Grant Program for Emerging Talent and Micro-Budget Production

Overview of the Grant Program for Emerging Talent and Micro-Budget Production program:

This program is designed to support two streams of micro-budget productions: 1) Entry-level filmmakers who have received production funding awards through a competitive, juried process from a recognized industry organization (ex. Telefilm, NSI, Manitoba Arts Council). These projects are not normally destined for theatrical distribution or primetime television exhibition; and 2) Producers of factual or scripted programming for projects with micro-budgets that do not exceed $100,000 and who have received a cash license or a distribution advance from a third-party distributor. Projects destined primarily for VOD or online distribution are eligible. Third-party investments do not render the project ineligible but are not sufficient to make it eligible; a cash license or distribution advance is a required trigger.

Benefits of the Grant Program for Emerging Talent and Micro-Budget Production program:

• To be eligible for financial support in the Emerging Talent stream, the project must:
  • Have already received cash funding through a juried process from another
• Industry organization (the trigger) non-related to MANITOBA FILM &
• MUSICs current programming;
• Be a one-off, micro-budget feature, pilot, series, webisodes, or short film;
• Be a scripted and fictional drama or comedy, documentary, experimental
• Production, or variety production;
• Be live-action or animation;
• Use the highest possible proportion of Manitoba resources in its crew, cast,
• And facilities;
• Use Manitoba as a film location, the only exception being documentaries.

Eligibility criteria of the Grant Program for Emerging Talent and Micro-Budget Production program:

• To be eligible for financial support in the Emerging Talent stream, the applicant must:
  • Be a Manitoba resident or Manitoba business;
• Grant Program for Emerging Talent and Micro-Budget Production 2
• Revised March 1, 2023
• Demonstrate current and comparable project experience consistent with
• Developing, producing, or marketing the proposed project. The onus is on the
• Applicant to demonstrate this;
• Satisfactorily demonstrate the capacity to sustain the project financially and to manage and complete the project. The onus is on the applicant to
• Demonstrate this;
• Have proof of ownership in the property and all current rights to produce and exploit the production.