Back again for 2023 for our 6th year, we’re excited to announce that Hand Eye Society will once again be running the IDM Fund: Futures Forward program!

Ontario Creates IDM Fund: Futures Forward provides early-stage screen-based companies with access to the skills that they require to fast-track their knowledge acquisition and enhance the competitiveness of their companies through a series of courses. From budgeting to pitch decks, we’ll be going through the ins and outs of making sure your studio is set up for success. You’ll be speaking with industry professionals to learn about things like tax credits, hiring, running your socials and more.

The program is intended for:

• new companies that are led by individuals with less than three years of professional IDM content creation experience (i.e. start-up company led by recent graduates)
• established companies that are transitioning to IDM content creation from other industries (i.e. film company exploring digital-first content opportunities)

Fund Futures might be a good fit for you if:

• You have an awesome game prototype with commercial potential -OR- you’ve made game prototypes in the past and have an idea for a game with commercial potential
• You have less than 3 years of full time industry experience
• You are able to connect online for sessions
• You can commit to 3-6 hours a week for the hands-on assignments
• You are an Ontario resident

We ask that one or two representatives from your team attend. Throughout the program, you’ll be working on getting yourself, your studio, and your game ready to hit the ground running for things like pitching and applying for funding. Every week there will be homework associated with the topic of the upcoming session.

We will be meeting each week on Saturday from 1PM-4PM from October 28 to December 9, 2023.

Application Closes @ Midnight on October 18, 2023

There is no cost to apply. If selected, you will be required to become a Hand Eye Society member ($7/month) and pay a $100 deposit that will be returned to you on successful completion of the program. As we only have 6 spots available, we want to ensure that all the spots are filled by participants who are committed to finishing the course.

The six (6) participants who complete the program will be eligible to submit an application to the IDM Fund Concept Definition or Production programs starting in the Spring 2024 deadline. Completing this program will allow you to bypass the 3 years of full time industry experience requirement. Applicants that apply to more than one partner organization in the Fund Futures stream will only be accepted to one program.

So what will the program look like week to week?

Below is our schedule breakdown:

• Pitching and Financing: Funding Sources, Publishers, Tax Credits, Deferrals
• Legal: Incorporation, Insurance, and Contracts
• Budgeting: Payroll, Cash Flow & Accounting
• Production Methodology: Scaling Up, Hiring, Timelines/Schedules
• Audience Connection: Community Building, Publicity & Marketing
• Strategy: Designing Your Company & Alternate Income Streams
• Repitch: Moving Forward With Grant Writing

Every week you’ll be given homework and readings to help you learn more about each section, as well as prepare for the next class. These documents are for you to keep on hand to help you both in the program and beyond. Expect have around 3-6 hours set aside a week for this alongside class time.

On conclusion of the program participants will:

• have a business and marketing plan for their IDM product
• have an understanding of business operations (including corporate financial statements)
• be able to effectively pitch a project to an investor, channel partner or funding agency
• have an understanding of the budget and financing considerations for IDM projects
• be eligible for the Ontario Creates IDM Fund Concept Definition and Production program without the required 3 years of industry experience
• have the opportunity to submit an application to receive one of a limited number of grants to assist with product development

Fund Futures is also offered by the following:

• Interactive Ontario
• Women in Film and Television – Toronto
• Webseries Canada
• Amplifia Network

Selections will be made by Hand Eye Society staff in consultation with Ontario Creates, with an eye towards cultural innovation and viability. We may suggest another organization if we believe their program would better fit your application.

The HES is also committed to ensuring a diverse range of participants are considered, so you are strongly encouraged to apply if you or your team are from a traditionally underrepresented background such as women, BIPoC (Black, Indigenous or Person of Colour), LGBTQIA+, etc. If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@handeyesociety.com.

We acknowledge the support of Ontario Creates in running this program, thanks so much for making programs like Futures Forward possible!