We produce and distribute all our projects regardless of format within documentary & animation, or of production model (100% funded by the NFB, co-production, or partnership).
Table of Contents
Mandate and Accountability
As a federal agency under the Department of Canadian Heritage, our official mandate is to create, produce and distribute distinctive audiovisual works that reflect the diverse perspectives of Canadians. We also ensure long-term public access through preservation and digitization of our collection. We are committed to equity, accountability and geographic representation across all our units.
In selecting projects, we strive to create a balanced slate in terms of region, budget, format, audience segments and interests, filmmaking experience and representation. We maintain measurable targets for gender parity, regional representation and equity-seeking groups, including Indigenous, racialized and minority-language creators. We also strive for a balance between different marketing and distribution portfolios, as well as viewers’ ages and interests, to streamline our resources and work strategically to engage and connect with diverse audiences.
Programming Vision
Our programming is intentional and strategic. We seek projects that foster meaningful connections between creators and the public, that push creative boundaries and explore new storytelling approaches and formats to reach audiences.
Our role as a public institution shapes how we collaborate, produce, and share stories. Our approach is grounded in creative collaborations; we work with creators from idea to release, with robust resources, development time and hands-on presence throughout production. We actively seek out a range of genres, tones, and perspectives across documentary and animation.
We look for projects that resonate with different lived experiences, ensuring our films and platform are engaging and widely accessible.
Our selection considerations
When selecting projects we look for the following:
- Contemporary issues: we aim to produce content that meaningfully explores current social issues and diverse lived experiences, helping audiences engage in our changing world.
- Resonant themes: we seek original and evocative stories that resonate and touch audiences on a personal level. Our goal is a contemporary collection of inclusive programming that reflects and celebrates the full spectrum of Canadian diversity and experience.
- Films as catalysts: we champion bold and dynamic storytelling, backing films that challenge perspectives, have strong creative value and evoke strong emotions, using impact for transformation.
- Strong, cinematic concepts and stories: we look for stories that go beyond good subjects.
- Innovative approaches: we are excited by new formats, including shorts and series, that are dynamic and well suited to the story you’re telling and the audience you want to reach, as well as strong creative explorations of forms that bring something dynamic to the story you’re telling and the audience you’re speaking to.
- Canadian and Indigenous perspectives: we look for these perspectives on local, regional and global stories.
In everything we do, we prioritize two elements: creative value, fostering originality, an ethical approach and the unique perspective of the filmmaker to ensure authentic and meaningful engagement with audiences; and production value, ensuring technical excellence and polished execution with adequate resources. This synergy allows us to deliver work that is both visually captivating and artistically impactful for our viewers.
When reviewing proposals, we also keep the following in mind as we begin our discussion with filmmakers:
- Creative fit: with the NFB’s mission and collaborative model. We discuss with filmmakers what it means to work with the NFB both as a producer and distributor, to ensure this is the collaboration you want to embark on.
- Filmmaking experience: we require our collaborators to have some experience in film, as we are not a teaching space; and we value working with both emerging and experienced creators.
- Authentic access and point of view: including ethical considerations in storytelling.
- Feasibility: within the NFB’s resources and production model.
Submitting Your Proposal
We accept proposals from filmmakers year-round. For 100% NFB projects, we produce and distribute all documentary and animation formats- including shorts, features, mid-length, and short form series as well as formats we haven’t yet considered! If you have an idea, please approach us. We look forward to submissions directly from the filmmaker. For co-productions, we ask for submissions from the co-producer — more details can be found here.
Eligibility
- Director is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (in the case of a co-production, the production company is additionally a Canadian corporation and the director is also a Canadian citizen);
- Project is a documentary or animated work (short, feature, mid-length or series);
- Project is in early development or pre-production;
- The filmmaker does not currently have an active project with the NFB (including through FAP or ACIC);
- No producer is attached to the project, unless it’s a co-production (details about co-productions can be found here)
What to submit: please visit the production unit pages here to get specifics about your submission! You can select your unit based on the location you live and work in.
Other useful resources
See the documents below for more information about our commitments and programming strategies.