Marketing grants in British Columbia — see which you qualify for

You operate a production company based and incorporated in British Columbia, primarily in Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, or Victoria. You produce feature films, documentaries, or digital content with Canadian content designations and broadcaster relationships. You need funding to market a completed project, develop new projects for a slate, or build your company’s pipeline.

Three programs directly serve you. The Telefilm Canada Marketing Program provides up to $75,000 (75% cost-share) for marketing and distribution of completed Canadian feature films — covering trailer production, festival fees, poster and promotional asset creation, and digital marketing campaigns. The approval rate is moderate (40-60%), the application takes roughly 15 hours, and the program is non-repayable. The Creative BC Project Development Fund provides up to $20,000 per project (up to $50,000 annually per company) for BC-incorporated production companies developing film and media projects. Apply when the intake opens — it operates on a first-come basis once the window is open, and the annual allocation exhausts quickly. The Creative BC Slate Development Program provides up to $50,000 for established BC production companies building a multi-project development slate, with a competitive annual intake. Source: Telefilm Canada, Marketing Program guidelines; Creative BC, Project Development Fund and Slate Development Program documentation.

You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or a Canadian-controlled music company, based in British Columbia. You are recording and releasing original music, building a touring career, or operating a label representing BC artists. You need funding for recording, marketing, promotion, or live performance.

FACTOR Canada (the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings) is the primary program for BC music companies. FACTOR provides up to $67,500 per album (for established companies), $25,000 per single or EP, $5,000 for Artist Development (at 75% cost-share — a low-barrier entry point for earlier-stage artists), and up to $75,000 for Live Performance support. FACTOR requires registration and a profile rating that determines which programs you can access — register early and build your rating through earlier programs before applying for larger album funds. BC music companies in Vancouver’s East Van music district, Victoria’s folk and roots scene, and Kelowna’s country and Americana community have all used FACTOR successfully. The Canada Music Fund (Individual Initiatives, Company Programs stream) provides up to $600,000 per company per year for Top-Tier companies with demonstrated commercial success — relevant for established BC music companies with national distribution. Source: FACTOR Canada, Artist Programs and Company Programs documentation 2025-26; Canada Heritage, Canada Music Fund program guide.

You operate in film, music, publishing, interactive digital media, or another creative industry in BC. You have content, IP, or products with international appeal and you want funding to develop and execute international marketing campaigns, attend international markets (MIPCOM, SXSW, London Book Fair), or secure foreign distribution and co-production partnerships.

Creative Export Canada has two streams for you. The Export Development Stream (up to $90,000, 75% cost-share) is designed for businesses beginning their international marketing journey — covering trade show travel, market research, agent fees, promotional materials, and rights pitching activities in foreign markets. The approval rate is moderate (20-40%) and applications take roughly 25 hours. The Export-Ready Stream (up to $2,500,000, 75% cost-share) is for established BC creative businesses with demonstrated international revenue, confirmed distribution agreements, or signed co-production deals. The approval rate is approximately 30-35%, and the program is highly competitive — applications from Vancouver film companies, Burnaby game studios, and BC publishing houses with verifiable foreign market traction receive priority. Vancouver-based creative businesses targeting Asia-Pacific, European, or US entertainment markets are the program’s primary audience. Source: Canadian Heritage, Creative Export Canada program guides; Cohort 8 results 2025-26.

You run a BC SME in any sector — technology, food and beverage, manufacturing, professional services, or retail — that sells or wants to sell products or services in international markets. You are incorporated, have 3 to 500 employees, generate $100K to $100M in revenue, and you have specific international market entry costs (trade show attendance, translations, international legal review, agent fees, market research).

CanExport SMEs provides up to $50,000 per project (50% cost-share, up to $99,999 per fiscal year across multiple projects) for exactly these costs. The application takes roughly 20 hours, the approval rate is 20-40%, and the program accepts rolling applications. The critical eligibility fact for 2026-27: CanExport SMEs now deprioritizes US-market projects. BC businesses that previously used CanExport for US market development should redirect those applications to non-US markets (Japan, South Korea, the EU, Southeast Asia, Latin America) to remain competitive. Sole proprietorships and limited partnerships are not eligible — you must be incorporated. BC businesses that are tariff-affected and need to diversify away from the US also qualify for PacifiCan’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative (up to $1,000,000 non-repayable), which can cover international marketing activities as part of market diversification. Source: Global Affairs Canada, CanExport SMEs program guide, 2026-27 priorities; Trade Commissioner Service, Vancouver.

If you produce wine, cider, spirits, fruit, or other agricultural food products in the Okanagan Valley — from Osoyoos and Oliver in the South to Kelowna, Lake Country, and Summerland in the North — and you want to develop marketing presence in UK, European, Asian, or US markets, you have a dedicated program pathway that most Okanagan producers do not fully use.

The AgriMarketing Market Diversification SME Stream (launched February 2026) was built for exactly this situation. It funds up to $100,000 at 70% cost-share for for-profit agri-food and seafood SMEs with fewer than 250 employees entering non-US international markets. For an Okanagan estate winery, eligible marketing activities include: attending Prowein in Düsseldorf, Vinexpo Hong Kong, or the London International Wine Fair; commissioning market research on UK or Japanese import regulations and consumer positioning; hiring a foreign import agent or distributor representative; translating wine labels and promotional materials for a new market; and travel costs for buyer meetings in the target export market. The minimum AAFC contribution is $14,000, which means even a smaller operation with $20,000 in planned UK market entry costs can receive up to $14,000 back at 70% cost-share. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with decisions within 60 business days — no waiting for an annual competition window. Wine Growers British Columbia and BC Wine Authority connect Okanagan producers to other wineries that have used predecessor programs and can advise on the application. For the BC wine industry specifically, export market development is also supported by Trade and Invest BC’s international buyer facilitation network, which operates at no cost from the Victoria and Vancouver offices. Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, AgriMarketing Market Diversification SME Stream guidelines February 2026; Wine Growers British Columbia, Export Development Program; BC Wine Authority, international market advisory.

If you operate a video game studio, interactive media company, or digital entertainment business in British Columbia — from Burnaby’s growing game cluster (EA, Capcom, Kabam, Beamdog) to Kelowna’s independent studios — and your game, app, or interactive experience has commercial potential in international markets, several programs apply.

For international market development (attending GDC San Francisco, Tokyo Game Show, Gamescom Cologne, or PAX Australia; hiring a foreign publisher or distributor; translating your game for a new regional market), Creative Export Canada Export Development Stream (up to $90,000, 75% cost-share) covers these exact activities. Interactive digital media is an explicitly eligible sector. The program is rolling-intake, meaning no annual deadline to miss. If your studio has demonstrated international commercial traction — confirmed publisher agreements, international revenue, or signed distribution deals in foreign markets — the Creative Export Canada Export-Ready Stream (up to $2,500,000, 75%) is available and is the largest non-repayable marketing support for interactive media in Canada. For BC-incorporated game studios seeking project development support, Creative BC’s Project Development Fund (up to $20,000 per project, up to $50,000 per year) provides BC-specific development funding for content including interactive digital media. The program requires BC incorporation under the Business Corporations Act (BC), not just BC operations. Source: Canadian Heritage, Creative Export Canada program guides 2025-26; Creative BC, Project Development Fund eligibility; BC Interactive Media industry overview.