Corus-Hot Docs FundsEstablished in 2008, the $4-million Funds provided producation grants and no-interest development loans to projects at critical stages. Over eight years, it supported 147 documentary projects from filmmakers across Canada, brining diverse perspectives to the screen. During the Funds’ lifetime, 60% of projects were female-led productions, defined as any film with a female director or producer.
CrossCurrents Doc Funds
Promoting inclusion in the documentary space, the CrossCurrents Doc Funds foster storytelling from within groups whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented.
- CrossCurrents International Doc Fund: For interactive, short and feature-length doc projects by filmmakers from, and telling stories of, underrepresented and marginalized communities around the world. The short/interactive strand was supported by the R&M Lang Foundation, which initiated the Fund in 2013; feature-length strand was supported by Panicaro Foundation.
- CrossCurrents Canada Doc Fund: For short and feature-length documentaries from emerging and sophomore Canadian filmmakers who are Indigenous, Francophone, Deaf and/or have a disability, racialized and/or persons of colour. Generously supported by Netflix.
Hot Docs Partners
This $2.6-million financing initiative connected select groups of committed investors with feature-length documentary productions seeking financing. A lead investor in Hot Docs Partners, Toronto-based Blue Ice Docs committed to matching investments, on a case-by-case basis, made by other partners.
Hot Docs Ted Rogers FundFounded in 2016, this $1-million fund suppored Canadian documentary projects with production grants of up to $20,000. To date, the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund distributed $645,000 to 43 documentary projects.
It's Funny Because It's TrueIn 2021/22, this short documentary initiative gave five filmmakers the chance to bring to film their funniest real-life stories. Netflix supported each creator with $20,000 USD and providing mentorship and career development support by their documentary team. The five selected It's Funny Because It's True projects will premiered globally on Netflix's social channels.