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International Delegations

TORONTO Australian / Canadian Co-Production Day

Overview

Screen Australia and Ontario Creates are convening a day to encourage early-stage creative connections between screen producers from Australia and Canada to foster meaningful partnerships and relationships for official co-productions made under the Australia-Canada treaty. 

Up to six applicants will receive funding of up to $6,000 each towards travel, living and accommodation in Toronto to attend this event and to use it to leverage other related opportunities.

The event will occur on 6 September 2024 in Toronto and coincides with the Toronto International Film Festival and Industry Conference (TIFF) (5-15 September 2024). 

Aims

This program aims to provide Australian producers who have experience with official co-productions or completed content at a comparable scale of budget and international traction, and are seeking co-production partners in Canada for exciting new projects, with the opportunity to travel to and meet with their Canadian equivalents. 

Who Can Apply?

Applicants:

  • must be Australian citizens or residents and meet our Terms of Trade.
  • can apply as an individual or company. We cannot accept separate applications from individual members of the same company or team; those applications must either be made via a lead applicant who will be responsible for managing the grant on behalf of the team, or as a company.
  • must have recent (in last four years) completed credit(s) as a lead producer on long form scripted or documentary series and/or features of reasonable budget with evidence of significant views, especially internationally and with regard to this opportunity Canada e.g.:
  • been distributed and theatrically released in multiple major international territories, 
  • been nominated for and/or a recipient of a significant international award such as awards from Toronto, Hotdocs, Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Berlin, IDFA, SXSW, Annecy festivals or the Academy, BAFTA, or Emmy awards, or
  • screened on broadcast television or streamed on a subscription-based platform, and having been one of the top 10 most-watched shows on that platform at time of transmission. [It is noted that data is not always readily available, especially historically, and assessors will give benefit of the doubt based on press links and other media reactions about the title from time of release], or 
  • streamed online on any reportable platform, with evidence of audiences/views in excess of 1 million or other evidence of trending on You Tube at time of release.

Individuals or teams from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. This may include people who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; Deaf, hard of hearing or with disability; women or gender diverse; LGBTIQ+; or located in regional or remote areas.

Please note: 

  • Applicants in receipt of Enterprise, Talent Gateway or Global Producers Exchange funding will not be eligible to apply for this fund if their approved budget included funding to attend TIFF

Please email [email protected] to discuss if either of the above points apply to your application.

Eligible Activities

Applicants must demonstrate how they intend to use the travel to maximise opportunities to foster Australian/Canadian co-production(s) and also their slate of other projects, including through attendance at the co-production day as well as other identified events, meetings or opportunities. 

Delegates are strongly encouraged to think about staying longer in Toronto so they can attend TIFF and spend further time undertaking meetings on either side of the event. Participants should also note the dates of Content Canada (9-11 September 2024) and FIN Partners (11-13 September 2024) if beneficial to attend whilst in Canada. Please consult all mentioned events directly for details on how to register and attend and any associated costs prior to applying. Delegates could also consider whether stopovers to and from Toronto could be leveraged for other meetings to maximise the opportunity.

What Funding Is Available?

Up to six applicants will receive funding of up to $6,000 each towards travel, living and accommodation in Toronto. 

There is a funding cap of $6,000 per application, whether the applicant is an individual (including on behalf of a team) or a company. 

How to apply

Applications close 5pm AEST Thursday 18 July 2024 and can be made via Screen Australia’s online application portal.

If an applicant has access requirements in order to submit their application or to facilitate potential attendance at the event, please email [email protected] and we will make arrangements to assist.

What to provide

  • Fully completed application form including contact details and responses to eligibility questions.
  • A CV including recent credits and details of any commercial success, significant viewership and/or major festival or awards success.
  • A proposal (maximum 8 pages) that includes:
  • Details on your lead project(s) that you are interested in developing as official Australian/ Canadian co-production(s) as well as details on your further slate of projects that will be pitched at the event, including for each title: 
  • the stage of development or production;
  • the budget and the currently secured finance; and 
  • the currently secured key creative and marketplace attachments or interest including for those works that are intended as co-productions
  • A detailed proposed meeting list with reasoning and desired outcomes of each meeting. This should include Ontario-based production companies you are targeting for your project at or around the Australian / Canadian co-production day, as well as further meetings and activity with other industry stakeholders such as funders, commissioners and sales agents at TIFF, FIN Partners, Content Canada etc. The strategy could also include meetings at stopovers on the way to Toronto to maximise the opportunity.
  • Any details evidencing international co-production experience 
  • Any intended professional development objectives or other goals for the trip

How are applications assessed?

Once we receive your application, a member of the Program Operations team will review to ensure it is complete and meets all eligibility requirements. They’ll contact you with any questions, or requests for more information.

Assessment Criteria

Complete and eligible applications will be considered and reviewed by Screen Australia and/or industry specialists against the following criteria: 

  • International pitching proposal. The strength of the strategy of the proposal
  • Co-production proposal and slate. The stage of development, suitability and strength of the nominated Australian/ Canadian official co-production(s) being put forward for this particular event, as well as the projects on the further slate (and also the creative talent attached to them)
  • International interest. The amount of traction received internationally from the applicant’s completed body of work; and 
  • Experience. The experience and knowledge of the applicant pertinent to the activity, especially concerning experience with official co-productions or projects of a comparative scale
  • Priority will be given to applicants who:
  • have international official co-production experience with completed and reportable credits 
  • evidence on their slate of at least one project with genuine potential co-production intended for Canada
  • have a robust slate with long-form projects that are suitable and ready to pitch to an international market
  • have not been recipients of International Delegation funding from Screen Australia after 5 July 2023 

Decision & Notification

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in writing by Friday 9 August 2024.

Contact

If you are unsure about your eligibility or have questions about the application form, please email us at [email protected] or call Program Operations on 1800 507 901. Please note that we are not able to provide creative advice or suggestions to strengthen your application.