Ontario Creates-CMF — IDM Futures Forward Program
Toronto, ON, Canada
Funding for early-stage digital media project development
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateOctober 23, 2024
- grant_single|closingDateDecember 16, 2024
- grant_single|grantStatusClosed
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Information and cultural industries
grant_single|grantors
- Ontario Creates
- Canada Media Fund (CMF)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
The Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program provides funding of up to $20,000, covering 75% of eligible project costs to support early-stage project-related development. The program aims to assist companies in overcoming barriers to project funding and enhance the initial creative process, with eligible activities including project conceptualization, prototype creation, and market research.
grant_single_labels|projects
This grant supports early-stage project-related development activities to enhance the chances of project success in future funding stages. The activities focus on conceptualization, planning, prototyping, and mentoring.
- Project conceptualization activities.
- Production of trailers and pre-trailers (with the exception of pilot episodes).
- Concept testing or prototype creation.
- Preparation of preproduction documents, including presentation materials for funding applications.
- Planning activities such as market or audience research.
- Mentorship to support specific project-related activities, with mentorship costs capped at 25% of the budget.
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and business operations.
- The company must be a for-profit entity.
- The company has either attended Ontario Creates' workshop on the MIN Development Assistance Program in 2024 or is eligible under the Ontario Creates Fund for Digital Interactive Media Products.
- The majority of the company's ownership must belong to individuals identifying as women or non-binary, 2ELGBTQIA+, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, or Francophones.
- The company must be incorporated in Ontario or federally, and controlled by Canadian interests as defined by the Investment Canada Act.
- The company must be in good financial standing.
- The company must be in compliance with Ontario Creates and the CMF at the time of application.
- The company must have its principal place of business in Ontario, with specifics on tax authorization and establishment stability.
- Companies that have received certain other grants or exceed specified funding thresholds from related bodies are ineligible.
- Non-profit organizations, public sector entities, and private colleges are not eligible to apply.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
This program is specifically designed for for-profit companies that meet certain eligibility criteria. These criteria include the following:- The company must have participated in the Ontario Creates workshop on the IDM Development Fund Program in 2024, or must be an eligible company under the Ontario Creates Fund for Digital Interactive Media Products.- The majority of the business owners must identify as belonging to one or more of the following communities: women or non-binary individuals, 2ELGBTQIA+, First Nations, Inuit or Métis, racialized people, people with disabilities, and Francophones.- The company must be incorporated in Ontario or federally.- The company must be Canadian-controlled according to the Investment Canada Act.- The company must be in good financial standing.- The company must have a principal place of business in Ontario.- The company must be eligible to pay corporate income tax in Ontario with an address declared as the head office.- The company's place of business must be a stable, non-temporary establishment in Ontario.Additionally, companies that have received a grant for the IDM Development Fund in March 2024, companies that received more than $500,000 in funding from the CMF or Ontario Creates, private colleges, training institutions, and certain online service companies, as well as non-profit and public sector entities, are not eligible for this program.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
Certain companies and industries are ineligible to apply for this grant due to their status, previous funding, or primary activities. These restrictions ensure funds are directed towards businesses aligned with the program’s objectives.
- Companies that received a grant under the MIN Project Development Program in March 2024.
- Companies that have already received more than $500,000 from any MIN production aid program by CMF or Ontario Creates.
- Private colleges and training institutions.
- Companies providing online services to individuals.
- Entities not in good standing with Ontario Creates or CMF.
- Non-profit and public sector entities.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The grant covers expenses specifically related to the early-stage development activities of a project.
- Activities for project conceptualization.
- Production of promotional trailers and pre-trailers, excluding pilot episodes.
- Concept testing or prototype creation.
- Preparation of pre-production documents, including materials for funding applications.
- Business activities planning, including market or audience research.
- Mentorship supporting specific project-related activities, with funding capped at 25% of the budget.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
This grant is specifically for companies domiciled in Ontario, ensuring alignment with the goals of regional development within the province. Organizations must meet specific criteria to qualify for funding, focusing on promoting local businesses and industries.
- Organizations must have their principal place of business in Ontario, Canada.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects for the Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program are based on specific criteria with allocated point scores to ensure alignment with the program's objectives.
- Project Team (15%): Access to the capabilities, skills, and knowledge required to accomplish the proposed activities.
- Risks and Feasibility (15%): Clear deliverables, reasonable budget with appropriate cost allocation, secured funding, realistic timeline with effective planning and clearly defined milestones, and identification of potential challenges and risks.
- Quality, Innovation, and Creativity (30%): Creativity of the project, potential for high-quality product output, well-defined content, originality, and promotion of diversity, particularly highlighting underrepresented voices in the digital interactive media sector.
- Positive Impact (30%): Impact on advancing the project to the production phase, company growth through the execution of planned activities, viability of the target market for the proposed project, and likelihood of commercial and/or critical success.
