NFB Filmmaker Assistance Program (FAP)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Provides independent Canadian filmmakers with either cash reimbursement (up to $7,500 for shorts, $15,000 for features) or in-kind post-production services at NFB's Balmoral studios in Montreal. Covers editing, colour correction, sound mixing, and DCP authoring. Filmmakers retain full copyright.
Eligibility Requirements
- Director must be Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Film must be an independent Canadian production
- Must demonstrate secured financing
- Cannot be developing another project with NFB concurrently
- Eligible: documentary, animation, short fiction (under 30 min), experimental
- Language: English only (French projects go to NFB ACIC program)
- Currently enrolled film students NOT eligible
- The director/applicant must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. No incorporation required — individuals and production companies are both eligible.
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $7,500 (short films); up to $15,000 (feature-length); or 100% in-kind post-production services
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Three terms per year; 2026 deadlines: March 14, June 13, October 10 (5pm EST). Next deadline: October 10, 2026.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win FAP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 4-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 5-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipTwo options: Local (cash reimbursement, Canada-wide) or Balmoral (in-kind at NFB Montreal studios).
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 6
Ineligible Expenses 4
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Applying for FAP? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
None RiskHow FAP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFB Filmmaker Assistance Program (FAP) | Up to $7,500 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Three terms per year;... |
| Telefilm Canada Funding Programs | Varies | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Multiple annual intake... |
| Canada Council for the Arts Grants | Varies | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Multiple annual cycles.... |
| Ontario Creates — IP Fund (Linear Con... | up to $25,000 | Moderate | Lump Sum | September 22, 2026 (next... |
| Creative BC — Domestic Motion Picture... | $50,000-$200,000 | Hard | Reimbursement | Between intakes — Round... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about FAP