Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund
The Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund provides funding for screen-based content creation. To be eligible, organizations must have a permanent establishment in the province and be engaged primarily in the creation of film or video productions for public viewing.
Distant Location Incentive – The fund now offers an additional incentive for filming in distant locations. Changes to the program are effective as of 1 April 2024 for any application submitted on or after 1 April 2024.
Distant Location Incentive: up to 10% percentage points of additional funding will be granted for shoots that film days of principal photography in a Distant Location (measured by the most direct driving distance from Halifax City Hall to the distant location). To be eligible for the Distant Location Incentive, the Applicant Company must be first be eligible for the Location Incentive. The Distant Location Incentive is tiered based on the distance from Halifax City Hall:
- 7% for distant locations greater than 100 kilometers from Halifax City Hall prorated on the number of days of principal photography in the distant location to the total days of principal photography. (Zone A)
- 10% for distant locations greater than 150 kilometres from Halifax City Hall prorated on the number of days of principal photography in the distant location to the total days of principal photography. (Zone B)
The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage is in the process of updating all applicable program documents. Applicants that are intending to submit an application are advised to use the current program forms. If applicants are eligible for the Distant Location Incentive, they should include the Distant Location Incentive Form (PDF) when they submit the online application form.
Applicants that have previously submitted applications on or after 1 April 2024 that are eligible for the Distant Location Incentive, and who wish to update their applications, can submit requests to filmapplication@novascotia.ca.
Eligibility and funding levels
To be eligible for the fund, you must have a permanent establishment in the province and be engaged primarily in the creation of film or video productions for public viewing.
The fund is available for projects with a Nova Scotia spend of at least $25,000 (before HST).
There are two categories based on the percentage of ownership. Review the Guidelines (PDF) for eligibility and incentives before submitting your application.
Stream I
- between 50% to 100% Nova Scotian ownership and control of production
- a minimum of 50% Nova Scotians must be employed in Head of Department (HOD) positions or acceptable combination
- receive a base amount of 26% of all eligible Nova Scotia costs
- for shoots where more than 50% of the principal photography is in a rural or non-metropolitan area, you’ll receive 2% additional funding
- for shoots of more than 30 days in Nova Scotia, you’ll receive 1% additional funding
Stream II
- less than 50% Nova Scotian ownership or control of production
- where 8 or fewer Head of Department (HOD) positions are filled, half the positions (rounded to the highest whole number) must be filled by Nova Scotia residents and where 9 or more Head of Department (HOD) positions are filled, a minimum of 4 must be filled by Nova Scotia residents
- receive a base amount of 25% of all eligible Nova Scotia costs
- for shoots where greater than 50% of the principal photography is in a rural or non-metropolitan area, you can receive 2% additional funding
- for shoots of more than 30 days in Nova Scotia, you will receive 1% additional funding
For both streams, you can receive up to 3% additional funding if your production meets the criteria for the Nova Scotia Content Incentive.
How to apply
The application and all submission materials must be received before principal photography starts.
- Review the Guidelines (PDF), Application Submission Checklist (PDF) and Eligible Nova Scotia Costs Worksheet (EXCEL).
- Complete the application form online, upload all submission materials and pay the non-refundable application charge of $287.50 (including HST) (see Guidelines for Application Fee details).
- During the application process, you can save and continue your application at a later date.
- You’ll receive a confirmation email after submitting the online application form. Incomplete submissions will be returned.
Apply online
When you apply online you need to create an account or sign in.
The application form will appear in the “Top Tasks” list on the homepage when you log in. You can also search for it in the licences, permits and applications section.
Application reference materials
- Application Submission Checklist (PDF)
- Claim Form (PDF)
- Direct Deposit Authorization for Electronic Funds Transfer (PDF)
- Eligible Nova Scotia Costs Worksheet (Excel)
- Guidelines (PDF)
- Distant Location Incentive Form (PDF)
- Statutory Declaration – Eligible Nova Scotia Costs and Head of Department Positions (PDF)
- Statutory Declaration – Incentive Eligibility (Stream I) (PDF)
- Statutory Declaration – Incentive Eligibility (Stream II) (PDF)
- Statutory Declaration Final Production Costs (PDF) (only applicable when the final cost of the production is equal to or less than $250,000)
- Statutory Declaration of Residency (PDF) (for revised Guidelines)
- Trainee Training Plan (Part 1) (PDF)
- Trainee Training Plan (Part 2) (PDF)
Film funding announcements
Funding estimator
Find out how much funding you could get to help pay for screen-based content creation.
Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund Estimator
Contact for Applications:
For submission of film claims, please forward to the following email address:
filmclaims@novascotia.ca
For the copy of the final production, if submitting a physical copy via USB or DVD, please send to the following address:
Culture and Heritage Development
Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
1741 Brunswick Street, 3rd Floor
Halifax, NS B3J 3X8
Attention: Film Fund Coordinator (Claims)