Crazy8s Film Society is pleased to announce the Call for Applications for the 2024 Telefilm Talent to Watch feature film funding program through Crazy8s, which is a designated industry partner in the Program. Deadline to apply to Crazy8s is March 31, 2024. Two finalists (one per category) will be notified by Crazy8s by April 15, 2024. Applications to Talent To Watch open April 16, 2024. The final deadline for teams to apply to Telefilm is April 30, 2024.
Applications are open to Crazy8s alumni Directors and Crazy8s alumni Writers and must have a minimum of one Crazy8s alumni as a Producer. The submitted project must be a scripted narrative work of fiction. Crazys does not accept documentary project submissions.
Crazy8s saw the successful application to the Talent to Watch for THE CHINATOWN DINER by Crazy8s director alumni Lawrence Le Lam (CYPHER, 2017) which went to camera in the fall of 2023. The feature is produced by Crazy8s alumni Thomas Affolter.
Please send your submission to by March 31, 2024 at 5:00pm.
NOTE: Please read the guidelines here and on the Telefilm website prior to submitting to us.
Talent to Watch – Overview and Guidelines (from the Telefilm Website)
The Talent to Watch Program – Funding of First Feature Films from Emerging Filmmakers (the “Program”) aims to support a diverse array of emerging filmmakers. The intended outcome of this Program is to discover and develop the next generation of Canadian filmmakers, and to allow them to establish their voice and sensibility through a first feature. Note: The directors, writers and producers must be emerging filmmakers under the definition of Telefilm.
Through this partnership with Telefilm, Crazy8s Film Society is authorized to recommend up to two projects in the Industry Partner Stream of the program:
Industry Partner Stream
Filmmakers need to apply to their Designated Partner (In this case Crazy8s Film Society) to get a recommendation before applying to Telefilm. The Designated Partner will choose which projects to recommend to Telefilm and provide a recommendation letter to the team to include in their funding application to Telefilm. Crazy8s may recommend a project under the following two components:
- Main component (must have a Crazy8s director and writer alumni and minimum one Crazy8s alum producer attached) and
- Indigenous component (key members of the creative team of the project must be Indigenous)
Note: The Talent to Watch Program has two other streams that eligible filmmakers can apply directly to:
Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream
Emerging filmmakers can apply directly to Telefilm without having a recommendation from a Designated Partner if they are members of the following groups:
- Indigenous
- Black
- People of Colour
- Women
- Gender-diverse individuals
- 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals
- Persons with disabilities; and/or
- Members of an Official Language Minority Community
Festival Selection Stream
For emerging filmmakers who have directed a short film that was selected at a recognized film festival.
General Eligibility Criteria for ALL Streams
The Producers, Directors and Writers are considered as the key members of the creative team.
To be eligible, all the key members of the creative team must:
- be Canadian citizens, within the definition of the Citizenship Act, or permanent residents within the definition of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (unless the project is an audiovisual treaty coproduction)
- be emerging talent, i.e.: they must have previously produced, directed and/or written at least a:
- short film (a film of 30 minutes or less)
- web production
- television content
- commercials
- music videos
Or equivalent experience in the screen-based industry and they must not have previously held the same key position on a feature film.
Note 1: Producers who have previously produced one feature film that has received funding under this Program are also considered as emerging talent. This Program was called the “Micro-Budget Production Program” before.
Note 2: Telefilm will show flexibility in the eligibility evaluation of key creatives who have previously produced, written or directed a feature film project of micro-budget scope4 funded outside of this Program and that had a limited release.
Applications to Telefilm may be submitted by companies or individuals on behalf of a company to be incorporated in the future.
If a team wishes to submit an application to Telefilm but has yet to incorporate a company, a duly authorized member of the key creative team may submit an application on behalf of the company to be incorporated. If a project is selected by Telefilm for funding, the financing agreement will be signed with the company.
Telefilm’s funding will be in the form of a non-repayable financial contribution that may cover up to 100% of the project’s financing. The maximum contribution amount is set at $250,000 for fiction feature films and $150,000 for documentaries.
How to Submit through Crazy8s
For the 2024 competition, Crazy8s Film Society is accepting submissions until 5pm March 31, 2024 from Crazy8s Director and Writer alumni who meet the criteria set by Telefilm in the guidelines (https://telefilm.ca/en/programmes/talent-to-watch-program). This will give us enough time to review the submissions, and notify the successful finalists by April 15 and allow them to prepare for the final submission to Telefilm Canada by April 30, 2024.
To be considered, key members attached to the project (Producer, Writer and Director) must:
- Qualify as emerging talent per the guidelines definition.
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- The Director must be a Crazy8s alumni director on a past Crazy8s short film.
- The Writer must be a Crazy8s alumni writer on a past Crazy8s short film.
- One of the Producers must be a Crazy8s alumni producer on a past Crazy8s short film.
To submit to Crazy8s for the first round, write a Cover Letter answering the following questions:
- Introduce yourselves and your past Crazy8s involvement.
- What sets your project apart from the other films that might be applying?
- Why are you the right person to be supported by Crazy8s?
- Why is this project important to you?
Create a 4-page pitch document that contains the following:
- Short Synopsis
- Key Creative Team (Filmography, Track-Record, Diversity)
- Rough Overview of your Production Schedule
- Budget Top Sheet
- Cultural Impact and Audience Reach Potential
- Links to Previous Work
- A full script draft (depending on the number or submissions, we can’t guarantee that the script will be read in its entirety)
The Crazy8s Film Society will assemble a Committee of film industry professionals and Crazy8s Board members to review the submissions with an understanding of the Telefilm evaluation criteria, including a focus on four key Evaluation Criteria:
1. Creative elements
Telefilm evaluates the creative elements of the projects including the originality, quality and production-readiness of the script, the director’s vision for the film, and the community engagement plan.
2. Track record of the Key Members of the Creative Team (Producer, Director, and Screenwriter)
Telefilm evaluates the screen-based industry experience of the creative team, primarily the producer, director, and screenwriter, including critical acclaim. Telefilm will also consider the creative team’s full range of industry experience and level of expertise as it relates to the nature and scope of the project.
3. Project Viability
The financial feasibility and creative viability will be taken into account in the evaluation of the project.
4. Cultural Impact and Audience Reach Potential
Telefilm will consider the applicant’s promotional strategy to make the film available to its target audience, including through film festivals, theatrical release and digital platforms.
The Crazy8s Selection Committee will select the final two projects to advance to the Telefilm application stage. The Crazy8s Selection Committee will then review and offer advice on the final submission package for Telefilm Canada. It will be up to each candidate to make the actual online application to Telefilm by April 30, 2024 at the latest.
Please send your submission to by March 31, 2024 at 5:00pm.
NOTE: Please read the guidelines here and on the Telefilm website prior to submitting to us.
Thank you and break a leg!