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

Now entering its fourth 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 (Stream 1/see below) their projects directly to top international industry executives and decision-makers.

NEW IN 2020: The Forum will have two distinct Project Streams, with each providing customized support and opportunities.

Stream 1: Narrative Feature Film Projects with budgets of $1.5M+ (CAD)
This stream is open to Canadian and international projects, including co-productions.

Stream 2: Narrative Feature and/or Episodic projects at the $125,000-$250,000 budget level. This stream is open to emerging Canadian producers only.

The Inside Out LGBTQ Film Finance Forum is presented by Netflix, with support from Telefilm, Ontario Creates, and the Canadian Media Producers Association. Past participating companies have included Killer Films (US), Protagonist Pictures (UK), Bankside Films (UK), Celluloid Dreams (France), Elevation Pictures (CAN), mK2 (France), The Film Collaborative (US), Bell Media (CAN), Les Films Seville (CAN), GLAAD (US), Producers Effie Brown (Dear White People, Star), Howard Rosenman (Call Me by Your Name), and Howard Gertler (How to Survive a Plague, Shortbus, Adam).

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 projects for both streams at a strong second draft stage, with a producer attached, that are interested in financing opportunities. The projects are preferably from LGBTQ-identified producers with key creatives (ie: writer) who identify as LGBTQ. Co-productions with Canada are encouraged to apply in Stream 1, including co-productions seeking a Canadian producer.

When submitting to either stream, 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.

For projects submitting to Stream 2 who are also applying to Telefilm's Talent to Watch Program, we encourage you to include your TTTW submission package with your Inside Out submission.

Projects that were featured in a previous edition are not eligible for participation in 2020; however, producers/creators that have participated in previous editions are welcome to submit new projects. For any questions regarding eligibility, please contact Andria Wilson, Executive Director, andria@insideout.ca, or Andrew Murphy, Director of Programming, andrew@insideout.ca

Eligible participants must be available to participate in the Forum in Toronto in person, May 28-29, 2020.

Applications close on Friday, February 7, 2020, 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.