Designed to assist and fast-track applicants applying to Ontario Creates Interactive Digital Media Fund programs. Let us help you submit a winning application!
The Ontario Creates IDM Fund Futures Program is a three-day program that provides potential funding applicants (companies and individuals) with the skills required to fast-track their knowledge acquisition and enhance the competitiveness of their company when applying to the Ontario Create’s Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Fund Concept Definition and Production programs.
The curriculum focuses on application requirements and deliverables, in an effort to provide less-experienced applicants with the knowledge and resources necessary to submit a complete and well-crafted funding application.
Participants must be prepared to attend all three days of this intensive program .
More details on Ontario Creates (formerly Ontario Media Development Corporation): ontariocreates.ca
Wednesday November 4 - Friday November 6, 2020 (inclusive)
9:30AM - 4PM (all days)
Participants must be prepared to attend all three days of this intensive program .
Submit your application no later than Friday October 23, 2020 to be considered for the program. Please note that we will notify teams of their status as soon as possible. By submitting an application, you acknowledge that you are prepared to attend the sessions.
This program is targeted to:
Companies should have an interest in pursuing opportunities associated with proprietary content creation, and have an IDM Fund-eligible project that they would like to produce.
Candidates must meet all of the following criteria in order to be eligible for consideration:
WIFT Toronto members and non-members (all genders) can apply provided they meet the overall eligibility requirements.
Program runs Tuesday November 3 - Thursday November 5 (inclusive), 9AM - 4PM (all days). Participants must be prepared to attend all three days of this intensive program.
Upon acceptance to the program, participants will be notified and provided with instructions on how to pay program fees.
$300 + HST per company (1 or both people are current WIFT Toronto Members)
$375 + HST per company (neither individual is a current WIFT Toronto Member)
A well-developed business plan is essential for any project to be effectively executed. In this session, participants will review successful business plans through case studies and examples, as well as workshop their own business plans through group exercises and discussion. Emphasis will be given to the criteria required in the Ontario Creates IDM applications.
Instructor: Jennifer McIlroy - Professor, SCMAD Lead, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Communications Coordinator, Centennial College Story Arts Centre
Business Operations
It’s not enough to be creative – it’s business. In this session, participants will get an overview of business and operational fundamentals (finance, business affairs, and human resources) and gain an understanding of how these elements work in tandem to support a company’s business and strategic plans.
Instructor: Karen Thompson - Senior Specialist, Business and Legal Affairs, Bell Media
Being able to clearly and concisely define the financial aspects of your project is paramount to showing responsibility for your project’s success. In this session, participants will get an overview of the budgeting and financial variables to be considered when further developing their project. Emphasis will be given to working within the framework of the Ontario Creates templates.
Instructor: Sasha Boersma - Co-Founder/Producer, Sticky Brain Studios
Having a plan for marketing is not just about getting eyeballs to your project. It is also about understanding and showcasing how your project is in a unique position to satisfy your target audience and generate revenue. In this session, participants will review successful marketing plans through case studies and examples, as well as workshop their own marketing plans through group exercises and discussion. Emphasis will be given to the criteria required in the Ontario Creates funding applications.
Instructor: Kelsey Aikman - Director of Marketing and Communications, Marblemedia
You know your story – now tell it and sell it! In this session, participants will learn the proper ways to “pitch” an IDM project for investors, channel partners and funding agencies. Using their own projects as examples as well as employing case studies, participants will see what makes a digital pitch different.
Instructor: Kevin Wright - Principal, The Optimal Pitch
This program is presented by Ontario Creates.