Q – What do you fund?
Q – Who is eligible for funding?
Q – How do you define Dramatic Series?
Q – Do you fund any type of documentary, documentary series, television series, movies for television, variety or news magazine programs?
Q – Why doesn’t the IPF fund dramatic television series anymore?
Q – How much money do you invest?
Q – How do you judge the applications?
Q – What is the time frame between the application deadline and decision?
Q – Do you ever award less money than requested, or is it an “all or nothing” process?
Q – How many proposals can a single production company submit?
Q – Can a producer re-apply if they are unsuccessful at one deadline?
Q – Where does the money come from?
Q – What other funds does the Independent Production Fund manage?
A – The Independent Production Fund provides equity financing for dramatic series created for the web or mobile platforms.
The IPF’s Special Project Grants program supports professional development activities for not-for-profit organizations that undertake training and promotional programs to further develop dramatic production skills and recognition.
The IPF’s program to fund television drama series is on hold until 2014, in cooperation with the Cogeco Program Development Fund, which has expanded its mandate to include series.
Q – Who is eligible for funding?
A – You must be a Canadian independent producer.
Q – How do you define Dramatic Series?
A – Dramatic series are defined in the broadest sense to include sitcoms, animation, children and adult series. Even some docudramas are possible if a significant component of the production is dramatized. Drama means fictionalized, scripted material performed by actors.
Q – Do you fund any type of documentary, documentary series, television series, movies for television, variety or news magazine programs?
A – No. We only fund drama series created primarily for the web or mobile platforms. Previously the IPF provided funding to dramatic television series but this mandate is on hold until 2014.
Q – Why doesn’t the IPF fund dramatic television series anymore?
A – In 2010 the Board of Directors of the IPF undertook an experimental program to fund web series, a new frontier in drama production. Following the success of this program and strong industry participation, and the absence of other significant sources of funding, it was determined that the IPF’s resources should be directed towards this new form of production for new platforms. In order to ensure sufficient private Fund support for television drama series, the IPF negotiated an agreement with the Cogeco Program Development Fund to expand its mandate to undertake the funding of tv drama series.
Q – How much money do you invest?
A – There are no formal maximum or minimum amounts. Investments tend to average between 25% to 75% of budgets of series. But, this is only a guideline and there are always exceptions.
Q – How do you judge the applications?
A – An independent industry Selection Committee evaluates all projects at the Proposal stage (Stage 1). Each project is evaluated based on quality, creative material, business and marketing plan, recoupment potential, other funding, digital strategies, etc. The IPF’s Board of Directors reviews all applications and recommendations to select a short-list of finalists. The finalists are invited to submit full, detailed applications (Stage 2) that are reviewed by an international jury with final funding decisions made by the Board of Directors.
Q – What is the time-frame between the application deadline and decision?
A – The short-list of finalists for web series is announced at the end of March. The final funding decisions are announced in mid to late June.
We announce funding decisions for Special Projects approximately 6-8 weeks after the deadline dates.
Q – Do you ever award less money than requested, or is it an “all or nothing” process?
A – We may offer you less funding than requested, depending on funding available, number of approved projects and your financing structure. You may decide to accept the Independent Production Fund’s offer or not.
Q – How many proposals can a single production company submit?
A – You may only submit one web series project per production company, annually.
Q – Can a producer re-apply if they are unsuccessful at one deadline?
A – You may only reapply in the following year if there are significant changes to the project. We do recommend that you contact the Fund for feedback on the original application before resubmitting.
Q – Where does the money come from?
A – In 1990 Maclean Hunter Limited made an endowment in perpetuity to encourage Canadian television drama programming. The Independent Production Fund now operates with this endowment, valued at $34,000,000. The interest from this endowment, as well as recoupment from productions, provides approximately $2M per year for investments in series. The Independent Production Fund is a completely independent, private foundation with charitable status.
Q – What other funds does the Independent Production Fund manage?
A – As well as its own programs, the Independent Production Fund administers the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund and the Cogeco Program Development Fund. Each of these Funds has their own Boards of Directors, mandates, and project selection processes.
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