FAQs
A – COGECO Inc. is a Quebec-based diversified communications company. Through its various subsidiaries, COGECO provides cable, internet and telephone services to customers in Ontario and Quebec, and also holds interest in various television and radio stations.
A – In the Development Program:
- The Pre-development Funding provides a LOAN to develop a project sufficiently in order to present it to broadcasters and other financiers to obtain development commitments and financing.
- The Development Funding provides a LOAN for the development of dramatic programming (drama series, mini-series, movies of the week, animated series). The loans go towards the development of bibles, treatments, outlines, and first or final draft scripts. The Development Funding also provides a LOAN for development of interactive digital content designed for alternative platforms such as websites, mobile and handheld devices. The Cogeco Fund will provide up to $5,000 for early stage research, concept and design development of original content based on an associated drama series, mini-series, movies of the week, animated series.
- The Theatrical Feature Film Development Funding is a small envelope that provides corporate development LOANS for companies with 3 or more feature films in development.
B – The Production Program:
The Production Program provides an EQUITY INVESTMENT for the production of mini-series (max, 2 epsidoes), movies of the week, and pilots for dramatic series.
Please read our guidelines for more information on eligibility for our funding programs.
A – Yes, we fund multiple stages, but usually over two application periods. You must make clear, in your application, what stages you are applying for and how the budget and financing will break down for the separate stages.
A – A pilot is judged to be a potential first program for a series if the producer can provide a bible for the series, treatments or outlines of additional episodes, and a letter from the broadcaster stating that if the pilot is successful they would be interested in developing it further into a possible series.
A – In the Development Program:
- The Pre-development Funding provides a maximum of $10,000 per company, per project, per year.
- The Development Funding provides, on average, $5,000 per phase, usually to a maximum of $15,000. Note as well that the Fund will rarely contribute more than the broadcaster. If you are applying for multiple phases, you may apply for more than $5,000.
- The Theatrical Feature Film Development Funding provides a maximum of $35,000.
The Production Program generally contributes a maximum of $250,000 for MOWs and mini-series, and up to $35,000 for pilots.
A – In our Development and Production Programs, we may offer you less funding than requested, depending on funding available, and number of approved projects. You may decide to accept the COGECO offer or not.
A – The Toronto Office manages English-language programming for all of Canada. The Montreal Office manages French-language programming for all of Canada. You may submit your application to either office, but note that your file will be transferred to the appropriate office (ie – if you are based in Montreal, submitting for an English project, you may send your file to the Montreal Office, but it will be forwarded to the Toronto Office for evaluation, and administration if your application is successful).
A – The application must be completed IN FULL. Application Forms not completed in full slow down the evaluation process. Our application form is designed so you, the applicant, can see what the key information is that we require to evaluate your application, and so all the key information is available at a glance. The application forms are all available in *.doc so you can directly enter and/or copy-and-paste information straight into the form (note: you don’t want us to edit your synopses!)
Note that for the Theatrical Feature Film Development Funding, your application form must be completed in full, and must be sent via email, with no other attachments allowed! The application form is all we need at the application stage.
A – Pre-development and development LOANS must be repaid on the first day of principal photography if the project goes into production. Theatrical Feature Film Development LOANS are 50% repaid on the first day of principal photography of the first film on the contracted slate that goes into production. The other 50% is repaid on the first day of principal photography when a second film on the contracted slate goes into production. Production EQUITY INVESTMENTS are repayable according to a negotiated recoupment schedule, based on revenues to the production.
A – Sorry, only producers can apply. Their writers must be Canadian. They must also have a Development Agreement, with some development financing committed, from a Canadian broadcaster.
A – We announce funding decisions approximately 6-8 weeks after the deadline dates. For example, with our March 1st deadline, results are announced at the end of April.
A – You may submit multiple projects per deadline, but if there are a large number of eligible projects, you will, in effect, be “competing against yourself”.
A – Yes, if there are “significant changes”. We do recommend that you contact the Fund for feedback on the original application before resubmitting.
A – Yes. Certainly we have funded numerous projects in only French or English, but if your proposal is in both languages, that is a definite advantage.