For immediate release

June 22, 2011 – The IPF Board of Directors approved funding for 15 scripted drama series (9 English / 6 French) designed and produced for exploitation on the web and is making equity investments of $1.4 M in these projects. This unique funding program was created last year to support the exploration and potential for high quality, story driven drama for web audiences. The selection process required the evaluation of 160applications which were short-listed to 30 web series from production companies across the country.

An international jury and the Board evaluated projects based on content, production styles and processes, formats, business and promotion models, audience potential and revenue. Jury members included Mio Adilman, Web Columnist CBC Radio’s Q with Jian Ghomeshi; Sophie Dufort, vice-présidente Médias interactifs Chaînes Télé-Astral; Henry J. Gagnon, président HGagnon Distribution Inc.; Veronica Holmes, President ZenithOptimedia Digital (ZED); Marti Resteghini, VP Network Programming KoldCast; and Stéphanie Röckmann-Portier, Managing Director Head of Sales Distribution360.

The IPF has established a “Wip dashboard” linking to all of its funded web series. To see the 2010 projects, go to www.ipf.ca/webseries

The following productions are the recipients of the IPF’s 2011 web drama series program:

Project Title	Producers / Creators / Production Company
11 règles – Season 2 11 x 3-5 minutes QC	Studio Whimz Producer: Steve Kerr Writer: André Gulluni
Bill & Sons Towing 8 x 8 minutes 8 x 5 minutes (podcasts) ON	Ready, Set, Panic Producers: Charles Ketchabaw, Mark De Angelis, Shawn Bailey Writer: Mark De Angelis
Le chum de ma mère est un extra-terrestre 12 x 5 minutes QC	Voyous Films Producers: Marie-Claire Lalonde, Gabriel Allard-Gagnon Writer: Éric K. Boulianne Director/Creator: Kim St-Pierre
Dakodak – Season 2 8 x 8 minutes QC	Van Der Lol Producer: Julien Roussin Côté Writers: Alexandre Soublière, Anita Rowan Director/Creators: Laurence Morais-Lagacé, Sébastien Landry
Juliette en direct – Season 2 10 x 3–5 minutes QC	Les Productions Passez Go Producer: Vicky Bounadère Writer: Yvan DeMuy Director: Marie-Claude Blouin
Manigances 13 x 6 minutes QC	Kebweb.Tv Producers: Isabel Dréan, Simon Côté Writer: Ghislain O’Prêtre Directors: Isabel Dréan, Simon Côté
Moderation Town, Season 2 7 x 10 minutes NS	Stitch Media Producers: Evan Jones, Victoria Ha, Michael Schaus Writers: Evan Jones, Michael Schaus, Stephan MacLeod Director: Mark Mullane
Pilotes 10 x 4 minutes QC	Vivaweb Producers: Nicholas Vachon, Jean-Pierre Morin, Francine Forest Writers: Patrick Dupuis, Jean-Philippe Duran Director: Christian Laurence
Prison Dancer 12 x 5 minutes ON	Prison Dancer Productions Producers: Ana Serrano, Romeo Candido, Derek Chua, Carla Serrano Writers: Romeo Candido, Carmen de Jesus Director: Romeo Candido
Ruby Skye P.I., Season 2 12 x 3–8 minutes ON	Story 2.OH Producers: Jill Golick, Kerry Young, Karen Walton, Steven Golick Writer: Jill Golick Director: Kelly Harms
Runaway 14 x 5–7 minutes BC	Leaping Lizards Productions Inc. Producers: Liz Scully, Leonard Terhoch Writer: Liz Scully Director: Liz Scully Interactive Services Co.: Zeros 2 Heroes
Space Janitors 10 x 4 minutes 25 x 3 minutes (blog) ON	Brooms in Space Productions Inc. Producers: Davin T. Lengyel, Geoff Lapaire Writer: Geoff Lapaire
Uberdude 11 x 4 minutes ON	Smiley Guy Studios Inc. Producer: Jonas Diamond Writer: Jeremy Diamond Director: Denny Silverthorne
Verdict 15 x 5 minutes MB	Frantic Films Producers: Shaun Johnson, Shawn Watson, Jamie Brown, Tammy Marlowe Johnson Writers: Tammy Marlowe Johnson, Mike McIntyre Interactive Service Company: Tactica Communications Inc.
Your Lupine Life 13 x 4 minutes SK	Karma Film, T3 Digital Productions Producers: Anand Ramayya, Torin Stefanson, Teri Armitage Writers: Torin Stefanson, Teri Armitage Director: Torin Stefanson

The Board of Directors also announced its funding decisions for one television drama series:

Projects	Production Company	Broadcaster(s)
Degrassi, Season 11	Epitome Pictures	MuchMusic, The N (US)

The IPF works in collaboration with the Cogeco Program Development Fund, to recommend funding for additional dramatic television series. The following television drama series for private broadcasters were approved for equity financing by the Cogeco Fund:

Projects	Production Company	Broadcaster
Guardians	Wapos Bay Productions Inc.	APTN
Highland Gardens	Epitome Pictures Inc.	CTV / MuchMusic
Murdoch Mysteries, Season 5	Shaftesbury Murdoch V Inc.	City TV
Toute la vérité 3	Sphère Média Plus	Groupe TVA
Toopy & Binoo – The Puppets	Écho Média	Treehouse

The IPF also continues to support training and professional development activities. The following organizations received professional development grants:

Organization	Events
Academy of Canadian Film & Television (ACCT)	26th Annual Gemini Awards
Atlantic Film Festival	Strategic Partners
Canadian Film Centre (CFC)	Primetime Television Program
Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)	26th Film & TV Forum
Youth Media Alliance	2011 Children, Youth & Media Conference

The Independent Production Fund is incorporated as a private foundation with charitable status. It operates on the interest generated by a $35 M endowment, and by recoupment from its investments. An independent Board of Directors representing the industry oversees the operations of the fund and makes all investment decisions.

Funding partners for the Pilot Web Series Program includes:

• Manitoba Film & Music
• Film Nova Scotia
• Ontario Film
• innovationPEI
• Sask Film

The IPF also administers the COGECO Program Development Fund and the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.