4.4 Budgets
Canadian theatrical feature film production
Box 3 Telefilm Canada
As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, Telefilm’s Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent.
In 2024/25, Telefilm Canada provided $144.5 million in ongoing financial support to Canada’s audiovisual sector. This included $106.3 million in support of the audiovisual industry (e.g. production, development, theatrical documentary programs) and $30.7 million in funding for promotional support (e.g. support for Canadian film festivals, domestic and international marketing and promotion, Theatrical Exhibition Program support for exhibitors).[19]
Exhibit 4-6 Theatrical feature film projects, by budget size (fiction category only)
Source:
Estimates based on data collected from CAVCO.
Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding.
Budget calculations exclude the foreign budgets of audiovisual treaty coproductions.
The average and median budgets for fictional theatrical feature films have been growing at a steady rate. Average budgets grew from $2.3 million in 2021/22 to $3.8 million in 2024/25.
Exhibit 4-7 Averaage budgets of theatrical feature films (fiction category only), ($ millions)
| 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 1.8 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 3 | 3.3 | 4.1 |
| Median | 1 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.2 |
Source:
Estimates based on data from CAVCO.
Note:
Calculations exclude the foreign budgets of audiovisual treaty coproductions.
* Includes production in bilingual format and non-official languages.