talent to watch

sjiwff +
talent to watch

supporting first time feature filmmakers in the Designated Partner Stream

Telefilm Canada’s 2023 Talent to Watch program supports emerging filmmakers looking to finance the production of their first feature film project. As an Industry Partner, SJIWFF can nominate one feature film production in the Main component and one project in the Indigenous component for Talent to Watch under the Designated Partner stream.

Successful candidates from the national competition will receive $250,000 for fictional features and $150,000 for documentary features from Telefilm, as well as a mentorship program to support the film’s production offered through the National Screen Institute.

how it works

Filmmakers can submit their nomination package to SJIWFF as per the instructions below by April 8, 2024. A peer jury will review all submissions and select a project to nominate. SJIWFF will then provide them with a recommendation letter. The selected team will have until April 30, 2024 to apply to Telefilm directly under the Designated Partner stream with this recommendation letter to be considered in the national competition.

  • Candidates must meet all requirements outlined by Telefilm Canada Guidelines before submitting. Please read carefully. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they meet all criteria before submitting to SJIWFF.

    All projects submitted must meet our mandate by having a woman (trans or cisgender) or gender-diverse writer and/or director. Please include in your application who from your team meets this criteria and how they identify.

    The director must have participated in or attended SJIWFF’s Film Industry Forum.

  • The jury will decide on the following: artistry, creative advancement, project feasibility, and reach.

  • All application requirements in the Telefilm Canada Guidelines are required for your submission. Please send all required materials as one pdf and include a document listing the link for the presentation video. Submit via email only to Jenn Brown, Executive Director, SJIWFF.

  • The deadline to submit directly to the SJIWFF for recommendation is Monday, April 8, 2024, 11:59pm NDT.

Color photo of three women standing in front of a film poster.

little orphans

Little Orphans was nominated by SJIWFF for Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch in 2018. Directed by Ruth Lawrence, written by Emily Bridger and produced by Sherry White and Jennifer Hawley, Little Orphans opened the 31st annual St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival in 2020. The film won the Borsos Competition award for Best Canadian Film at the Whistler International Film Festival and was nominated for the Directors Guild of Canada's DGC Discovery Award.