ShareFilm Fund: Marketing and Distribution Initiative
The Marketing and Distribution Initiative (MDI) is intended to assist producers of Ontario Creates Film Fund supported projects to make a meaningful contribution to the domestic marketing and distribution of their projects leading up to and during their release. Available during fiscal 2018-19, this time-limited initiative is intended to support strategies and tactics that are an extension of traditional marketing and distribution activities. The MDI encourages innovative strategies that can work independently and/or in conjunction with pre-existing distribution strategies.
Deadline:
Continuous, closes January 31, 2019
Funding Available:
Successful applicants are eligible to receive up to $25,000, capped at 75% of the total costs for all activities.
Note: Full eligibility requirements and details can be found in the Marketing & Distribution Guidelines located here. Please read the guidelines completely before submitting your Application Form. Ontario Creates reserves the right to revise Guidelines.
Application Process
All Application Forms must be submitted via email to Kelly Payne, the Program Consultant at kpayne@ontariocreates.ca.
Eligible Applicants, Activities and Costs
Applicants must be recent, successful recipients of the Ontario Creates Film Fund through the Production stream. Eligible projects must be completed or close to completion and undertaking domestic theatrical release. Projects that have been officially released are not eligible for this initiative.
Eligible activities are those that build awareness of the title and enhance its value in domestic sales channels including theatrical, broadcast, digital and non-theatrical. The activities should complement and leverage the functions of a distributor when a distribution agreement is in place. Activities must be detailed in a Marketing and Distribution Plan that outlines the overall strategy for the film across all platforms, identifying the respective roles of the Producer and the Distributor (if there is one).
Eligible costs are those costs incurred by the Producer that are integral to the Marketing and Distribution Plan for the domestic release. These can be internal costs allocated to staff time, expenses directly in support of marketing activities, direct costs of goods and services, and costs related to hiring a third party contractor. Activities and associated costs must be within a defined 6 month window surrounding the domestic theatrical release.
Guidelines and Application Form:
Ontario Creates MDI Guidelines 
Ontario Creates MDI Application Form 
For more information, please contact:
Kelly Payne
Program Consultant, Industry Initiatives
Phone: 416-642-8521
kpayne@ontariocreates.ca
To receive notifications of upcoming deadlines and program updates, please email programs@ontariocreates.ca 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.