Ontario Creates — Futures Forward Program

Program Description

Development grants for emerging Ontario interactive or linear content companies whose owners or lead producers completed an approved Futures Forward or qualifying workshop.

Eligibility Requirements

• For-profit company
• The owner or lead producer completed the Ontario Creates Futures Forward Workshop, OR an approved workshop or course from Appendix 1 of the guidelines within the stated window (January 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025 for the 2025-26 round)
• Incorporated in Ontario or federally — applicants that are not incorporated may still apply but must incorporate immediately after being selected for funding and meet all eligibility criteria
• Canadian-owned and Canadian-controlled as defined in the Investment Canada Act
• In sound financial position and in good standing with Ontario Creates at time of application submission
• Ontario-based: a principal place of business in Ontario serving as head office and base of operations, eligible to pay corporate income taxes in Ontario, with the Ontario address listed as head office in the T2 filing and a stable non-temporary establishment under the corporation's control (not a PO box or the address of a friend or relative). Successful recipients must keep that principal place of business in Ontario for the duration of the agreement
• Project must be Interactive Content (video games, XR experiences) or Linear Content (digital series of at least 3 episodes, or a feature film — drama, animation or documentary — of at least 75 minutes)
• The project must ultimately be intended to meet the Production eligibility requirements of the IP Fund
• Project must be new and must not have received and spent other development funding for the phase of work being proposed
• Pending funds from other industry funders must be confirmed by the stated date and may NOT come from other Ontario Creates funding programs
• Activities cannot be in progress before the application is submitted, must begin incurring expenses no more than 90 days after notification of the decision, and must be completed within one year of notification
• Production-phase activities are not eligible
• Ontario expenses must account for no less than 75% of the total budget; the balance not covered by the contribution may be cash or non-cash contributions from the applicant or a third party
• Mentorship support is capped at 25% of budget
• One application per company
• The applicant organization must confirm it has both guiding principles and a process for maintaining a respectful workplace, and submit a signed Applicant Affidavit — this is an eligibility requirement
• Applications are encouraged from companies where the majority of owners self-identify as women or non-binary, 2SLGBTQIA+, First Nations, Inuit or Métis, racialized, persons with disabilities, or Francophone
• ⚠ Eligibility for the Futures Forward Program does not guarantee project eligibility for other Ontario Creates funding programs