June 21, 2018 – Seventeen (17) scripted short-form series designed and produced for exploitation on digital platforms and channels have been approved for funding by the Board of Directors of the IPF. Eleven (11) are in English and 6 are in French. Three of the approved projects are renewals for new episodes of successful web series previously funded by the IPF and 14 are new series to be produced and released in 2018/19. The IPF is making equity investments of over $2M in these projects.

The IPF has funded scripted short form web series since 2010. This program was created to encourage and support new talent in the industry and to stimulate Canada’s competitive creative and business skills in the digital story-telling world. These series are also serving as pilots and “calling cards” for the creative teams. The successful marketing and exploitation of Canadian original linear digital productions and talent to Canadian and global audiences is also an important goal of this initiative.

The selection and jury process established by the IPF ensures that all projects are reviewed by a wide range of participants providing a variety of perspectives. One hundred and seventy applications were submitted to the IPF from across Canada in the first stage of the application process. Thirty (30) of these were short-listed by a 40-member pre-selection committee. In the final evaluation stage, an international jury and IPF Board members reviewed all of the finalists and rated them based on content, audience engagement strategies, production styles and processes, business and marketing plans, distribution and revenue potential.

The selected projects represent a range of genres for different target demographics and distribution platforms and have been created by new and experienced digital production companies from across Canada. The international Jury and the Board of the IPF were very impressed by the advancements made in both the creativity and business approaches of the projects submitted this year and the recognition by producers of the essential role they are expected to undertake in ensuring audience engagement and discoverability. IPF Chair, Jon Taylor, noted the quality of the projects submitted: “The submissions this year were incredibly innovative and diverse. The international jury and the IPF staff and Board worked hard to select these amazing projects. I am looking forward to seeing them come to life!”

The following productions are the recipients of the IPF’s 2018 web drama series program:

The Amazing Gayl Pile (Season 5) Comedy ON LaRue Productions Inc. Matt King, Andrew Ferguson, Brooks Gray, Morgan Waters, Tyler Metcalf
The Communist’s Daughter Comedy ON Natalie Novak Films Natalie Novak, Leah Cameron
Detention Adventure Children’s Live Action ON Broken Compass Films Inc. Ryan West
Et puis, Amélie est partie Comedy QC SPORT Johannie Deschambault, Fanny Forest
First Person Drama ON Carousel Pictures Tyler Levine, Patrice Theroux
For the Record Comedy, Drama ON Old Soul Productions Julian De Zotti
Germain s’éteint Drama QC Les Productions la Récré Linda Surprenant, Daniel Abraham, Pierre-Alexandre Girard, Julien Hurteau
Hospital Show Comedy BC Bullrush Pictures Inc. Adam Greydon Reid
How to Buy a Baby (Season 2) Comedy ON LoCo Motion Pictures Inc. Lauren Corber, Wendy Litner
La Maison des folles Comedy, Drama QC Les productions St Laurent TV Sophie Samson, Rafael Perez, Lou Bélanger
Le Killing Comedy QC la corp Louis-Philippe Drolet, Julien T. Chartier, Louis Morissette, Alaine Chicoine, Mathieu Cauchon, Guillaume Arsenault
Life XP Fantasy, Science Fiction BC EBNERDS Multi Media Entertainment Cassandra Ebner
Ming’s Dynasty Comedy, Musical ON Touchpoint Films Kevin Saffer, Calwyn Shurgold, Antony Hall
OFF Children’s Live Action QC Blachfilms Vincent Lafortune, Benoît Lach
Running With Violet (Season 2) Comedy/Drama ON She Said Films Inc Rebecca Davey & Marie-Claire Marcotter
Short Term Sentence Comedy, Drama ON Asymetric Evan Landry, Kevin Claydon, Phil Moniz
Téodore pas de H Comedy QC Zone3 Frédérique Traversy, Brigitte Lemonde, André Larin

The IPF invests approximately $2M in the production of scripted digital original series each year. It has invested $15M in 131 web series since 2010. These series represent all demographics and genres. The web series previously funded can be accessed at www.ipf.ca/webseries.

The IPF also continues to support professional development events and promotional activities in the industry. It encourages mentorship and training on all the projects that it supports. The ipf.ca website provides important resources for the industry.

