Celebrating 10 years of supporting Western Canadian storytelling

Pitch Submission Guidelines

Updated March 10, 2025

What to submit to us


Basic Information


  • Project Title
  • Producer(s') First & Last Name(s)
  • Director(s') First & Last Name(s)
  • Primary Contact Producer's First & Last Name
  • Primary Contact Producer's Email Address
  • Primary Contact Producer's Phone Number
  • Production Company name and Website URL (if available)
  • Is this the first time you've submitted this particular pitch to TELUS originals? If no, please provide a summary of significant changes below, and then continue to populate this submission form, including updated materials.
  • Logline (If submitting a docuseries, please enter a series logline)
  • Synopsis

Eligibility


  • In which region will 80% or more of the film be shot?
      • We have 15 budgets, one for each of our CRTC designated regions across B.C. and Alberta. All our films are required by the CRTC to be primarily based in one of these regions.
      • Example: If a pitch set in Prince George is funded, it will receive funding from that region's budget and is required to be locally reflective of that region with 80% or more of the filming set there. That means, 20% or less of the film can be shot anywhere else, including outside of B.C. or Alberta.
  • Docuseries can be either set entirely in one region or each episode can be set in a different region. For example, if your docuseries is set entirely in Edmonton, please only select Edmonton. If each episode takes place in separate regions (i.e. Ep 1 in Vernon, Ep 2 in Red Deer, Ep 3 in Prince George), please select each of those regions.
      • B.C.'s Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley (excluding Hope), Sea to Sky to the Sunshine Coast
      • Calgary Region, Canmore, Brooks
      • Campbell River, Comox Valley, Nanaimo to Duncan
      • Edmonton, Camrose, Hinton, Whitecourt, Namao, Vegreville
      • Fort McMurray, Fort MacKay
      • Greater Victoria Region
      • Grande Prairie, Peace River, Slave Lake
      • Lethbridge
      • Kamloops
      • Kelowna
      • Medicine Hat
      • Penticton, Osoyoos, Trail to Creston
      • Prince George
      • Red Deer, Innisfail, Sylvan Lake, Ponoka
      • Vernon, Salmon Arm
  • Please indicate which of our social impact narrative pillars your project most closely reflects:
      • Health and well-being
      • Environment and sustainability
      • Connectivity and technology
      • Flourishing youth, families and communities

Run Time


  • What is the estimated run time (in minutes) of the film or series you're pitching? For docuseries, please provide combined estimated total run time.
  • What is the estimated run time (in minutes) of the bonus content your pitch proposes? Bonus content can either be one or multiple assets such as an extended interview(s), extended scenes, etc. Including bonus content is required and must be set on-location in the region where the funding is coming from.

Development History


  • Please provide the development history of this project. Including:
      • Source and amount of any development financing
      • Description of existing rights agreements and/or clearances
      • A statement of your relationship to any underlying IP for your project

Pitch Document


  • Please upload a 3-8 page pitch document, which clearly sets out the following:
      • Logline
      • Synopsis
      • Background and themes
      • What is the film? (primary story focus, narrative approach, visual references)
      • Confirmed and proposed subjects
      • Director's statement
      • For docuseries, please include a short synopsis for each episode, as well as a sample episode structure
      • Bonus content assets to complement the film or series
  • Would you like to provide any video support materials for this project? (i.e. a sizzle reel, selects). Please note, video support materials are not required.

Key Creative


  • Please upload a document outlining the Key Creatives attached to the project, including:
      • Key Creatives' names, role and short bios (required)
      • Director(s) and Producer(s) list of credits (required)
      • Links to previous video work samples (encouraged)

Budget, Financing and Schedule


  • Please upload your Preliminary Budget. We encourage you to upload both a budget top sheet and a detailed budget. Please use an industry standard template; we recommend the TeleFilm Micro-budget Production template.
  • What is the license amount you are requesting from TELUS originals?
  • Please upload your Financing Structure. Indicate the source, amount and whether it is confirmed or pending.
  • Does this project have a pending or confirmed second window presale? If so, from whom? A second window presale is not required. Please note; Knowledge, TVO and APTN are the only allowable second window presales. TELUS does not come in for second windows.
  • Please upload your proposed Production Schedule. Include preliminary rough cut, fine cut, picture lock, and delivery date. Delivery must be on or before June 30, 2027.

