The Bell Fund has awarded $4.45 million in its latest round of financing, including support for three projects in the newly created OnLine to OnTV program. 

In the fund’s production program, a total of 10 series and projects received a cash injection form the Bell Fund, including Canada’s Smartest Person from Media Headquarters Film and Television, and its digital media component Canada’s Smartest Person Interactive from Konrad Group Inc., Temple Street Production’s Next Step Season 2 and The Next Step Interactive II – Make a Scene from Secret Location, marblemedia’s Hi Opie! and Hi Opie! Come Along from marblemedia interactive inc.

The Bell Media Fund’s low-budget production program selected 11 projects in this round of funding, including the film Santa Quest from Tell Tale Productions Inc. and its accompanying mobile game, and the second season of Rezolution Picture Inc.’s Mohawk Girls and that series’ digital media component.

Projects that received funding in the Bell Fund’s new OnLine to OnTV program include Mimo & Sam from Gamepill and Heroic Film and Television, The Music Biz from Hungry Eyes Film and Television and Verdict, from Thought Bubble Film + Television and Aircraft Pictures. In this new program, selected projects receive a grant of up to 100% of approved pre-development expenses. The maximum grant is $10,000.

The four projects selected to receive grants through the TV development online program include The Ripple from Cineflix Media and Corus Entertainment’s W Network, Tornado Hunters from Saloon Media and Corus Entertainment’s CMT, Free Rain from Teatro Productions and Blue Ant Media’s Oasis TV, and Au Chez-Giles des artistes from Zone 3 and ARTV.

In the development program, selected projects include The Wanted 18 from Intuitive Pictures Inc. and Societe Radio Canada, Canada’s Guns: Be a Leader from HitPlay Productions and TVO, and Following Four Wisemen from Inigo Athenaeum Enterprise Inc.

Finally, a total of 11 projects were given grants under the Bell Fund’s professional development program, including Hot Docs International Film Festival 2014, the Banff Media Festival 2014, and TIFF Kids 2014.