Pitch Readiness Program for Multi-Episode Productions

Who can apply

1. Producers of multi-episode productions that have not yet obtained broadcaster or distributor financial support to prepare the strongest pitch presentation possible
2. Applicants must be resident Manitoba producers
3. A resident Manitoba producer is defined as a producer who operates a production company in Manitoba that is majority owned and controlled by Manitoba residents or Manitoba businesses whose primary objective is either the production or the distribution of audio-visual projects
4. A resident is defined as an individual who is legally entitled to be, work and remain in Canada, is currently a resident of Manitoba and has been for not less than 365 days prior to the date of application to MFM
5. A Manitoba business must have its head office and principal place of business located in Manitoba and includes a sole proprietorship, or a partnership operated by Manitoba residents as defined above, or a company, corporation or co-operative which is incorporated or registered pursuant to the laws of Manitoba where:  A majority of the shares are owned, both equitably and beneficially, by persons who have been Manitoba residents for at least one year, and  A majority of the directors have been Manitoba residents for at least one year
6. Not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for MFM programs
7. Applications must be submitted by an eligible Manitoba resident producer
8. Have a minimum of two years of production experience as a producer and have previously produced at least one project (minimum 30 minutes in broadcast length), which has been either screened by a major network/streamer (such as CBC/Gem, Bell/Crave, APTN/Lumi etc.) or distributed by a recognized distributor (such as Elevation Pictures, Mongrel Media, Lionsgate, etc.)
9. Producers who do not meet this requirement, but who are judged to have equivalent experience (including experience in interactive digital media) may be deemed eligible at MFM’s sole discretion. The onus is on the applicant to demonstrate this
10. Have proof of ownership in the underlying property and the necessary, corresponding current rights or options to develop, produce, and exploit the production throughout the world (may be shared in the case of co-development applications)
11. The production team must be able to successfully manage and complete the project for which it is applying for financing
12. Be a series or mini-series (with a minimum of two thematically connected episodes)
13. Be a scripted and fictional (drama or comedy), documentary, variety, or children’s production
14. Be live-action or animation
15. Be in early concept/development stages without the financial participation of a broadcaster or distributor
16. Be primarily intended for broadcast, be it television or web-based
17. Web-based series are eligible for the PRP, where funding would be used to secure both distribution and financing
18. Co-productions or co-ventures will be considered eligible, but MFM will require evidence that the resident Manitoba producer shares ownership in the project
19. For eligible co-productions or co-ventures, the application must be submitted by the resident Manitoba producer as defined above
20. The resident Manitoba producer must have voting share ownership in the single- purpose applicant company that is at least proportionate to the level of Manitoba investment in the project
21. Furthermore, at least 50% of the directors and officers of the single-purpose production entity must be Manitoba residents
22. There must always be at least one Manitoba resident as a required signatory for the applicant company
23. The project must be in the compliance with the laws, regulations, standards, and policies applicable to broadcasting and to intellectual property, and the project must not infringe upon any public or private rights and must not otherwise contravene the Canadian civil and criminal laws in effect
24. Each project may only receive one round of PRP funding
25. If the producer has third-party funding the producer must apply to the MFM PRP with the same budget, schedule, and deliverables, as supported by the arms-length third-party agreement
26. Applicant companies (or their affiliates) must be in good standing with MFM at the time of application
27. Applications from those companies in default on any contractual obligation to MFM will not be considered
28. The production’s bank account (under the Manitoban single-purpose applicant company in the case of co-productions or co-ventures) must be based in Manitoba; the bank’s address on the cheques for the account must be a Manitoban address
29. In addition, the signature of at least one Manitoba resident must always be required for cheque signing authority

Who can't apply

• Sponsored productions, sports, news, game shows, current affairs
• Public affairs, lifestyle productions, “how-to” productions, reality television
• Instructional television, infomercials, music videos, formal or curriculum-based educational programming
• Talk shows, talk shows “culturels,” award shows, galas, reporting, and current events
• Religious programming, fundraising productions, benefits, tributes, promotional productions
• Pep rallies, travelogues, and interstitials
• Pornography