TORONTO – Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) announced the establishment of the OMDC Screen-based Content Initiative, a $2 million program that will provide eligible Ontario screen-based content creation companies – including film and television producers, interactive digital media content producers and video game developers – with funding for early-stage development activities that are required to bring projects closer to the production-ready stage and to help create a package appropriate to attract production financing.
Successful applicants will receive a non-refundable contribution of up to $100,000 to a maximum of 75% of the budget to support these activities. Companies may apply for financial support for several activities or phases associated with a single project or a slate of projects.
Examples of eligible activities include:
- concept, story and/or character development
- creation of design and technical specification documents
- preparation of business and marketing plans
- development of prototypes or demos
- market research and testing
- script writing
“As our creative media industries work to adapt their competitive strategies and business models to take advantage of emerging technologies and changing markets, the Ontario government continues to be committed to these sectors and to exploring new ways to support them,” Thorne-Stone added.
“The OMDC Screen-based Content Initiative is an important step towards addressing the access-to-capital gap for Ontario’s screen-based companies,” said Sarah Ker-Hornell, Managing Director, FilmOntario. “This investment recognizes screen-based companies as economic drivers for Ontario; we view this as a good first step in addressing recommendations contained in the PwC Economic Study on Ontario’s screen-based industry.”
QUICK FACTS
- Information sessions will take place on July 9, 2008.
- Deadline is August 25, 2008.
- Successful applicants will be notified by late November 2008.
