IPF Renews $1M Independent Web Series Funding Program

Canada’s Independent Production Fund (IPF), the funding organization that greenlit eleven new Canadian web series for $1.2M in November (including Toronto-based tween detective series Ruby Skye P.I. from Story2.OH), has renewed its web series funding program for 2011.

The IPF Board of Directors decided to extend funding for its Web Series Pilot Program, which was created to “explore this innovative, story-driven dramatic form” and its potential business models.

“The creativity of the web series format is exciting and inspiring, but there are a few mysteries yet to solve in this experimental format” noted IPF Chair, Charles Ohayon. “Time is needed to develop appropriate marketing, distribution and business models.”

Last year the IPF invested $1.2M in the production of 11 original drama series, both in English and French, with budgets ranging from $300 to $5,000 a minute. These series can be viewed at IPF’s custom web series dashboard, Wip.

The deadline for submissions for the 2011 IPF Web Series Program is March 1, 2011. A short-list of finalists will be announced March 28 and complete production applications will be due May 2. Funding decisions will be announced mid-June.

Eligible projects must have a Canadian web host and URL, and be original content designed primarily for the web. For more information, guidelines are available at the IPF website.