Filmmaker’s Grant

All deadlines close at 4:00 PM Saskatchewan time. If a deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend, applications will be accepted until 4:00 PM the following business day.

Application processing time: Applicants can expect to receive results within 10 weeks from the deadline date.

Results will be delivered via e-mail and will be available in GMS

Grant Overview

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to filmmakers to create short-form content under approximately 10 minutes. Content can be in most genres, including dramatic, animation, and documentary, web series and music video.

Ineligible genres include experimental, game shows, pornography, sports, news, and magazine-style content.

Filmmakers must be the grant applicant. If applying for Book to Screen Adaption or Music Video, the filmmakers are responsible for finding a Saskatchewan publisher or musician collaborator.

Short-form Content:

• Filmmaker must have rights to produce the content.
• The primary intent is commercial.
• Applicants can apply at any stage of production.

Book to Screen Adaptations:

• Filmmakers working with an eligible Saskatchewan Book Publisher or Self-Published Author can apply for an additional $5,000 to be used for option and writing expenses only.
• A letter of support for the project from the publisher must be included in the application. A formal option agreement demonstrating that the filmmaker/producer has the right to produce and distribute the content is only required if a grant is awarded.

Music Videos:

• For musicians, the program’s objective is to promote an upcoming single through the production of a music video. For filmmakers (director or producer, or an individual acting as both), the program’s objective is to create capacity development opportunities, as selected applicants will gain experience managing production and working with clients.
• Both parties (musicians and filmmakers) will have a completed music video to add to their professional portfolio. However, the musicians will maintain ownership of the finished project.
• A letter of support for the project from the musician must be included in the application. Musicians must be a signatory on the funding agreement should a grant be awarded.

Filmmakers will be paired with a mentor throughout the production process who will advise and work with the teams to finalize video treatment (shot list or storyboard etc.), production budget, production schedule, production agreements, rough cut, and fine cut.