IPF AND CMF ANNOUNCE 2024 SHORT FORM SERIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FUNDING DECISIONS
April 16, 2024
INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION FUND AND CANADA MEDIA FUND ANNOUNCE 2024 SHORT FORM SERIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FUNDING DECISIONS
The Independent Production Fund (IPF) and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) have approved financing for 33 scripted short form series as part of the 2024 CMF-IPF Short Form Series Development Program. These series are being developed for exploitation primarily on digital platforms and channels. 22 of the approved series are in English and 11 are in French.
The IPF-CMF Short Form Series Development Program is designed to support the development of high quality, Canadian, original, scripted short-form series. In addition to the combined investment of approximately $1 Million, the IPF and the CMF will also provide consultation advisory services to the producers of the successful projects.
A record 218 eligible projects were submitted – 167 English-language, 51 French-language. Applications were received from 10 provinces including 16 from official language minority communities (OLMCs).
Over 45 analysts from across the country evaluated and rated the applications providing a wide range of perspectives. Evaluators looked for originality, authenticity, quality of written creative materials, the experience of the team, the expertise of the story editor, the proposed budget, and the overall potential for success.
The 33 successful applications represent all major genres, including children’s live action, animation, comedy, drama, horror, mystery/thriller, science-fiction and fantasy and come from a broad diversity of creators and producers.
IPF Chair Emilia King commented: “This was a history book kind of year for IPF. The Development Program received its highest ever number of applications with representation from all 10 provinces, and a strong showing of stories with BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ lead teams and characters. There were so many original and exciting ideas, and the competition was steep. Congratulations to all those who applied. To our successful applicants – what a privilege it is to play a role in your creative journeys and we can’t wait to see how these stories develop ! “
“The CMF is delighted to once again partner with the Independent Production Fund to support the development of 33 outstanding projects from across the country,” added Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. “My congratulations to the funded creators and their teams — I look forward to seeing your stories on platforms everywhere.”
Here are the recipients of the 2024 CMF-IPF Development Packaging Program:
| Aced It Genre: Comedy Production Company: erAced Productions Producers: Natasha Advani Thangkheiw, Hools Kay Writers: Hools Kay, Ashley Comeau Development Executive / Story Editor: Charles Lubiniecki, Annie Briggs ON |
| Algorythme Genre: Children's Animation Production Company: Extérieur Jour / Couleur.tv Producers: Élodie Pollet, Francis Gélinas, Amélie Lambert-Bouchard Writer: Geneviève Sarrazin Story Editor: Geneviève Morin QC |
| Anatomy of a Séance Genre: Horror, Mystery/Thriller, Drama Production Company: Familiar Films Producers: Shawn Watson, Jessica Landry Writer: Jessica Landry Development Executive / Story Editor: Rebecca Gibson, Ian Carpenter MB |
| Been Here Genre: Comedy Production Company: Pique Producers: Imad Elsheikh, Lola Gafaar, Tré Akula Writer: Angelique Knights Development Executive / Story Editor: Kat Khan, Shonna Foster ON |
| Casse-toi Genre: Drama Production Company: Roméo & Fils Producer: Martin Henri, Jacinthe Robert Writer: Raphaël Massicotte Story Editor: Marie-Claude Trépanier QC |
| Cet article est-il disponible? Genre: Comedy Production Company: Productions Déferlantes Producers: Benoît Clermont, Jean-Philippe Dion, Marie-Eve Rocheleau Writers: Simon Laroche, Frédérique Rousseau, Philippe Lacroix Geneviève Chenail Development Executive / Story Editor: Catherine Perreault-Lessard, Benoît Cyr QC |
| CLINIC Genre: Drama Production Company: Digital Warriors Productions Producers: Brishkay Ahmed, Hedyeh Bozorgzadeh Writer: Brishkay Ahmed Story Editor: Claire Dunn BC |
| Comedy College Genre: Comedy Production Company: LoCo Productions Producers: Lauren Corber, Palmer Baranek Writer: Rob Shapiro Story Editor: Anthony Q. Farrell ON |
| Compel Genre: Horror, Mystery/Thriller Production Company: Human Moves Media Producer: Max Collister Writer: Luc Trottier Story Editor: Doug Taylor PE |
| Confession Queens Genre: Comedy Production Company: Archipelago Productions Producers: Maeve Kern, Nicholas Ewart, Jana Stackhouse Writers: Aditi Raina, Cass Cervi Story Editor: Amber-Sekowan Daniels ON |
| Échouées Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: Amalga Créations Médias Producers: André Dupuy, Marie-Alexandra Forget, Justine Landreville Writers: Manal Drissi, Gabrielle Lisa Collard Story Editor: Christine Doyon QC |
| Eyes in the Woods Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Sci-Fi, Comedy Production Company: Numera Films Producers: Griffin Cork, Kenya Weaver, Cayley Ermter Writers: Morgan Ermter, Alanna Schwartz Development Executive: Carmen Bachez AB |
