International Finance Forum

Inside Out’s International Financing Forum (IFF) is the first and only 2SLGBTQ+ finance forum of its kind in the world. Now entering its seventh edition (fourth as hybrid event), the Forum provides 2SLGBTQ+-identified producers, writers and directors creating 2SLGBTQ+ 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.

Submission Details (CLOSED)

Submissions are now open for Inside Out’s 2024 Finance Forum applications! 

 

Inside Out’s International Financing Forum (IFF) is the first and only 2SLGBTQ+ finance forum of its kind in the world. Now entering its eighth edition (fifth as hybrid event), the Forum provides 2SLGBTQ+-identified producers, writers and directors creating 2SLGBTQ+ 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.

In 2023, projects were selected from Canada, USA, South Africa, UK.

Participating companies and executives in 2023:

  • Bankside Films (UK), Bleecker Street (US), CBC Films (CAN), Crave Originals (CAN), Elevation Pictures (CAN), Hot Sauce (USA), IFC Films (US), Killer Films (US), mk2 Films (France), Neon (US), Netflix (US), Feigco Entertainment (US), Photon Films (CAN), Protagonist Pictures (UK), Studiocanal (France/UK), Symbolic Exchange (US), XYZ Films (US/CAN).

In 2024, we are looking for the We are looking for queer, market-ready projects with both producer and director attached, seeking financing opportunities in the following formats:

  • Narrative Feature Film Projects, budgets $2.5M+ (USD) (Canadian and International)
  • Canadian Series (Half-Hour Comedies, One hour drama Series/Limited Series) (Canadian)

Visit our FilmFreeway page for details to submit applications. 

Register for our information session on Jan 15, 2024 to learn more about the application process, and materials needed to meet submission requirements. 

Applications close on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.

 

Finance Forum Success Stories Include:

Disclosure 

Jump, Darling 

Breaking Fast 

Sirens

Wildhood

Something You Said Last Night

Mutt

Blue Jean

“IOFF was instrumental in honing our pitch, especially being in the early stages of the process. Having the support of the Inside out team as well as the other filmmakers was unbelievably helpful. We had multiple meetings with potential business partners that were immediately excited and understood our project for exactly what it is. We continue to build on those relationships today.”

Isabel Marden, Kim Bailey, Tulica Singh

Project: Curses! (USA)

Company: Corporate Witchcraft

 

“The Inside Out IFF is a wonderful experience where not only do you connect with financiers and sales agents, but also other queer filmmakers from all over the world and get to experience a sense of community – filmmaking can be lonely work before you’re on set. Being able to troubleshoot with other queer director/producers allows you to see you’re often dealing with the same issues. We’re happy to say that we are going into production in 2023!

James Watson & Mikko Makela

Project: Sebastian (UK/Finland)

Company: Betes Sauvages

 

“Participating in the Inside Out finance forum has been instrumental in moving several of my feature films forward and helped them get made. From the caliber of the industry guests to the opportunity to build relationships with international teams, the forum does not disappoint. It’s a queer oasis in an industry that often feels very straight.”

Alyson Richards

Project: Midlife (Canada)

Company: Outside Line Studios

 

“The Inside Out International Financing Forum was the perfect place to pitch for us. It was welcoming, inclusive and had a really great selection of other international filmmakers to connect and form networks with. We had access to the best of the best – seasoned executives in a space that felt very professional yet also very curated to each project. We learnt so much about our project and where it fits in the market and I know I’ll be back again in the future as I feel part of the IO family now.”

Reece Cargan & Michael Lee Richardson

Project: A Good Spell  (Scotland/UK)

Company: Bombito Productions

 

“The Finance Forum was a great program that helped me understand the reality of the CURRENT feature film market directly from decision makers. But the true learning experience came from meeting international teams at the same level using diverse strategies for similar goals.”

Maxime Beauchamp

Project: Cross Country Baby (Canada)

Company: Aimer Films

 

“IFF is an incredible platform to launch queer projects. It’s intimate, friendly and diverse in both the projects they select, and buyers they connect you with.”

“IFF works hard to amplify LGBTQ+ voices and get our projects in front of the right people who are actively seeking queer content, and in a meaningful way. On top of all this, Inside Out provided our team with so many incredible resources.”

Gharret Paon & Blake Mawson

Project: Perennials (Canada)

Company: Rebel Roads

“The Inside Out Finance Forum was instrumental in pushing us to the ‘fully financed’ finish line. We attended the forum in June and were in production by September. It was the best possible outcome any film could ask for.”

Luis De Filipa, Jessica Adams, Michael Graf, Rhea Plangg & Michela Pini,

Something You Said Last Night (Canada)

 

“Inside Out was the perfect market introduction for our upcoming feature film Tomgirl. As we’re based in Australia, sometimes we can feel isolated because of distance (and COVID making international travel difficult), but the Film Finance Forum was the most accommodating market experience we’ve had to date. It was invaluable to be at a market specifically for queer cinema and it infused us with confidence to meet with industry who were interested in our innate stories. Jan and Andrew were incredibly supportive and encouraged us at every step of the way, and we loved networking with the other filmmakers across the globe; an invaluable experience for us in 2021.”

Vonne Patiag & Maren Smith, Tomgirl (Australia)

 

“From submission to selection, through to the actual pitches and the after care, the Inside Out IFF process was nothing short of wonderful. We were thrilled to be chosen to pitch to an eclectic range of producers, studios and distributors, all of whom requested to read our script and are still providing invaluable feedback. This will be the bedrock of our film’s development as it was the first time the project had gone to market and what a debut we had, courtesy of Inside Out IFF and its team.”

Fizz Milton, Christine Alderson & Jacquie Lawrence, Triple L (UK)

January 15, 2024: Info Session

February 15, 2024: Submission Deadline via FilmFreeWay

April 26, 2024: Notification Date

May 29 – 31, 2024: Event Date

The Inside Out Film Finance Forum is made possible through its key Industry sponsors: