April 21, 2021 – The IPF Board of Directors has approved financing for twenty (20) scripted short-form series as part of the 2021 Development Packaging Program. These are series which are being developed for exploitation primarily on digital platforms and channels. Thirteen (13) of the approved series are in English and seven (7) are in French.

The IPF and Canada Media Fund are providing a combined investment of roughly $600,000 for these projects and will also provide consultation advisory services to producers.

The Development Packaging Program is designed to support the development of high quality, Canadian, original, scripted short-form series. The program leverages resources from both the IPF and CMF in order to encourage more positive outcomes in the development of this important format.

One hundred and four (104) eligible projects were submitted from across Canada – 79 English language, 25 French language. Applications were received from 7 provinces. 30+ evaluators analysed and rated the projects providing a wide range of perspectives.

Evaluators looked for originality, quality of written creative materials, the experience of story editor or development executives and their commitment to the project, and overall potential for success.

Both new talents and experienced digital production companies are represented with a wide range of genres for both children and adult demographics, including comedy, drama, puppet, sci-fi, mystery, thriller and even horror!

IPF Chair Emilia King commented: “Congratulations to all of the successful teams. It is incredible to see the depth and quality of the projects at this early stage. Sincerest thanks to our jury, the IPF staff and my fellow board members for their dedication and hard work selecting these incredible projects. Can’t wait to see them come to life!”

“CMF is delighted to have collaborated with IPF on the delivery of these funds,” said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. “We look forward to seeing the results of these development projects and hope to see them on our screens very soon. Congratulations to the talented teams who submitted a funding application.”

The following productions are the recipients of the IPF 2021 development packaging program:

20h30 chez Mathieu Drama Productions Bien Joué inc. Language: French Producers: Gabriel Bergeron, Sébastien Iannuzzi Writer: Erika Mathieu Story Editor: Justine Phillie Québec

Booster Station Comedy, Sci-Fi MEMO Films Language: French Producers: Carolyne Boucher, Mélanie S. Dubois Writers: Mélanie S. Dubois, Christelle Gilibert Story Editor: Zoé Pelchat Québec

Dark Star Mystery, Thriller ANMS Media Inc. Language: English Producer: Andrew McCann Smith Writer: Rob Stockman Story Editor: Laura Schwartz Ontario

I HATE PEOPLE, PEOPLE HATE ME Comedy, Drama Turbo Bobbi Creative Language: English Producers: Evan Dell’Aquila, Lisa Filipelli Writers: Bobbi Summers, Blake Mawson Story Editor: Olivia Stadler Development Executive: Melanie Le Phan Ontario

Invisible Drama Diversified Voices Productions inc. Language: French Producer: Josiane Blanc, Ania Jamila Writer: Josiane Blanc, Ania Jamila Story Editor: Marie-Claire Marcotte Ontario

La Cantine Comedy V10 Média inc Language: French Producer: Caroline Gaudette Writer: Sybille Pluvinage Story Editor: Benjamin Alix Québec

My Dead Mom Comedy, Drama LoCo Motion Productions Inc. Language: English Producers: Lauren Corber, Palmer Baranek Writer: Wendy Litner Story Editor: Allana Reoch Ontario

P.A.M. (Programme d’aspirant moniteur) Drama, Mystery, Thriller Babel Films inc. Language: French Producer: Marco Frascarelli Writer: Marjorie Armstrong Story Editor: Rafaël Ouellet Québec

Saxon Horror, Mystery, Thriller Cream Digital Language: English Producer: Kate Harrison Writer: Dan Magnus, Matt MacLellan Story Editor: Ian Carpenter Ontario

Send Noodz Comedy, Drama Scenario Media Language: English Producer: Darby Wheeler Writer: May Truong Story Editor: Nicole Saltz Ontario

Silver Cord Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller Space Mop Language: English Producer: Davin Lengyel Writers: Davin Lengyel, Ellie Moon Development Executive: Craig McGillivray Ontario

St-Jean-du-Lac Comedy, Mystery, Thriller Pimiento Médias inc. Language: French Producers: Orlando Arriagada, Daniela Mujica Writer: Alexandre Pelletier Story Editor: Sylvie Bouchard Québec

Stories From My Gay Grandparents Comedy, Drama Wheelhouse Productions Language: English Producers: Perrie Voss, Scott Farley Writers: Perrie Voss, Scott Farley Story Editor: Annie Briggs Ontario

Streams Flow From A River Drama Fae Pictures Inc. Language: English Producer: Shant Joshi Writer: Christopher Yip Story Editor: JJ (Jenna) Neepin Ontario

Support Drama, Comedy Heydsaffer Language: English Producer: Kevin Saffer Writers: Nolan Sarner, Jeff Wood Story Editors: Hannah Chesman, Sheila McCarthy Ontario

Symphonie pathétique Comedy, Drama Echo Media Language: French Producers: Sarah Châtelain, Luc Châtelain Writers: Daphnée Côté-Hallé, Lysandre Ménard Story Editor: Pascale Renaud Hébert Québec

The Drop Comedy Rowboat Pictures Ltd. Language: English Producers: Dani Pagliarello, Aisha Evelyna, Liz Whitmere, Evan Landry Writers: Dani Pagliarello, Aisha Evelyna, Nour Hadidi, Nick Nemeroff Story Editors: Lisa Codrington Ontario

The Shapeshifters Children, Puppet Gazelle Automations Language: English Producer: Justin T. Lee Writer: Lindsay Lee Story Editor: Bob Crossman Ontario

The Vivre-Ensemble Comedy, Drama CreativeDNA Inc. Language: English Producers: Melanie Windle, Steph Ouaknine Writer: Sarah Goodman Story Editor: Robby Hoffman Ontario

Wild Geese Drama, Sci-Fi LaRue Productions Inc. Language: English Producers: Andrew Ferguson, Matt King Writer: Matt Sadowski Story Editor: Ashley Cooper Ontario

Since its inception, the IPF invested $78,017,815 in the production of 294 television drama series and pilots and 152 short form scripted series. It also supported the development of 20 short form series and contributed in sponsorship to 481 professional development activities and events across Canada.

The IPF is incorporated as a charitable foundation with an endowment valued at over $40M. It uses the interest generated by the endowment and return on its project investments for its annual operations and project funding. The IPF Board of Directors is composed of representatives from the industry and makes all final funding decisions.