CMF & IPF Team to Support Short-Form Content

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The Canada Media Fund (CMF) has aligned with the Independent Production Fund (IPF) for a development packaging program designed to support original Canadian short-form scripted series.

The budget of the Development Packaging Program: Short Form Scripted Series is set at C$600,000 ($454,000). To be eligible for support, projects must be new and original; be conceived as scripted, episodic short-form dramatic content with multiple episodes and episodic running times that are less than 20 minutes; have a confirmed creative team at the time of application and be developed in either English or in French.

The maximum funding available for each eligible project is C$30,000 ($23,000). The deadline to apply is March 2, 2020.

“After assessing the market needs for programs supporting short-form series at various stages of production, the CMF launched its Web Series Program in 2016. We now see a need to provide additional support for this type of content at the development stage,” said Nathalie Clermont, VP of programs and business development at the CMF. “This partnership is a natural fit for the CMF given the IPF’s keen knowledge of the short-form series format, their familiarity with Canadian creators working in this space, and their understanding of the challenges and opportunities creators face.”

“Together the IPF and CMF partnership strengthens our joint commitment to the serious business of development,” noted Andra Sheffer, CEO of the IPF. “It will enable us to finance and support a wider range of creative projects with potential for success.”