Inside Out's International Financing Forum (IFF) is the first LGBTQ finance forum of its kind in the world. It is now a top incubator for Canadian and International LGBTQ filmmakers.

Now entering its fifth edition, the Forum provides LGBTQ-identified producers, writers and directors creating LGBTQ content an opportunity to move their feature projects forward through professional development, mentorship, and the platform to pitch their projects directly to top international industry executives and decision-makers.

Stream 1: In 2021, Narrative and Documentary Feature Film Projects with budgets of $1.5M+ (CAD) are eligible for the Forum. It is open to Canadian and international projects, including treaty and non-treaty co-productions.

The Inside Out LGBTQ Film Finance Forum is presented by Netflix, with support from Telefilm, Ontario Creates, and the Canadian Media Producers Association.

In 2020, executives from the following companies took one-on-one meetings with the selected creative teams: Bankside Films (UK), Bell Media (CAN), Bleecker Street (US), Bohemia Media (UK), CBC Films (CAN), Films Boutique (Germany), Gamechanger Films (US),
GLAAD (US), IFC Films (US), Killer Films (US), Mainstay Entertainment (US), mK2 Films (France), NEON (US), Netflix (US), Powderkeg Studios (US), The Population (US), Verve (US), WaZabi (CAN) and XYZ Films (US).

In 2020, projects were selected from Australia, Canada, Kenya, the UK and the US.

**Please note that Stream 2 of the finance forum (Narrative Feature and/or Episodic projects at the $125,000-$250,000 budget level and open to emerging Canadian producers only) will take place later this year due in part to ongoing Telefilm pan-Canadian consultations affecting updated guidelines and application dates to the Talent to Watch program.

Rules & Terms

PLEASE READ THE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS IN FULL. ALL PROJECT SUBMISSIONS MUST INCLUDE THE ATTACHMENTS LISTED IN THE RULES, WHICH SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO YOUR PROJECT IN FilmFreeway.

We are looking for queer-content projects at a strong second draft stage, with a producer attached, that are interested in financing opportunities. Preference will be given to projects with LGBTQ-identified producers with key creatives (ie: writer) who identify as LGBTQ. Co-productions with Canada are encouraged to apply, including co-productions seeking a Canadian producer.

When submitting, you must upload the following as attachments to your Project in FilmFreeway: Script, Budget Amount, Proposed Financing Plan, Company Profile, Long Synopsis, Log Line, and Key Attachments (producer/writer/director bios and headshots). We recommend combining all documents other than your script into one PDF file for upload and attaching to the 'Script' section of the 'Project'. If you have a pitch deck or lookbook for the project, please upload that as a separate file in the 'Files & Attachments' section.

Projects that were featured in a previous edition are not eligible for participation in 2021; however, producers/creators that have participated in previous editions are welcome to submit new projects. For any questions regarding eligibility, please contact Andrew Murphy, Director of Programming, andrew@insideout.ca

Eligible participants must be available to participate in the on-line Forum during the Festival dates May 27-June 6th. Schedule to be finalized closer to the event.

Applications close on Friday, February 26, 2021, at 11:59 PM EST.

The submission of your application shall constitute acceptance of these regulations. In any dispute, the decisions of the Festival shall be final. The Applicant releases the Festival, its Officers, Directors and all other employees and representatives, from any and all claims relating in any way to your application or the submission of materials to the Festival by or on behalf of the Applicant, whether on film, video, or other media.
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  • Emily McCann Lesser

    The Inside Out Film Finance forum put our project on the map and has subsequently helped us get into many other programs. We were able to make personal relationships with the people we pitched. It was a wonderful experience. Highly recommend applying!

    February 2021
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  • Blake Mawson

    The Inside Out IFF gave us a platform to connect with executives and management from around the globe who we may not normally have access to. It allowed our team to gain strong interest in our project, receive valuable feedback and build wonderful new relationships in the process.

    June 2020
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