Audience Development and Marketing


  • Who are the primary and secondary target audiences for this film?
  • Please upload a preliminary audience development plan that outlines the initial marketing, promotion and exhibition plans for this project. TELUS originals expects producers to include marketing and publicity line items in their production budget.

Final Details


  • Have you discussed this project with a TELUS original Production Executive? A prior chat is not necessary, but if you have discussed it with anyone, it would be helpful for us to know.
  • How did you hear about TELUS originals?
  • All file uploads need to be in PDF format and the max. file size is 50 MB.
  • We will also be asking producers to provide demographic information (optional) that will be used to measure and monitor the overall diversity of people interested in our programs and may be used to determine eligibility to specific programs and projects.

Pitch Submission Release Agreement


As part of your submission you will need to acknowledge and agree to the following:
1. I, (Producer name) understand that TELUS Local Content ("TELUS") receives numerous unsolicited
submissions, many of which are similar or identical to ideas, formats, stories, suggestions and the like
developed by TELUS or its employees or to those otherwise available to TELUS. I further understand that
TELUS has adopted the policy, with respect to submission of material, of refusing to accept, consider or
review such material unless the person submitting such material has signed a release in form substantially
the same form as this Release.
2. I understand and agree that TELUS has not made any prior inducements, promises or representations to
me regarding the material I am submitting, whether orally (e.g. in meetings, phone calls, etc.) or in writing
(e.g. by mail, fax, email, hand delivery, etc.) to TELUS (the "Material") and there is no fiduciary or
confidential relationship between TELUS and I, by virtue of my submission.
3. If the Material includes material which is not original or otherwise protected by copyright, in the public
domain and/or owned by a third party, I understand and agree that TELUS will have the same rights to, or
rights to acquire, such material which members of the public may have and /or which TELUS now has or
may hereafter acquire. Neither my submission of the Material nor anything in this Release shall be deemed
to limit or restrict TELUS’ freedom, or obligate it to me, in such regard, nor prohibit TELUS’ use of material
submitted to, acquired or created by TELUS prior to or after my submission of the Material.
4. I acknowledge that TELUS’ use of other material containing elements similar to or identical with those
contained in the Material shall not obligate TELUS to negotiate with me or entitle me to any compensation
if TELUS have or acquire an independent right to use such other material.
5. If TELUS desires to use the Material in any media, then TELUS shall notify me thereof and we shall
negotiate in good faith for the execution of an express deal memo for the acquisition of any or all rights in
the Material. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I acknowledge and agree that TELUS has no obligation to
acquire any rights to the Material, and that TELUS’ consideration of the Material is not an admission of the
novelty or originality of the Material.
6. I acknowledge TELUS has my express consent to collect, use, or to disclose for audience pre-testing
purposes, the information I shared in this application.
7. I acknowledge having obtained independent legal advice in connection with this Release, failing which, I
shall be deemed to have voluntarily waived the right to seek such independent legal advice.
8. I waive to obtain, or enforce, any injunctive or other equitable relief against TELUS.
9. This Release and waiver shall be governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of
Canada applicable in such Province. I confirm that I reached the age of majority in my province of residence.

Get started

TELUS originals accepts pitches once annually through our Pitch Submission Form which will be open from June 2 to June 30, 2025.
Producers are encouraged to follow the steps below to learn more about our program before submitting a pitch:

Review our Producer Guidelines

Review our Pitch Submission Guidelines

Register for our Pitch Intake Producer Information Session

Join us virtually on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 10am PT / 11am MT for an overview of the TELUS originals program. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and meet with Production Executives.

Get in touch

Feel free to email us a one-liner concept pitch and we’ll let you know whether we might be interested in it. Email feedback concludes on June 24, 2025.