Saguenay Film Development Fund

Each year, a total envelope of $50,000 is allocated to support film development in Saguenay.

This funding is made possible through a partnership between Promotion Saguenay and the City of Saguenay, as part of the Entente de développement culturel.

Program Overview

The Fund is intended for production companies and individual artists, including recent university graduates, who live or are based in the City of Saguenay. Selected projects may fall under any stage of production — writing, production, or post-production — regardless of format or length.

A mentorship component (representing 10% to 25% of the grant) is a key condition of the program. Mentorships are coordinated by the Saguenay Film Commission and formalized through a three-way agreement once the project is selected.

The program’s mission is to boost local production, support professional development for regional talent, and promote Saguenay’s assets on screen.

Objectives

  • Stimulate the development of film projects by Saguenay-based creators and production companies;

  • Support the local film industry through professional development for screenwriters, filmmakers, producers, actors, and technicians;

  • Strengthen the regional audiovisual ecosystem by encouraging local team formation, mentorships, internships, and training opportunities;

  • Promote the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region through original works with strong potential for local and international reach.

Next call for projects: Spring 2026

Percentage and Maximum Contributions

The financial contribution granted by the program will be:

  • A maximum of 90% of eligible expenses;

  • Sponsorship contributions (equipment loans, filming location loans, volunteer work, etc.) must be included in the projected budget and will be considered when assessing the project’s overall value.

The maximum amount per project can be $30,000 for production and $5,000 for development.

Eligible Project Types
  • Research related to writing a documentary film project;
  • Rewriting a fiction screenplay;
  • Pre‑production steps preceding a funding application, partner outreach, and/or other subsequent steps;
  • Completing the financing of a phase of work supported by another institution;
  • Shooting part or all of a film project;
  • Post‑production stages of a film project.

 

Ineligible Projects
  • Podcast episodes;
  • Video recordings;
  • Making‑of productions;
  • Works with strictly didactic or historical content;
  • Television commissions;
  • Corporate or promotional projects;
  • Projects carried out in an academic context;
  • Projects related to a political party, a religious association, or an advocacy group whose activities may be controversial;
  • Projects whose sole purpose is to modify an already completed work.

Eligible Applicants
  • Artists from the cultural sector, Canadian citizens or permanent residents, who must reside within the City of Saguenay;
  • Recent graduates from UQAC undergraduate programs or current master’s students, residing within the City of Saguenay until the end of the project;
  • Production companies (non‑profit organizations, cooperatives, or private businesses) operating within the City of Saguenay for at least one year.

Eligible expenses
  • Consulting fees (mentors, script advisors, etc.);
  • Travel expenses outside Saguenay related to research;
  • Costs associated with producing a pilot or demo;
  • Preparation, planning, financing setup, location scouting, storyboarding, casting, etc.;
  • Filming expenses;
  • Post‑production expenses;
  • Subtitling expenses;
  • Networking and coordination expenses.

Ineligible expenses
  • Expenses already covered by financial assistance from public or private organizations, or from other funding sources;
  • Purchases of materials, equipment, or furniture, except when considered small items used exclusively for the project and therefore non‑recoverable;
  • Any other expense that does not meet the objectives of the program or that was incurred before the project submission date.

Other Eligibility Criteria
  • 50% of the expenses must be incurred within the territory of Saguenay;
  • 10% to 25% of the amount must be allocated to consulting fees and included in the budget;
  • Present the eco‑responsible actions planned for the execution of the project.

Submission Conditions

A maximum of two (2) projects per applicant may be submitted, but only one of the two can be selected.
An applicant who has previously submitted a finalized project or one that is still in progress remains eligible for each new call, either with the same project for a different phase² or with a new project.

 

Application Evaluation

A jury of three discipline‑specific peers will meet to evaluate the submitted applications at the end of the submission period. The results will be announced within 6 to 8 weeks following this meeting.

  • Quality and relevance of the project (40%);
  • Feasibility of the project and budget balance (30%);
  • Impact on the regional film industry (20%);
  • Outreach (10%).

 

Financial Contribution Terms

The contribution from the Saguenay Film Office (Promotion Saguenay) is granted in the form of non‑repayable financial assistance, disbursed once all required conditions have been met.This financial assistance is conditional upon the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the applicant and Promotion Saguenay, outlining the expected visibility and deliverables.

An initial payment of 80% of the approved financial assistance will be issued following the signing of the agreement.

A second and final payment of 20% of the approved financial assistance will be issued upon submission of a final report demonstrating that the project’s objectives have been achieved. The percentages may vary depending on the project.

A maximum of 24 months may elapse between the signing of the memorandum of understanding and the project’s final reporting.

For any information:

Marie-Elaine Riou,

Saguenay Film Commission Coordinator

 

marie-elaine.riou@saguenay.ca