April 5, 2018 – The Independent Production Fund and its 40-member Pre-Selection Committee have selected 30 projects which are now eligible to advance to Phase 2 of the application process and apply for Production financing. These include 20 projects in English and 10 in French. Four web series previously funded by the IPF are eligible to apply for funding for second or subsequent seasons.

The IPF received 170 proposals for web series funding from across Canada, in English and in French. Applications included 2-minute proof-of-concept trailers, creative material and audience engagement strategies. Development opportunities for new talent and mentorship by experienced creative and business web series professionals were evaluation factors. All of these criteria were reviewed, scored and discussed by the Pre-Selection Committee members, who are industry professionals and advanced media students.

Producers of the selected shortlisted projects are now invited to submit complete Production Applications by May 1, 2018.  An international Jury will evaluate these proposals and the Board of Directors of the IPF will make final funding decisions in June.

“The 2018 “IPF Trailer Season” as dubbed by the industry, has exposed online viewers to great Canadian talents and teased them with terrific stories that have been watched, liked and shared by hundreds of thousands of fans during the past month.  “Our Canadian production community is certainly not lacking in imagination and diversity” noted Andra Sheffer, CEO of the IPF. “ The efforts that have gone into creating the content and engaging audiences will ideally provide invaluable feedback to all those who have participated in this process”.

List of short-listed projects:

List of previously funded projects eligible to apply for a subsequent season:

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

The IPF invests approximately $1.8 M in the production of 12 – 15 web series each year. These series represent all demographics and genres, including action, animation, thriller, comedy and science fiction.

The IPF has invested $12.8 M in the production of 114 scripted web drama series in the past 7 years as well as $47 M in the production of television drama from 1991-2010. It is incorporated as a charitable foundation with an endowment valued at $36 M. It uses the interest generated by the endowment and return on its project investments for its annual operations and project funding. The Board of Directors is composed of representatives from the industry and undertakes all final funding decisions.