Updated July 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 (feature film): up to...
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 (feature film): up to $400,000 dramatic / $200,000 documentary at 10% of Ontario spend; Production (digital series): up to 30% of Ontario spend to a $200,000 maximum, or 10% to a $400,000 maximum where Ontario spend exceeds $2M. Ontario's provincial film/TV production grant (formerly Film Fund). The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted September 22, 2026 (next intake).
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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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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 at 10% of Ontario spend; digital series up to 30% of Ontario spend to a $200K maximum (10% to a $400K maximum where Ontario spend exceeds $2M). Two annual intakes. Next deadline: September 22, 2026.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Canadian-owned production company
  • Incorporated in Ontario or federally with Ontario registration — or, if not incorporated at time of application, prepared to incorporate immediately if the application is successful
  • Principal place of business in Ontario
  • For-profit, private sector
  • In sound financial position
  • Feature film or digital series
  • Minimum production budget: $1,000,000 for drama (including animation); $500,000 for documentary and digital series
  • Minimum length: 75 minutes for a feature film; three (3) episodes for a digital series
  • Individual Producer(s) must be Ontario residents and Canadian citizens
  • For feature film, the Individual Producer must have a Producer credit on a dramatic or documentary feature film theatrically released in Canada, or on a television movie, a dramatic or documentary series, or two one-hour documentaries broadcast in Canada — or attach a pre-approved Ontario-based qualifying executive producer
  • Lead Ontario Producer must demonstrate a portion of IP ownership
  • Principal photography must commence after application submission, and must be shot in Ontario (excluding coproductions and factual content)
  • Project must be eligible for certification as a Canadian Production by CAVCO, as a treaty coproduction by Telefilm Canada and the coproducer's equivalent certifying body, or for Canadian Program certification by the CRTC
  • Confirmed financing at application: all other financing for the Development stream; at least 70% of other financing for the Production stream
  • At least one third-party private or public financing source, not including tax credits
Provinces
Ontario
Industries
Film Television Media Creative Industries Arts Culture
Business Stage
Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Development: up to $25,000; Production (feature film): up to $400,000 dramatic / $200,000 documentary at 10% of Ontario spend; Production (digital series): up to 30% of Ontario spend to a $200,000 maximum, or 10% to a $400,000 maximum where Ontario spend exceeds $2M
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

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Sep 22, 2026
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)

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How to Win

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

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Insider Tip

Contact [email protected] well before deadline — consultations close 2 weeks prior. Development stream ($5K-$25K) is lowest-barrier entry. Stack with OFTTC (35% Ontario labour tax credit). The hardest screen is the individual producer credential: the Individual Producer must be an Ontario resident and Canadian citizen with a prior produced-and-released credit, or you must attach a pre-approved Ontario-based qualifying executive producer. Have your financing confirmed before you apply — Development requires all other financing confirmed, Production at least 70%, including at least one third-party private or public source that is not a 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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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, producer credit documentation (or the attachment letter for a pre-approved Ontario-based qualifying executive producer), CANCON certification pathway, and financing plan with confirmation letters from other funders — all other financing for Development, at least 70% for Production.
4 Submit by Intake Deadline Submit via the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal by the intake deadline (Fall 2026: September 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET; Spring 2026 intake has already passed). Principal photography must not commence before you submit. Information sessions are scheduled July 28 and August 12, 2026.
5 Assessment Period Applications are assessed on job creation, business growth, content quality, and diversity criteria. Decisions are communicated to applicants within 16 weeks of the deadline.
6 Contract Execution and Payment Successful applicants must accept and sign a conditional award letter from Ontario Creates within one month of notification, then execute the contribution agreement and 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 — closed) and Fall (September 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET — upcoming). 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 unwilling to incorporate in Ontario (or federally with Ontario registration) if the application is successful
  • 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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How Ontario Creates — IP Fund (Linear Content) Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Ontario Creates — IP Fund (Linear Con... up to $25,000 Moderate Lump Sum September 22, 2026 (next...
Ontario Film and Television Tax Credi... 35% of eligible Ontario Moderate Tax Credit Offset Ongoing (applied per...
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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

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Do I have to be incorporated to apply for the Ontario Creates IP Fund?
Not at the time of application. You must be incorporated in Ontario, or federally and registered in Ontario — or, if you are not yet incorporated, be prepared to incorporate immediately if your application is successful.
What's the typical award amount for a feature film?
$25,000-$200,000 for production stream (10% of ON spend, to $400K drama / $200K documentary). Digital series are funded at up to 30% of Ontario spend to a $200,000 maximum, or 10% to $400,000 where Ontario spend exceeds $2M. Development stream maxes at $25K (50% of ON spend).
When are decisions made after a deadline?
Ontario Creates communicates decisions to applicants within 16 weeks of the deadline. The April 21, 2026 intake has closed; the next intake closes September 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. 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. Falling under the minimum production budget ($1M drama including animation, $500K documentary and digital series), lacking the required producer credit, and not having the required share of other financing confirmed at application are also common disqualifiers. Non-profit status is a hard exclusion.
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. Note that at least one of your other financing sources must be a third-party private or public source that is not a tax credit.

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