Updated March 2026 · Verified against Ontario Creates guidelines
✨ New Program Lump Sum Est. 2025
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Ontario Creates — IP Fund (Linear Content)

Ontario Creates
Maximum Funding
Development: up to $25,000; Production:...
September 22, 2026 (next intake)
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Lump Sum
Trend
New Program
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
Ontario Creates — IP Fund (Linear Content) provides up to Development: up to $25,000; Production: up to $400,000. Ontario's provincial film/TV production grant (formerly Film Fund). Applications are accepted September 22, 2026 (next intake). (As of March 2026, verified against Ontario Creates program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Ontario's provincial film/TV production grant (formerly Film Fund). Development stream up to $25K (50% of ON spend). Production stream up to $400K dramatic / $200K documentary (10% of ON spend). Two annual intakes. Next deadline: April 21, 2026.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Canadian-owned production company
  • Incorporated in Ontario or federally with ON registration
  • Principal place of business in Ontario
  • For-profit, private sector
  • In sound financial position
  • Feature film or digital series
Provinces
Ontario
Industries
Film Television Media Creative Industries Arts Culture
Business Stage
Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
Est. Hours
25h
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Development: up to $25,000; Production: up to $400,000
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
September 22, 2026 (next intake)

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
Moderate
Effort
~25 hours
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win Ontario Creates — IP Fund (Linear Content) — $19

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

Contact ipfund@ontariocreates. ca well before deadline — consultations close 2 weeks prior. Development stream ($5K-$25K) is lowest-barrier entry. Stack with OFTTC (35% Ontario labour tax credit).

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Success Profile

Ontario-based Canadian production company with feature film or digital series, broadcaster/distributor attachment, strong ON economic impact.

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Evaluation Criteria

Job creation and Ontario economic impact (Ontario-resident employment generated); business growth potential (market access, distribution advances, co-production); content quality and diversity (original Canadian stories, cultural diversity, underrepresented voices); gender parity (Ontario Creates tracks and rewards gender-balanced teams); financial viability (confirmed financing from Telefilm, CMF, broadcasters); project readiness (for Production: ready to go; for Development: advanceable script stage).

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Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Register on Ontario Creates Online Application Portal Create or update your company account at https://apply.ontariocreates.ca/. Ensure all corporate information is current and accurate — portal issues close to deadline cause many missed submissions.
2 Consult with Ontario Creates Staff Contact [email protected] for pre-application guidance. Staff consultations are available until two weeks before the deadline — after that, no consultations are provided. Schedule your call early.
3 Prepare Application Package Assemble: application form (via OAP), IP Fund guidelines compliance documentation, Ontario Creates budget template, production schedule of minimum Ontario expenditure commitment, corporate and financial information, script or treatment, chain of title documentation, and financing plan with confirmation letters from other funders.
4 Submit by Intake Deadline Submit via the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal by the intake deadline (Spring 2026: April 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET; Fall 2026: September 22, 2026). Late submissions are not accepted.
5 Assessment Period Ontario Creates assesses applications over 8-14 weeks on job creation, business growth, content quality, and diversity criteria. Applicants notified before next intake opens.
6 Contract Execution and Payment Upon approval, execute the contribution agreement. Full award amount released upfront as a lump-sum payment. Begin production per agreed schedule.

Required Documents 5

✓ OAP registration
✓ Application form
✓ IP Fund guidelines compliance docs
✓ Budget template
✓ Corporate and financial info

Eligible Expenses 9

  • Canadian and Ontario-resident cast fees
  • Ontario-resident crew wages and salaries
  • Ontario-based production facility and equipment rental
  • Ontario-based post-production services (edit, colour, sound, VFX, music)
  • Script and music rights (Ontario portion of costs)
  • Production insurance and legal fees tied to the production
  • Ontario-based location fees
  • Development costs (Development stream only): writer fees, story editor, director and producer development fees, rights option fees, legal costs for development agreements, project-specific research costs
  • Pitch materials production (Development stream only)

Ineligible Expenses 11

  • Non-Ontario-resident labour costs (excluded from eligible Ontario spend base)
  • Non-Ontario supplier costs (excluded from eligible spend calculation)
  • Costs previously supported by another Ontario Creates program on the same project
  • Marketing and distribution costs post-production
  • Development costs claimed under the Production stream
  • Costs incurred before application submission
  • Short films, TV series, or documentaries below minimum runtime
  • Capital equipment purchases
  • Projects controlled by non-Canadian companies
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Overhead and general administration

Intake Periods

Two annual intakes: Spring (April 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET) and Fall (September 22, 2026). Fiscal year April-March.

Deadline Notes

Two annual intakes: April 21, 2026 (5 PM ET) and September 22, 2026. Apply via Ontario Creates OAP. Staff consultations unavailable within 2 weeks of deadline.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Non-Canadian-owned or non-Canadian-controlled companies
  • Companies not incorporated in Ontario or federally registered in Ontario
  • Companies without principal place of business in Ontario
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Companies not in good standing with Ontario Creates
  • Companies with unfulfilled obligations from prior Ontario Creates funding
  • Government entities
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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) Canada Media Fund (CMF) Telefilm Canada Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) Ontario Creates — Screen Marketing programs
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk
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Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
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How Ontario Creates — IP Fund (Linear Content) Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Ontario Creates — IP Fund (Linear Con... up to $25,000 Moderate Lump Sum September 22, 2026 (next...
Canada Media Fund up to $250K Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing (multiple...
Telefilm Canada Funding Programs Varies Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Multiple annual intake...
Canadian Film or Video Production Tax... 25% Moderate Tax Credit Offset Ongoing
Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit 25% of eligible BC Moderate Tax Credit Offset Ongoing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Ontario Creates — IP Fund (Linear Content)

Free
Can sole proprietors apply for Ontario Creates IP Fund?
No — must be incorporated in Ontario or federally with Ontario registration. Sole proprietors must incorporate to qualify. Only incorporated companies with ON registration are eligible.
What's the typical award amount for a feature film?
$25,000-$200,000 for production stream (10% of ON spend). Development stream maxes at $25K (50% of ON spend). Most awards fall in the $50K-$150K range.
When are decisions made after the April 2026 deadline?
Decisions typically released 6-8 weeks after the April 21, 2026 deadline. September 2026 decisions follow similar timelines. Staff consultations close 2 weeks before each deadline.
Why do most applications get rejected?
Most rejections are for not being Canadian-owned, not having a principal place of business in Ontario, or not meeting ON spend thresholds. Non-profit status is also a common disqualifier.
Can I stack this with other grants?
Yes — routinely stacked with OFTTC (35% Ontario labour tax credit), CMF, Telefilm, and CPTC. All are compatible and commonly layered on the same production.

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