Independent Production Fund Explained

Independent Production Fund
Foundation:1991
Location:Toronto, Ontario Montreal, Quebec
Key People:Andra Sheffer, CEO Claire Dion, Associate Director
Area Served:Canada
Industry:Original online series, Digital Media, television
Homepage:ipf.ca

The Independent Production Fund (IPF) is a Canadian private independent foundation that supports the production of Canadian dramatic digital media entertainment content and television series. It also provides professional development services and training to digital media producers and creators, in English and in French. See also Fonds indépendant de production entry (in French).

History

In 1990 Maclean Hunter Limited, a former Canadian communications company, created the Maclean Hunter Television Fund[1] with a capital endowment of $29.2 M restricted in perpetuity, as a result of a Decision by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).[2] The Fund was incorporated federally as a corporation without share capital and was granted charitable status. Its mandate was to fund television drama series and undertake industry training with the interest generated by the endowment and return on investments.[3]

The Fund mandate was extended to undertake the administration of other independent private funds supporting the Canadian film, television and digital media industry: the Cogeco Program Development Fund[4] launched in 1993, the Bell Fund (1997)[5] and a series of other short-term industry Funds.

In 1994 Maclean Hunter was acquired by Rogers Communications,[6] and the Fund was renamed the Independent Production Fund. A five-member board of directors representing different sectors of the production industry governed the Fund's activities.[7]

In 1999 the CRTC approved the IPF as a "Canadian Independent Production Fund"[8] eligible to receive contributions from Broadcast Distribution Undertakings (BDU's). In 2017, Cogeco Communications directed its annual Broadcast Distribution Undertaking (BDU) contributions to the IPF to establish the Cogeco TV Production Program.[9]

From 1991 to 2010 the IPF invested over $47M in 251 Canadian television drama series.[10] In 2010, the IPF's mandate was revised to focus funding on drama series created for new digital platforms.[11] [12] [13] It allocates nearly $2M per year from the interest generated by the endowment and recoupment of its funding investments, to original digital drama series.[14] From 2010–2017 the IPF invested $12.8M in 114 short form scripted digital series.[15]

Executives

Fund Recipients

As of 2017, the IPF has supported 251 television projects, 422 professional development activities and 114 original online series which represents nearly $65M in funding.[21]

Selection of funded original online series

SeriesDescription and Awards
The Amazing Gayl PileA man gives his all to conquer the world of home shopping from a channel in Hamilton, Ontario

Canadian Screen Award – Best Original Program or Series produced for Digital Media – Fiction, Best Direction in a Program or Series Produced for Digital Media (2017)

(Nominee) International Emmy Award – Best Short-Form Series (2017)[22]

GuidestonesTwo journalism students uncover a global conspiracy while investigating an unsolved murder

International Emmy Award – Best Digital Program: Fiction (2013)

Canadian Screen Award – Best Original Series Produced for Digital Media (2013)

My 90 Year Old RoommateEthan, a 31-year-old single man, moves in with his 90-year-old grandfather and the pair quickly realize that they have a lot to learn from each other

Canadian Screen Award – Best Performance by an Actor in a Web Series or Program: Paul Soles (2017)

peopleWatchingHumorous and heartfelt short stories about people trying to find acceptance, romance and sanity, and how you can watch people all day long...

Banff World Media Festival Rockie Award – Best Web Series Fiction (2017)[23]

Versus ValerieVersus Valerie follows Valerie Lapomme, YouTube's Sexy Nerd Girl, as she navigates her chaotic life, sliding between reality and her video-game and genre-bending imagination.

Canadian Comedy Awards – Best Web Series, Best Female Performance in a Web Series, Best Direction in a Web Series, and Best Writing in a Web Series (2014).[24]

Whatever, LindaA Woman in the 1970s gets a job as a secretary for financier Barney Lahnar (inspired by Bernie Madoff) and becomes the real brains behind the Ponzi scheme that will eventually bring him down

Vancouver Web Fest – Best Canadian Series, Best Drama Series (2015)[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maclean Hunter Television Fund 5th Anniversary: A Boost To Canadian Television.
  2. Web site: Decision CRTC 89-766. September 28, 1989 .
  3. News: Adilman. Sid. Where's The TV Drama?. Toronto Star. May 17, 2002.
  4. Web site: Cogeco Fund: About.
  5. Web site: New Digital Content Grants and Co-Production Support Underscore Bell Fund Vision.
  6. Web site: Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Rogers Communications Inc..
  7. Web site: Independent Production Fund Guide to Web Series Best Practices. OnScreen Manitoba.
  8. Web site: CRTC: List of Certified Independent Production Funds. December 4, 2013 .
  9. Web site: Independent Production Fund to Assume Production Funding Activities of Cogeco Program Development Fund and Receive Annual Financial Contributions From Cogeco Communications Inc.. May 23, 2018. Yahoo! Finance.
  10. Web site: IPF Annual Report 2010. May 23, 2018. IPF Website.
  11. Web site: 15 Canadian web series get funding from the Independent Production Fund.
  12. Web site: Financing for Web Drama. Running with My Eyes Closed. January 19, 2010 .
  13. Web site: Krewen. Nick. IPF renews web series funding indefinitely. Playback.
  14. Web site: Cummins. Julianna. IPF invests nearly $2M across 17 web series. Playback.
  15. Web site: IPF Annual Report 2017. May 23, 2018. IPF Website.
  16. Web site: Primetime in Ottawa Panelists. May 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518083820/http://www.primetimeinottawa.ca/panelists-and-speakers/andra-sheffer/. May 18, 2015. dead.
  17. Web site: Banff Centre Faculty: Claire Dion.
  18. Web site: Peter Mortimer: 1937–2009. Playback.
  19. Web site: RFAVQ: Charles Ohayon. May 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518112258/https://www.rfavq.qc.ca/charles-ohayon. May 18, 2015. dead.
  20. Web site: Jon Taylor LinkedIn Profile. May 23, 2018. LinkedIn.
  21. Web site: IPF Annual Report 2017. May 23, 2018. IPF website.
  22. Web site: The Amazing Gayl Pile receives International Emmy Award nomination!. May 23, 2018. Gaylpile.com.
  23. Web site: Banff '17: NFB, Spin Master win Rockie Awards. May 23, 2018. Playback Magazine.
  24. Web site: Nominations & Awards Archives. Canadian Comedy Awards. 21 October 2017.
  25. Web site: Whatever, Linda. May 23, 2018. IPF Website.