In June 2016, Hot Docs and the Rogers Foundation founded the $1-million Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund to support Canadian documentary projects.
Over the coming 10 years, production grants will be distributed to Canadian documentary filmmakers. Up to $20,000 will be granted to three or four projects each year.
​Applications are open. The deadline to apply is July 27, 2022.
Financial Support
The Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund will provide successful applicants with a grant of up to 20 per cent of the total production costs to a maximum of $20,000. Eligible costs include those that are standard in the industry during production.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a Canadian-controlled corporation based in Canada and unaffiliated with any licensed Canadian network or programming undertaking (broadcasters and broadcaster-affiliated production companies are ineligible).
- Have previously produced one of the following: a documentary or fiction film commercially released in Canada; a documentary or fiction film and/or series broadcast on Canadian television.
- Key applicants to the Funds must be in good standing with Hot Docs by application date.
The Funds will occasionally consider an applicant that does not meet these requirements, provided a senior producer is meaningfully attached to the project as confirmed in writing.
Projects must:
- be majority owned by the applicant*
- have commitment from an eligible market partner**
- be a one-off (i.e., series are not eligible)
- have a minimum running time of one television hour
- be of high quality and suitable for theatrical release and/or broadcast to Canadian audiences
* Official treaty co-productions are eligible. Preliminary approval from Telefilm Canada’s Co-Production Office will be required at time of application. Co-ventures/Co-productions with a foreign country are eligible even though the Canadian production company may not own 100 per cent of the project as long as they are certifiable by the CRTC.
** Proof of commitment from an eligible, third-party, market partner must be included in the application. The commitment should demonstrate financial commitment. This can be in the form of a signed letter of commitment or, ideally, an executed long-form agreement with the market partner. Examples of market partners are: licensed broadcasters, theatrical distributors, and new media platforms.
Funding is not granted for projects in development, completed projects, or projects that have been screened or broadcast publicly, including at festivals. The Fund encourages projects to apply as early as the development stage is complete with a confirmed market partner in place. It is acceptable if the project has not officially begun principle photography. The ideal project is at a stage of production, whether it is prepping or shooting.
Please note: A producer can apply with one project within a six month period in which the company is majority producer.
Eligibility for Re-Application
Submitted projects that do not receive funding may submit a maximum of one additional time only if the producers can demonstrate the project has undergone substantive changes since the initial application. Requests for resubmission must be received in writing to funds@hotdocs.ca.
The Selection Committee may invite a project to be resubmitted. This decision is made solely by the Selection Committee. These candidates will be notified directly.
Application Requirements
The online application must be submitted in English on or before the deadline. There is no application fee. All materials received by Hot Docs are confidential.
Please read the eligibility rules, guidelines and FAQ section before proceeding to the online application form.
Application Questions & Required Supporting Documents
To learn more about the application questions and required supporting documents, please review our Required Information. This information is for reference only; all applicants must complete an online application.
Selection Process
Applicants will be informed of the Selection Committee’s decision approximately four months after the submission deadline.
Applications deemed complete and eligible will be submitted to a Selection Committee made up of representatives from Hot Docs, and members of the filmmaking community including representatives with experience making films from underrepresented communities. Successful applicants will be determined by peer-review selection committees.
Decision Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on feasibility, production ability, creative merit, audience, and fit with mandate.
For more information, please review the detailed breakdown.
