CMF, Ontario Creates renew partnership to bolster Ontario interactive digital media production
Toronto, October 31, 2023 – The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Ontario Creates (OC) today announced the renewal of the Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program, a joint initiative to fund early-stage, interactive digital media (IDM) development projects from emerging Ontario companies owned by individuals from Indigenous and equity-seeking communities.
Last year, 16 companies received funding. Projects to be developed included 11 web-series, four games and an interactive application for children.
“Receiving funding through this program was an incredibly important stepping stone in developing our sitcom project,” says producer and director Tristan Barrocks of Mid-Career Productions. “It fueled our financial resources and ignited our creative spirits, enabling us to transform our unique vision into a vibrant reality.”
“This support was instrumental in laying the groundwork needed to develop and package our pitch. These resources not only breathed life into our ideas but also allowed a BIPOC production company like ours to grow our capacity for success,” adds producer and partner Natanya Barrocks.
With a budget of $300,000 available, successful applicants to the program can receive up to $20,000 toward the ideation of a new IDM project idea such as a game, XR experience, or web series. Eligible activities include preparing project concept or pre-production materials, developing a proof of concept, production of project teasers or trailers, marketing or audience research, or hiring a mentor.
Applications will be accepted from eligible Ontario companies that have completed Ontario Creates’ Futures Forward training program in the fall of 2023 or that are majority-owned by individuals from Indigenous and equity-seeking communities.
This program has a commitment to provide one-third of its budget towards French-language projects and two-thirds towards projects from companies owned by individuals belonging to Indigenous or equity-seeking communities.
Read the full program guidelines and apply for funding on the Ontario Creates website.
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances, and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voice, and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors. Visit our website for more information.
About Ontario Creates
An agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Ontario Creates facilitates economic development opportunities for Ontario’s cultural media industries including book and magazine publishing, film and television, music and interactive digital media industries. For more information, please visit www.ontariocreates.ca.
Industry Contact
Danielle Hébert
Program Consultant, Interactive Digital Media
[email protected]
416-642-6687
Media contact
Maxime Ruel
Senior Manager, Communications
[email protected]