The Independent Production Fund thanks all of the evaluators and the international Jury for undertaking this selection challenge and sharing their insights and viewing experiences:

Laurence Beaudoin-Masse – 🇨🇦 Canada
Productrice déléguée, Version 10

Laurence Beaudoin-Masse est diplômée de l’Université du Québec à Montréal en art. De 2009 à 2014, elle occupe le poste de coordonnatrice du programme de webséries au Fonds indépendant de production. Puis, en 2015, elle collabore à l’essor de la plateforme Recettes Zeste à titre de stratège de contenu web au sein du Groupe Serdy. En 2016, elle se joint à l’équipe de Version 10 comme chargée de projets numériques. En 2017, Laurence est nommée productrice déléguée. Elle dirige entre autres la création de la série Vieux jeu diffusée sur TV5.ca.

Nathalie Dorais – 🇨🇦 Canada
Consultante au contenu et à la scénarisation dans l’industrie du cinéma, de la télévision et du web

Nathalie Dorais est consultante au contenu et à la scénarisation dans l’industrie du cinéma, de la télévision et du Web. Elle a été chargée de projet au secteur des dramatiques de Radio-Canada et a également participé au développement des séries web de fiction au secteur Internet et services numériques du diffuseur.

Steinar Ellingsen – 🇦🇺 Australia
Director and co-founder of Melbourne WebFest (MWF)

Dr. Steinar Ellingsen is the director and co-founder of Melbourne WebFest, Australia’s international web series festival, the biggest celebration of web series in the Southern Hemisphere. Steinar is a senior lecturer in Journalism, Communication and Media at the University of Wollongong, and the former Head of Department of Media and Communication at La Trobe University.

Emmanuelle Fellous – 🇫🇷 France
Head of Acquisitions Production, Programming, Blackpills

Spencer Griffin – 🇺🇸 United States
Head of Live Action Development and Production for Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

Spencer Griffin has executive produced numerous series for a range of platforms and services. Previously he was SVP and EP for Big Breakfast where he helped grow the comedy brand’s video department.

Christine Larson – 🇨🇦 Canada
Media Consultant

Christine has been working in the film, TV and digital media for over 19 years, first in various roles ranging from physical production to accounting then as a Senior Business Analyst at Creative BC, BC’s creative industry’s funding office, and now as a consultant. Christine works with independent producers in development, managing industry relationships for funding, digital media strategies, broadcast and distribution.

Anne Santa Maria – 🇨🇦 Canada
Conceptrice et Productrice

Experte depuis 20 ans en matière de formats de fiction au sein de grands groupes audiovisuels comme TF1, FremantleMedia, Gaumont et Newen, Anne Santa Maria a produit, entre autres, les séries numériques pionnières : Les Opérateurs pour Studio 4/France 4 et Osmosis pour Arte Creative, qui est la première web série française à être adaptée par Netflix en 8 × 45 min.

Elle accompagne aujourd’hui des nouveaux producteurs indépendants et leur business développement vers les plateformes et diffuseurs délinéarisés.

Bruno Mercure – 🇫🇷 France
Stratège en contenus de fiction

Diplômé de l’UQAM en Communication – Stratégie de production culturelle et médiatique, Bruno Mercure alterne entre les rôles de concepteur/idéateur, producteur au contenu et producteur délégué pour des projets tels Le Kevin Raphael Show, la Soirée Mammouth, Les 3 James, Camille raconte et 12 tracks.tv. À eux seuls, ces projets lui valent plusieurs nominations aux prix Gémeaux et Numix, en plus de nombreuses sélections et prix dans des festivals internationaux.

Alison Norrington – 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
CEO, Founder, Chief Creative Director, storycentral

Alison Norrington is a writer/producer, Founder & Chief Creative Director of storycentral, a London-based entertainment studio that incubates and develops ground-breaking transmedia properties with global partners in film, television, animation, publishing, advertising, branding, theme parks, Virtual Reality and gaming. She is featured on the BAFTA Guru series and is a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, The Writers Guild of Great Britain and Women in Film & TV, Exec Producer of the Virtual Reality Thread for Children’s Media Conference and a two-time TEDx speaker.

Alejandra Del Real – 🇫🇷 France
Head of International Originals for blackpills

Paul Ronca – 🇨🇦 Canada
Director of Industry & Special Events Programming and Strategic Partner Development, Just for Laughs

The Independent Production Fund is incorporated as a private foundation with charitable status. It operates on the interest generated by a $36M endowment, and by recoupment from its investments. It also receives annual BDU contributions of approximately $2M from Cogeco Communications for investments in Canadian television drama series. An independent Board of Directors representing the industry oversees the operations of the fund and makes all final investment decisions.

Thanks to our funding partners, Telus StoryHive and Creative BC for their financial support of selected projects this year.