National Film Board of Canada Filmmaker Assistance Program
Post-production support from the NFB for independent Canadian filmmakers, reimbursing up to $7,500 for short films and $15,000 for feature films against eligible costs.
Overview
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) Filmmaker Assistance Program (FAP) provides post-production support to independent Canadian filmmakers by reimbursing eligible post-production costs. The program offers up to $7,500 for short films and up to $15,000 for feature films, and operates through the NFB's regional offices across Canada, each of which administers its own cycle and may have slightly different guidelines.
The FAP is one of the NFB's mechanisms for supporting the broader Canadian independent film ecosystem beyond the NFB's own commissioned productions. Documentaries are given first consideration for assistance, reflecting the NFB's historical commitment to documentary filmmaking as a public good and a form of Canadian cultural expression.
What It Funds
The FAP reimburses post-production costs. Eligible costs include editing, color grading, sound design and mix, sound mastering, closed captioning, and other finishing expenses. Equipment rental costs may be eligible subject to proof of insurance. The program does not pay wages to individuals directly -- all invoices for services must be addressed to the National Film Board of Canada and issued by the service provider rather than the individual filmmaker.
Support is limited to one production per fiscal year per filmmaker. The reimbursement structure means filmmakers must incur the costs before receiving the grant, which has cash-flow implications for productions with limited reserves.
Eligibility
Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The FAP is restricted to independent filmmakers -- NFB staff productions and co-productions where the NFB is a primary producer are handled through separate internal programs. Documentaries receive priority consideration, though narrative short and feature films are also eligible.
The program runs through NFB regional offices. The Atlantic Studio, Ontario Studio, Prairie & Northwest Studio, and Pacific & Yukon Studio each administer their own FAP cycles with regional application deadlines. Filmmakers should apply to the NFB studio in the region where they are based.
A Parallel French-Language Program
The NFB operates a parallel program for French-speaking independent filmmakers across Canada: the Aide au cinema independant du Canada (ACIC) program. French-speaking filmmakers should apply to ACIC rather than FAP. Full details are available on the NFB production website.
Who Should Apply
Independent Canadian documentary and narrative filmmakers in post-production who need reimbursement support for finishing costs. The program is open to filmmakers at any career stage, and the documentary priority makes it particularly well suited to nonfiction filmmakers who are approaching completion and need targeted post-production funding.
See Also
For planning Canadian documentary post-production budgets, use the Storage and Footage Calculator to estimate storage and workflow costs. For an overview of how post-production grants fit into a broader financing strategy, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack.