- Benefit for Ontario (10%): Creation and/or retention of jobs in Ontario, potential for future revenue generation for the company, proportion of the budget spent in Ontario, sustainability of the project's economic benefits, and other significant advantages for the company and/or Ontario's economy.
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for the Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program:
- Step 1: Understand Program Guidelines
- Review all program-related documentation provided by Ontario Creates.
- Ensure that your company and project meet the eligibility criteria.
- Step 2: Account Setup and Workshop Attendance
- Create a user account on the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal at apply.ontariocreates.ca if you don't have one.
- Register for and attend the Ontario Creates workshop on the program for 2024.
- Step 3: Prepare Application
- Complete the Ontario Creates Program Development Plan workshop requirements, if applicable.
- Draft a detailed project proposal outlining the concept, activities, budget, and impact on Ontario's economy.
- Gather necessary supporting documents, including budget templates and affidavits.
- Step 4: Complete Application Form
- Log into the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal.
- Fill out the application form accurately and completely.
- Attach all required supporting documents.
- Step 5: Submit Application
- Submit the application through the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal before the deadline on December 16, 2024.
- Ensure that you receive an automated email confirmation of submission.
- Step 6: Follow-up Actions
- If required, provide additional documentation as requested by Ontario Creates.
- Track the status of your application on the portal.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are some additional relevant details for this grant:
- The program is committed to enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities, ensuring an inclusive application process.
- Applicants must confirm that they adhere to workplace respectful environment principles as part of the application process.
- The program places significant emphasis on the promotion of diversity, gender parity, and inclusion.
- Persona-ID, a self-identification system, while not required at the application stage, must be provided by successful applicants.
- The Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program is heavily focused on supporting projects that reflect diverse voices, especially from underrepresented communities within the digital media sector.
- Successful applicants must grant Ontario Creates and CMF permission to use the project for promotional purposes.
- Recipients receive their grant in staggered payments contingent on milestone deliverables.
- Recipients must maintain a principal place of business in Ontario throughout the funding agreement.
- An affidavit by a duly accredited professional, attesting the accuracy of the final cost report, is required for final reporting.
- Continuous Ontario-based business presence is mandatory for the duration of the project funding.
grant_single_labels|contact
idmfund@ontariocreates.ca
416 642-6687
Apply to this program
Unlock Success with Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program
The Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program offers essential funding support for early-stage digital media projects facing financial barriers. Focused on fostering creativity at the project's inception, the program enhances prospects for securing later-stage financing.
In-Depth Overview of Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program
Canada's digital media landscape is nurtured through pivotal initiatives like the Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program, specifically crafted to bridge funding gaps faced by early-stage interactive digital media projects. This strategic partnership between Ontario Creates and the Canada Media Fund underscores a commitment to fueling innovation from the ground up, providing formative financial assistance that empowers projects at the nascent stages of development.
Key to the program's agenda is its support for companies often marginalized in traditional funding circuits. This ensures that projects in their infancy have a robust foundation, which is imperative for attracting subsequent investments. By focusing on the preliminary phases of a project, such as creative conceptualization and prototype development, the program provides an impactful financial catalyst to lift ideas from potential to reality.
The program opens its doors to a diverse array of projects, particularly those with interactive capabilities like e-learning content, mobile applications, virtual and augmented reality experiences, and innovative web properties. By earmarking a significant portion of funds for Francophone projects and those helmed by Indigenous or equity-deserving communities, the program also acts as a vessel for cultural diversity and innovation plurality. This inclusivity is further cemented by their aim to advance gender parity and accessibility for people with disabilities, highlighting the social impact of your creative endeavors.
Eligible companies are invited to be part of this vibrant ecosystem provided they meet certain criteria, such as being incorporated in Ontario, primarily owned by Canadians, and having a principal office in Ontario which can prove their stable operational presence. This ensures that the program's benefits are effectively deployed within the provincial boundaries, stimulating local economic growth and fostering a supportive environment for multimedia innovation.
Projects seeking acceptance should clearly delineate their creative and technical roadmap to demonstrate feasibility, innovation, and alignment with the program's strategic priorities. This entails a judicious allocation of resources towards activities like concept testing, market research, and the creation of marketing materials to attract further investment. Unique to this grant is the emphasis on establishing a respectful, harassment-free workplace, endorsing an ethical business operation as a keystone for receiving public funds.
Structured to encourage flexibility, the program allows recipients to proactively manage the evolution of their projects amid changing technological landscapes. By supporting early-stage development specifically, it aims to increase the likelihood of project maturation into well-rounded, financially viable entities capable of captivating both the domestic and international markets.
In essence, the Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program is more than just a financial resource; it’s a strategic enabler that champions creativity, diversity, and technological advancement within Ontario's economic and cultural framework. Through this program, participants are not only positioned to achieve financial backing but are also empowered to become influential contributors to Canada's burgeoning digital media sector.
