Applications open for Ontario Creates Film Fund (Canada)

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;
• assist in capitalizing Ontario-based feature film production companies.

The Film Fund supports a range of projects across genres with both industrial and cultural benefits. Ontario Creates measures the results of the Film Fund primarily based on net benefit from the project to the province which includes but is not limited to return on investment and jobs created in the Ontario film industry.

Benefits

• The SMCOE represents the benefits of the project to the Ontario economy. This includes:
  • Projected Ontario expenditures as a multiple of Ontario Creates’ contribution.
  • Total projected number of weeks of employment for Ontario residents.
  • Weeks of work are calculated for Ontario residents working a minimum of 5 days on the production at a minimum of 35 to 40 hours within a single week. If you have individuals that reach the 35 to 40 hours a week in less than 5 days they can be apportioned ex. 2 days at 30 hours = .25 of a week. Day labour, regardless of role, cannot be included in the weeks of work calculation. Should you require further clarification please contact them.

Funding Information

• Funding for dramatic features will be capped on a tiered basis according to Ontario spend (labour and non-labour):
  • Ontario Spend/Maximum Request
    • $5 M and up:$400000
    • $3 M and $4,999 M:$300000
    • $1 M and $2,999 M:$250000
• Funding for documentary films at all budget levels is capped at $150,000.
• The Film Fund will continue to be a last-in participant in production financing. In order to be considered by the jury, 70% of production financing must be in place at the time of application. To calculate the 70%, you may exclude your Ontario Creates ask, and any financing under review from other recognized industry funding programs.
• Film Fund applications must be complete at time of submission in order to move forward to the jury review. Applicants will be offered one opportunity to submit updates via a letter in advance of the jury meeting.
• All financing must be confirmed within four months of the application deadline and in advance of Ontario Creates conditional letter of commitment.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Production Company must be:
  • Incorporated in Ontario or incorporated federally and registered in Ontario.
  • Be able to demonstrate a principal place of business in Ontario for at least one year prior to the deadline.
  • Ontario-based – have a principal place of business in Ontario which serves as head office and base of operations. The applicant must meet the following:
    • Applicant must be eligible to pay corporate income taxes in Ontario
    • Ontario address is listed as head office in T2 filing;
    • Ontario address must be a stable and non-temporary establishment where the applicant can demonstrate that the location is under the corporation’s control and the space can be objectively identified with the corporation. For example:
      • Maintenance of an office for which the corporation pays rent or compensates employees.
      • Presence of office equipment.
      • The place of business is listed as the corporation’s residential address in the telephone directory.
      • Substantial quantities of the corporation’s goods are kept on the property.
      • Residents or employees of the corporation working at the property devote all their working hours to the corporation’s interests.
      • Substantial usage of owned/rented machinery or equipment that is used to carry out the corporation’s business.
      • A Canadian-owned and controlled organization as defined in the Investment Canada Act (Canada).
• Production Eligibility
  • Dramatic Feature (including Animation):
    • Domestic: must have a budget between $1 million and $8 million
    • International co-production: must have a minimum budget of $1 million (no budget cap) Documentary: Must have a minimum budget of $600,000
    • All productions must:
      • Have a minimum proposed length of 75 minutes.
      • Not have commenced principal photography prior to application submission.
      • Be shot in Ontario (co-productions and documentaries are excluded from this requirement).
      • Be either eligible for certification as a Canadian Production by CAVCO; as a treaty co-production by Telefilm Canada and by co-producers equivalent certifying body or eligible to receive Canadian Program certification from the CRTC.
• Productions with budgets:
  • Under $3.5 million without a confirmed Canadian distributor must include a marketing plan that demonstrates how the film will be commercially exploited in Canada, and internationally if appropriate.
  • $3.5 million and over must have a Canadian distributor attached to the project. The distributor must commercially exploit the film in Canada, and internationally if appropriate. While not required, the application can be strengthened with a marketing plan.

Application Requirements

• Film Fund applications must be complete at time of submission and with all documents below in order to move forward to the jury review:
  • Complete chain of title including summary and all supporting agreements as well as all option extensions. Note: Applications that don’t provide proof of ownership of the project will be considered incomplete ;
  • Co-production agreements if applicable, including preliminary recommendation letters from Telefilm Canada and coproducer’s equivalent body;
  • Financing plan;
  • Financing commitments demonstrating a minimum of 70% of financing o full budget with top sheet (for co-productions multi-jurisdictional budgets must be provided)
  • Complete Schedule of Minimum Commitment of Ontario Expenditures (SMCOE);
  • 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.

For more information, visit Ontario Creates.