Grant
Provincial
Active
Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund
Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Maximum Funding
Up to $10M
Rolling; the application and all submission materials must be received before...
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
Varies
Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund provides Up to $10M per project; base 25% (Stream II) to 26% (Stream I) of eligible Nova Scotia costs, plus bonuses: 2% rural/non-metropolitan location, up to 10% distant location, 1% shoots over 30 days, and up to 3% Nova Scotia content. A provincial incentive fund for Nova Scotia film and television productions, providing base rates of 25% to 26% of eligible Nova Scotia costs plus multiple stackable bonuses. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
A provincial incentive fund for Nova Scotia film and television productions, providing base rates of 25% to 26% of eligible Nova Scotia costs plus multiple stackable bonuses.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be engaged primarily in film and television production, with the main activity being creation of film/video productions available for public viewing
- Must have a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia
- Must be incorporated in Nova Scotia under the Companies Act (or continued via Certificate of Continuance) and in good standing with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies
- Applicant, its shareholders and related companies must be in good standing with CCTH (no outstanding or overdue reporting)
- Nova Scotia spend must be greater than $25,000 (before HST)
- Must provide written evidence of a Commercial Licence Agreement
- Must provide confirmed financing: 75% for budgets of $1 million or greater, 50% for budgets under $1 million
- Stream I applies to 50-100% Nova Scotian ownership and control; Stream II applies to less than 50% — each carries its own Head of Department residency requirement
- Projects eligible for the Digital Media Tax Credit, the Digital Animation Tax Credit, or any other Nova Scotia tax credit program are NOT eligible
- The application and all submission materials must be received before principal photography starts
- Maximum funding payable to any one project is $10 million
- A non-refundable application charge of $287.50 (including HST) is payable at application; the full application fee is 0.50 per cent of Eligible Nova Scotia Costs to a maximum of $5,000 plus HST, with the balance held back from disbursement
- The base incentive percentage is reduced by 0.5 per cent for each Head of Department position below the stream minimum
- No individual may receive pay, salary, fees or compensation budgeted or paid from the Fund resulting in more than $150,000 of incentive per project, directly or indirectly
- Ineligible genres and platforms include news, current events or public affairs, weather or market reports, talk shows, games or contests, gala presentations or awards shows, professional or franchise sporting events, productions that solicit funds, reality television, pornography, advertising, productions made primarily for industrial, corporate or institutional purposes, all-or-substantially-all stock footage productions (other than documentary with at least 25% non-stock footage), console or online video games, software applications, and all-or-substantially-all animated productions
- Funding approval is disclosed to the public under the Accountability in Economic Development Assistance Act (Nova Scotia)
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $10M per project; base 25% (Stream II) to 26% (Stream I) of eligible Nova Scotia costs, plus bonuses: 2% rural/non-metropolitan location, up to 10% distant location, 1% shoots over 30 days, and up to 3% Nova Scotia content.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Deadline
- Rolling; the application and all submission materials must be received before principal photography starts (principal photography may commence once the application has been submitted).
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Nova Scotia Film & Television Production I...
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- 7-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 6-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipSubmit the application and all materials before principal photography begins, and lock in your commercial licence agreement and confirmed financing early; Stream I offers the higher base rate for majority Nova Scotian-controlled companies.
Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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6 steps
7 docs
Application Steps
1
Confirm your stream and Head of Department plan Stream I is for 50-100% Nova Scotian ownership and control of production and pays a 26% base; Stream II is for less than 50% and pays 25%. Stream I needs at least 50% of filled HOD positions held by Nova Scotia residents. Stream II needs half the positions (rounded up) where 8 or fewer HODs are filled, or at least 4 where 9 or more are filled. The base percentage drops 0.5 points for each HOD position below the minimum.
Required Documents 7
✓ Commercial Licence Agreement
✓ Confirmed financing documentation
Eligible Expenses 7
Ineligible Expenses 8
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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6 partners
Compatible Programs
Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)
Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC)
Canada Media Fund (CMF) Predevelopment Program
Nova Scotia Digital Media Tax Credit
Nova Scotia Digital Animation Tax Credit
Nova Scotia Equity Tax Credit
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How Nova Scotia Film & Television Production I... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia Film & Television Product... | Up to $10M | Hard | Reimbursement | Rolling; the application... |
| Canadian Film or Video Production Tax... | 25% | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Film or Video Production Services Tax... | 16% | Easy | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Canada Media Fund | up to $250K | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing (multiple... |
| Alberta Made Production Grant (AMPG) | up to $125,000 | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Two intake windows a... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Nova Scotia Film & Television Production I...
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What is the difference between Stream I and Stream II?
Ownership. Stream I is for productions with 50-100% Nova Scotian ownership and control and pays a 26% base on eligible Nova Scotia costs. Stream II is for less than 50% and pays 25%. Each has its own Head of Department residency test.
How much can a single project receive?
The maximum funding payable to any project is $10 million. In practice most awards are far smaller — the Province's open data shows a median commitment of about $376,000 across 93 productions in 2025-26.
Can I claim this alongside a Nova Scotia tax credit?
No. Projects eligible for the Digital Media Tax Credit, the Digital Animation Tax Credit, or any other Nova Scotia tax credit program are not eligible for this Fund. Federal credits are fine and even count toward the confirmed-financing test.
How far in advance do I have to apply?
The application and all submission materials must be received before principal photography starts. Once the application is in, principal photography can begin. Complete applications are handled first-in, first-out.
Is there a cost to apply?
Yes. A non-refundable charge of $287.50 including HST is payable at application. The full fee is 0.50% of Eligible Nova Scotia Costs to a maximum of $5,000 plus HST, with the balance held back from your disbursement.
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Full Playbook: Nova Scotia Film & Television Production I...
6 steps · 7 docs · reviewer insights