iff is Ontario Creates feature film co-financing / co-production event at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Selected international and Canadian producers are brought together with international sales agents, US distributors, agents, equity financiers and executive producers for brokered meetings and exclusive networking opportunities.

Now celebrating its 17th year, Ontario Creates iff has introduced hundreds of projects to the international marketplace with over 100 successfully financed to date. Canadian and international feature film producers are invited to apply to iff. Registration is free but very competitive. Final selection is based on company track record, pitch package and suitability of projects.

Ontario Creates is pleased to announce that iff 2022 will be an in-person event. We’re looking forward to welcoming this year’s participants to the Toronto International Film Festival.

Ontario Creates values and supports diversity and gender parity at all levels and business roles within creative industries. We acknowledge that many communities continue to face systemic barriers, preventing them from participating meaningfully in these industries. Ontario Creates applies a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion to the evaluation criteria for this program. Applicants proposing projects/activities that support, reflect, and strengthen diversity and gender parity in Ontario are expected to tangibly demonstrate a genuine and sustained commitment to these equity-seeking communities*. Ontario Creates encourages applications from companies that are led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour) or Francophone individuals and applicants that otherwise meet the provincial definition of diversity.**

Ontario Creates is committed to fostering respectful workplaces in all sectors and companies we support.

Ontario Creates welcomes applications from people with disabilities, people who are deaf, and people who have barriers to accessing technology. If you would like to request an alternative process or format for submitting an application please contact us in advance of the deadline.

* Equity seeking communities are those that face significant collective challenges in participating in society. This marginalization may be caused by, but not limited to, attitudinal, historic, social and environmental barriers based on age, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender, nationality, race, sexual orientation and transgender status. Equity-seeking communities identify barriers to equal access, opportunities and resources due to disadvantage and discrimination and actively seek social justice and reparation.

** The provincial definition of diversity states: the dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to: ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, language, physical and intellectual ability, race, religion (creed), sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic status.

iff at TIFF 2021 Kick-Off and International Coproduction Panel

Learn More: Watch the IFF at TIFF 2021 Kick-Off Panel

Watch three producers and an international sales agent  discuss of the past, present and future of international co-production. 

Moderated by Paul Scherzer (Ontario, Canada) – Producer - Saint-Narcisse, Coconut Hero, Challat de Tunis

With panelists:

• Tara Woodbury (Ontario, Canada) - Producer - Night Raiders
• Sudhanshu Saria (India) - Producer, Writer, Director – Loev, Knock Knock Knock
• Sophie Green - (UK) - Head of Acquisitions and Development, Bankside Films

And an iff overview from Larisa Gutmanis, iff Event Producer

Eligibility

Applicants must have:

• one full producer credit on a theatrically released feature or on a feature released on a viable digital platform.
• one or two market-oriented projects in development that require international co-production or financing partners.
• applicants with a full producer credit on a non-theatrically released film should contact the iff producer directly to enquire about eligibility.
• producers with only Executive Producer, Co-Producer and Associate Producer credits are not eligible.
• priority will be given to projects that have not premiered at other co-financing or co-production markets. We accept one project application per company.
• please note: iff accepts non-English-language projects only with prior approval of iff producer. See inquiries / contact email below.

Application Deadline

Timelines/deadlines for Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) are as follows. All dates may be subject to change.

Applications Open: April 27, 2022

Deadline for Canadian and International producers: June 13, 2022

Event Dates

Sunday, September 11, 2022

Monday, September 12, 2022

Application Process

• All new applications going forward must be submitted via the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal (OAP). Applications submitted by any other method will not be accepted.
• Prior to starting an application, you must register your organization’s corporate information through the OAP. If this has not already been done, you must register by going to: apply.ontariocreates.ca and click on “Register”.
• Applicants are encouraged to start the application process well in advance of the deadline in case technical support is required. There is flexibility for completing the application form – you may begin at any time and save information as it is entered. Once saved, you can go back to edit and/or add information until the time when the application is actually submitted.
• If you encounter problems setting up your organization’s corporate information, please email applyhelp@ontariocreates.ca for assistance. This email address can also be used for any technical questions you have about the OAP.
• If your company is registered, the iff program deadline will appear in your dashboard. To start the application, click on “Start new application” and follow the onscreen directions to access the application form.

To submit an application please click here. Please note that all applicants will be required to submit Ontario Creates' Applicant Affidavit affirming that you have both guiding principles and a process for maintaining a respectful workplace.

Representatives from the following companies attended iff 2021:

What are participants saying?

"We were able to connect with producers from around the world with a view to future collaborations. More importantly we were able to meet with executives and agreed to follow-up early in 2022 when our script is finalized." - Frances-Anne Solomon and Lisa Wickham, Caribbean Tales Media Group (Ontario)

"We are very interested in co-producing with Canada, and we had the great opportunity to connect with important producers, which undoubtedly will result in future partnerships" – Andrea Giusti and Odilon Rocha, Spray Media (Brazil)

"We had a better understanding of the different ecosystems going on in different regions as well as current challenges and opportunities in producing. It was an enriching experience and it might lead to future collaborations!" – Oscar Torres and Javier Kafielff, Mango Tree Productions (El Salvador)

"We were really happy with our executive meetings. They were a great fit!" - Alyson Richards and Lauren Grant, Clique Pictures (Ontario)

"Everything was extremely well-organized and felt seamless, especially after participating in other virtual events during the pandemic that felt scattered. We were very pleased with the meetings we received and the scheduling was great." – Zach Marcovici, Liz Jarvis and Adrienne Mitchell, Bentframe Film & TV and Buffalo Gal Pictures (Ontario / Manitoba)

"It was great meeting producers not only from Canada, but from across the world and exchanging ideas about financing and production questions." - Gerry Kim and Esra, PPW Films (U.S.)

"The producers were a wonderful, creative cornucopia, yet we felt well matched and had great empathy with all of them. It was a really surprising and useful part of the event." - Kate Swan, Lindy Cameron, Margaret Enefer, Move On Up/ Real Fiction Ltd (Scotland)

"I now have a much deeper rolodex of sales agents I’m chatting with about this project and whom I can reach out to for future projects." – Jonas Chernick, Banana-Moon Sky Films (Ontario)

"We got to talk with professionals (international sales agents) with whom we had a real connection. These meetings were the perfect introduction. We had a good pitch prepared and we had significant conversations. No doubt that these meetings were of great importance in the development of our film." – Fanny Forest and Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr, Rococoeur (Quebec)

"It is always very useful to get in front of the executives to start building relationships and familiarity. Sometimes it takes years, but we only need one person to click and it’s off to the races!" – Jeremy Torrie and Tanya Brunel, White Bear Films (Manitoba)

"Well done to all the organizers and programmers. Thanks very much for the care and dedication to running the forum so smoothly!" - Amy Lo, Mental Pictures (U.S.)

"It was nice to meet some Canadian producers, you don’t meet Canadians so often in the European markets and forums." – Mika Ritalahti, Silva Mysterium Oy (Finland)

"Our main goal was of course to launch the project into the market place and as our first event, I think the response to the film was really positive, and we were able to get meetings with some really great companies and get the film on their radar." - Tyler Hagan and Sara Blake, Experimental Forest Films (British Columbia)

2022 Founding Partners

Enquiries

Please direct any program enquiries to: 

iff 2022 Producer - Larisa Gutmanis
programs@ontariocreates.ca
T:416-642-6695

To receive notification of upcoming deadlines and program updates, please register here with your complete contact information, including your full name, company name and telephone number, as well as the name of the program that you are interested in.