Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program
Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program
The Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program is a partnership with Ontario Creates and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) that provides funding for early-stage project-related development.
This program seeks to support companies that often have barriers to accessing project funding and to support the very beginning of a project’s creative process with the objective of giving a project a better chance to succeed in future stages of funding.
An Eligible Applicant to the Program is a for-profit company that:
- Completed an Ontario Creates Futures Forward Workshop in 2023, OR
- Is an Ontario Creates IDM Fund-eligible company (see Guidelines) where the majority of owners self-identify as at least one of the following:
- Women or non-binary;
- 2SLGBTQIA+;
- First Nations, Inuit or Métis;
- Racialized;
- Persons with disabilities;
- Francophone.
An Eligible Project must be:
- A new project that has not received other development funding for the phase of work being proposed
- Interactive Content or Video Content, delivered on a platform, network, or device capable of interactivity. This may include:
- Video games
- Mobile content apps
- E-learning content
- XR experiences
- Digital publishing projects
- Other web properties
- Web series
- Video content for online magazines
- Video-based e-learning projects
DEADLINE
December 19, 2023, by 5:00 pm ET
FUNDING AVAILABLE
Eligible companies may submit an application to the Program to receive one of a limited number of grants (non-refundable contributions) to assist them with their project development activities.
- The maximum contribution to a project funded through the Program shall be the lesser of $20,000 or 75% of the project’s eligible costs with (i) 50% of the contribution from the CMF and (ii) 50% from Ontario Creates.
- This Program has a commitment to provide 1/3 of its budget towards French-language projects and 2/3 of its budget towards projects from companies owned by members of equity-deserving communities.