Film Fund – Production
$400,000.00
Loan
Description:
The Ontario Creates Film Fund – Production streams (Drama and Documentary) are intended to increase the level of domestic feature film production in Ontario. The Film Fund provides support to Ontario producers for feature film projects in the final stages of production financing. The prime objectives of the fund are to: – increase investment and jobs in Ontario by Ontario-based feature film production companies; – increase the number of high quality, original feature films produced in Ontario by Ontario-based production companies; and – assist in capitalizing Ontario-based feature film production companies.
Comments on Funding:
Funding is a contribution (recoupable advance) of:
– up to maximum request $400,000 for dramatic films capped on a tiered basis on Ontario spend of $5M and up;
– up to $300,000 for dramatic films capped on a tiered basis on Ontario spend of $3M to $4.999M;
– up to $250,000 for dramatic films capped on a tiered basis on Ontario spend of $1M to $2.999M;
– up to $150,000 for documentary films at all budget levels.
Dramatic films with an Ontario spend under $1M must contact Ontario Creates before applying.
CYCLE 1: March 14, 2024 5:00 PM ET CYCLE 2: July 11, 2024 5:00 PM ET CYCLE 3: November 14, 2024 5:00 PM ET
Eligibility:
Applicants must be:
1. production companies;
2. individual producers.
Production companies must be:
1. incorporated in Ontario or incorporated federally and registered in Ontario;
2. Ontario-based: a) have a permanent establishment in Ontario which serves as head office and base of operations (i.e., applicant is eligible to pay corporate income taxes in Ontario and Ontario address is listed as head office in T2 filing); and; and, b) be able to demonstrate that they had a permanent establishment in Ontario for at least one year prior to the deadline. 3. a Canadian-owned and controlled organization as defined in the Investment Canada Act (Canada);
4. in good standing with Ontario Creates at time of application submission (applicant companies and any associated production entity).
Individual producers must:
1. be Ontario residents and Canadian citizens within the definition of the Citizenship Act or permanent residents within the definition of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada);
2. have previously produced at least one of: a dramatic or documentary feature film theatrically released in Canada; a television movie; a dramatic or documentary series; or, two one-hour documentaries that have been broadcast in Canada.
Ontario Creates will consider applications from producers who do not meet the above minimum applicant producer requirements provided that they can demonstrate in writing the attachment to the project of an Ontario based executive producer who does meet the above qualifications. In this instance, applicants are required to seek pre-approval of the executive producer by Ontario Creates prior to application.
Application Steps:
Applicants must:
1. submit their application to Ontario Creates electronically through the Online Application Portal (OAP) at https://apply.OntarioCreates.ca;
2. create a user account on the OAP(go to https://apply.OntarioCreates.ca/ and click on “Register”);
Applications will be evaluated for eligibility and completeness. Decisions will be announced 12 to 16 weeks after the deadline. Successful applicants must accept and sign a conditional letter of commitment from Ontario Creates within one month of notification;
Documentation Needed:
Applicants must submit the following supporting documents:
1. complete chain of title including summary and all supporting agreements as well as all option extensions;
2. coproduction agreements if applicable;
3. financing plan;
4. financing commitments demonstrating a minimum of 70% of financing;
5. full budget with top sheet (for coproductions multi-jurisdictional budgets must be provided);
6. complete Schedule of Minimum Commitment of Ontario Expenditures (SMCOE); and
7. Canadian distribution agreement and/or marketing plan.
Page limits are in place for some supporting documents; please review page limit requirements in the OAP prior to finalizing your application materials. Additional documents submitted beyond those required may not be reviewed by the jury.
It is imperative that applications include all the required materials listed within the application form. Place holder documents will not be accepted.
No documentation will be accepted after submission.
Other Things to Note:
The 2023-24 Film Fund Production program includes administrative updates. Please read the program guidelines thoroughly. The Ontario Creates reserves the right to withdraw its funding commitment should project financing not be complete within the negotiated time frame per the funding commitment, the project no longer meets one or more of the funds eligibility requirements or the project changes significantly from time of initial commitment.
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Maurice
