is a selective and competitive initiative that funds projects with broad, measurable impact across Canada’s screen sector. It aims to address gaps and systemic barriers in the industry, with priority given to organizations and initiatives led by or benefiting Indigenous peoples, equity-deserving groups, and regional communities. The program supports two streams of activities: Capacity Building – For training, mentorship, leadership development, board governance, and other professional development activities. Market Access – For initiatives that help participants reach new markets, secure financing, attend B2B events, or support Canadian content discoverability. Only non-profit organizations with a mandate in the screen sector are eligible. Projects must be new, not yet launched, and provide benefits to multiple participants—not a single organization or individual. Applications must demonstrate a clear rationale, a feasible plan, meaningful inclusion practices, and expected impact. Funded activities can occur at a regional, provincial/territorial, or national scale and must be completed within the funding cycle. All supported initiatives must include meaningful engagement of underrepresented communities.

Benefits of the Sector Development Support Program program:

• Funds training, mentorship, export readiness, and professional development
• Enables inclusive growth in Canadas audiovisual industries
• Supports B2B, marketing, and discoverability initiatives
• Encourages equitable access for underrepresented and regional communities
• Boosts sector capacity at national and regional levels
• Supports accessibility, Indigenous language inclusion, and environmental sustainability

Eligibility criteria of the Sector Development Support Program program:

• Eligible Applicants Must Be:
• A Canadian-controlled (51%+) non-profit organization
• Incorporated at the time of application
• Mandated to serve the screen-based industries
• In good standing with CMF (no outstanding deliverables or issues)
• Ineligible Applicants Include:
• For-profit entities
• Government agencies or other funders
• Non-screen-sector organizations
• Organizations in poor standing or default with CMF
• Eligible Activities (choose one stream):
• Capacity Building:
• Training, mentorship, board/governance development
• Leadership and below-the-line crew skill-building
• Executive or producer-level training
• Market Access:
• Export missions, B2B matchmaking, marketing campaigns
• Discoverability and promotion of Canadian content
• Market prep and audience engagement
• All projects must include meaningful participation of:
• Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Metis, Inuit)
• Equity-deserving communities (e.g., racialized groups, 2SLGBTQ+, women, persons with disabilities, Official Language Minority Communities)
• Regional communities (located more than 150 km from Toronto or Montreal)