SODEC — Film and TV Production Support (Quebec businesses)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
SODEC's Production Aid program is Quebec's primary provincial grant for domestic film and television production companies, covering up to 65% of eligible production expenses to a maximum of $4,000,000 per project. Open to Quebec-incorporated production companies with demonstrated professional experience, the program supports feature fiction films, short films, documentaries, and animated works across three volets. At least 80% of total annual funds are allocated to French-language originals, with rolling intake windows multiple times per year.
Eligibility Requirements
- Quebec-based film and television production company, duly incorporated (sole proprietorships are ineligible)
- Administrators and producers must demonstrate relevant professional experience — at minimum one audiovisual work produced and distributed in Quebec in a professional context within the past 8 years
- First-time applicants or experienced companies applying in a new production format must contact SODEC at least 1 month before the submission deadline to establish eligibility
- Applicant must hold all rights and options necessary for the project's development and production
- Projects must qualify as Quebec productions under SODEC's production standards
- Broadcasting companies licensed under the Broadcasting Act are excluded or have restricted eligibility
- Volet 2 (Short films) management fee: $57.49 per project
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to 65% of admissible expenses; maximum $4,000,000 per project for feature films; up to $165,000 for short films; development component up to 50% of admissible expenses (max $250,000 per project)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 65% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Rolling — multiple annual intake windows per volet
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win SODEC — Film and TV Production Support (Qu... — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for SODEC? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipContact SODEC's admissibilite@sodec. gouv.qc.ca at least one month before your target submission deadline to confirm your eligibility — this is mandatory for first-time applicants and for experienced producers applying in a new format (e.g., transitioning from shorts to features). All applications must be submitted in French. English-language productions compete for a smaller allocation (≤20% of total funds), so realistic budget planning is essential. The Development program is a lower-risk entry point for new applicants — up to $250,000 at 50% coverage for project development before committing to a full production application.
Success Profile
An established Quebec production company with at least one professionally produced and distributed audiovisual work in the past 8 years, applying to produce a Quebec-owned French-language fiction film, documentary, or short film. The ideal applicant has a completed script with demonstrated rights ownership, confirmed co-financing (broadcaster pre-buy, Telefilm, CMF letters of interest), and producers with strong industry relationships and SODEC submission history.
Evaluation Criteria
SODEC evaluates projects on artistic merit and cultural significance, the producer's professional track record and past project outcomes, the quality and stage of script development, the strength of the financing plan (confirmed co-financing is a major factor), the project's contribution to Quebec's audiovisual sector, and priority for French-language original works. External readers or committees assess feature film applications. Short film applications for Volet 2 are assessed primarily on creative quality and eligibility.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 9
Eligible Expenses 7
- Above-the-line production costs (directors, writers, principal cast)
- Below-the-line production crew wages and fees (Quebec residents)
- Equipment rental for Quebec-based production
- Post-production services (editing, sound mix, colour grading) performed in Quebec
- Visual effects and animation produced in Quebec
- Studio and location fees in Quebec
- Producer fees and production overhead (within eligible limits)
Ineligible Expenses 6
- Expenses incurred before the funding agreement is signed
- Development costs (covered by the separate Development program)
- Broadcaster-specific expenses
- Expenses related to exploitation and distribution activities (separate program covers these)
- Sales taxes (QST/GST recoverable amounts)
- Costs of acquiring pre-existing rights already secured by the applicant at no cost
Intake Periods
Multiple windows annually, varying by volet. Volet 1 (features): approximately 2 windows per year. Volet 2 (shorts): 1-2 windows per year. Volet 3 (documentaries): 2 windows per year. Development program: 2 windows per year. SOD@ccès portal opens ~1 month before each window. Check sodec.gouv.qc.ca for current dates.
Deadline Notes
Volet 1 (Feature Fiction): submission Nov 3-Dec 3, 2025 (decision May 1, 2026); next window September 2026. Volet 2 (Short Films/Docs): submission Sept 28-Oct 28, 2026 (decision Feb 12, 2027). Volet 3 (Feature Documentaries): submission windows March 20-April 22, 2026 (decision announced) and Aug 21-Sept 23, 2026. The SOD@ccès portal opens approximately one month before each submission window. Development program (Component 1): March 6-April 8, 2026 (decision July 3, 2026); September 7-October 7, 2026 (decision January 8, 2027).
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Sole proprietorships (production company must be incorporated)
- Broadcasting companies licensed under the Broadcasting Act
- Entities controlled by broadcasters
- Production companies without demonstrated professional experience in the past 8 years
- Non-Quebec production companies (project must be a Quebec production)
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskMedium risk — if the production is abandoned, not completed, or significantly deviates from the funded project, SODEC may require repayment of disbursed funds. The clawback mechanism is standard in all SODEC funding agreements. Productions that are completed but fail to meet delivery requirements may have final payment withheld rather than face clawback.
How SODEC — Film and TV Production Support (Qu... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SODEC — Film and TV Production Suppor... | up to $165,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Rolling — multiple... |
| Canada Media Fund | up to $250K | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing (multiple... |
| Telefilm Canada Funding Programs | Varies | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Multiple annual intake... |
| Alberta Made Production Grant (AMPG) | up to $125,000 | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Two annual intakes:... |
| Post-Production, Visual Effects and D... | up to $200,000 | Easy | Reimbursement | March 1 annually (or... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about SODEC — Film and TV Production Support (Qu...