| Gardens Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: MA Productions Producers: Jason Aresenault, Trinnie Franke, Mazi Khaligh Writers: Jason Arsenault, Mazi Khalighi Story Editor: Jennica Harper BC |
| Get It Together Genre: Comedy Production Company: B&B Productions Producer: Kris Mish Writer: Katrina Reynolds Story Editor: Josh Epstein BC |
| Gone to Hell Genre: Adult Animation, Comedy Production Company: Banger Media Producer: Brian Peco Writer: Brian Peco Story Editor: Derrick Breckles ON |
| Half-fishing Genre: Comedy Production Company: Dr. Bruno Productions Producer: : Lisa Benedetto Writers: Trevor Christie, Lisa Benedetto Development Executive / Story Editor: Nafisa Murji, Linsey Stewart ON |
| Kokum & Dot Genre: Pre-school Animation/Live Action Production Company: Ekosi Productions Producer: April Johnson Writers: Jordan Wheeler, Dorothy Visser Development Executive: Trevor Bentley BC |
| Le confort du diable Genre: Comedy, Mystery/Thriller Production Company: La 115e Producer: Kélyna N. Lauzier Writers: Ariel Poupart, Alexis Roberge Story Editor: Brigitte D'Amours QC |
| Le pire f**king band du monde Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: Art et essai Producer: Anaëlle Béglet Writer: Rémi Dufresne Story Editor: Alexandre Pelletier QC |
| L'été d'Imani Nelson Genre: Drama Production Company: Afro Dynamic Films Producers: Kimberley Ann Surin Writer: Kimberley Ann Surin Story Editor: Edith Kabuya QC |
| L'usine des perversions Genre: Adult Animation, Drama Production Company: Ojo Raro Producer: Gervasio Canda Writers: Gervasio Canda, Guido Depaoli Story Editor: Elza Kephart QC |
| Mukbang Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: Babel Films Producers: Philippe-A. Allard, Marco Frascarelli, Mathieu Paiement Writers: Fanie Demeule, Kevin T. Landry Story Editor: Camille Trudel QC |
| Mysteries of the Magic Typewriter Genre: Children's Animation Production Company: Loft Sky Pictures Producer: Jason Loftus, Masha Loftus Writer: Jared Pearman Story Editor: Judith Cheung ON |
| Of Perfume and Bondage Genre: Comedy, Mystery/Thriller Production Company: One Ten Productions Ltd Producer: Jade Blair Writer: Erica Genereux Smith Development Executive / Story Editor: Davin Lengyel, Kayla Lorette ON |
| One Baby, Please! Genre: Comedy Production Company: Dunya Media Producer: Shyam Valera Writers: Mostafa Shaker, Adrian Neblett Story Editors: Teresa Pavlenik BC |
| One-of-a-kinders Genre: Children's Animation Production Company: Most Fun Studio Producer: Robert Anderson Writer: Spencer Moreland Story Editors: Brandon Lane ON |
| Perdue au bord de la baie d'Hudson Genre: Drama Production Company: Kannon Films Producer: Émilie Martel Writer: Micheline Marchand Development Executive: Charles Clément ON |
| Ruby's Plan B Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: Top Dollar Sisters Productions Producers: Karin Lee Writer: Karin Lee Development Executive/Story Editor: Kimberley Wakefield, Ruth Atkinson BC |
| Samouraï de Laval Genre: Comedy Production Company: Productions KOTV Producers: Marie-Eve Jacques, Mélanie Viau, Louis Morissette, Louis-Philippe Drolet Writer: Maxime Scraire Story Editor: Olivier Gaudet Savard QC |
| Sea Salt Genre: Drama, Mystery, Fantasy Production Company: Westgate Pictures Producer: Céleste McNiven Writer: Logan Fulford Development Executive: Julie Di Cresce PE |
| Tabletop Club Genre: Youth Comedy, Adventure Production Company: Toaster Productions Producer: Jessica To Writer: Tammy Tsang Story Editor: Rebecca Gibson BC |
| This Side of the Grave Genre: Drama Production Company: Curious Cat Productions Producer: Ruth Lawrence Writer: Catharine Parke Development Executive / Story Editor: Kimberley Wakefield, Jennica Harper BC |
| Travail d'été Genre: Comedy Production Company: Picbois Productions Producers: Karine Dubois, Marie-Pierre Corriveau, Sophie Samson Writer: Catherine Proulx Story Editor: Suzie Bouchard QC |
About the Independent Production Fund
Since inception the IPF has invested $90,340,514 in 1,142 projects: 90 Short Form Series Development projects, 179 Short Form Series Productions, 323 TV Productions, and over 550 Professional Development projects. The IPF is incorporated as a charitable foundation with an endowment valued at approximately $40M. It uses the interest generated by the endowment and return on its project investments for its annual operations and project funding. The IPF Board of Directors is composed of representatives from the industry and makes all final funding decisions.
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances, and promotes the production of Canadian content for all audiovisual platforms. In addition, it guides Canadian content towards a
competitive global digital environment by supporting industry innovation, rewarding success, promoting diversity of voices, and encouraging access to content through public- and private-sector partnerships. The CMF receives funding from the Government of Canada and from cable, satellite, and IP service distributors across the country. Visit the CMF website for more information.