Television and Web-Based Development Fund
$40,000.00
Loan
Description:
The Television and Web-Based Development Fund program provides funds in the form of recoupable loans to support the development of television and web-based projects that have already secured third party financing, which represents an acceptable market trigger for broadcast or distribution.
The MFM Development Fund will provide financial support to producers to prepare a set of pre-determined deliverables, as outlined by the development arrangements in place with other third party funders. The MFM Development Fund will also assist producers of web-based programs to develop their projects for the expanding digital marketplace.
Comments on Funding:
Producers may apply to one of the following two streams – television or web-based:
Television Stream – Eligible Production Companies may receive up to the following per project caps:
1. Up to $40,000 per project for scripted, fictional, multi-episode programming (including drama, comedy, and children’s scripted programming);
2. Up to $25,000 per project for scripted fictional MOWs and pilots (including drama, comedy, and children’s scripted programming);
3. Up to $10,000 per project for Documentary and Variety multi-episode programming;
4. Up to $5,000 per project for Documentary and Variety one-offs.
Web-Based Stream – Eligible Production Companies may receive up to the following per project caps:
1. Up to $10,000 per project for scripted, fictional, multi-episode programming (including drama, comedy, and children’s scripted programming) (minimum total series broadcast length of 20 minutes);
2. Up to $5,000 per project for scripted fictional MOWs and pilots (including drama, comedy, and children’s scripted programming);
3. Up to $5,000 per project for Documentary and Variety multi-episode programming (minimum total series broadcast length of 20 minutes);
4. Up to $2,500 per project for Documentary and Variety one-offs.
Continuous Intake
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
1. be a resident Manitoba producer, defined as a producer who operates a production company in Manitoba that is majority owned and controlled by Manitoba residents. Note: Applications must be submitted by an eligible Manitoba resident producer;
2. 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 (such as CBC, CTV, Shaw, etc.) or distributed by a recognized distributor (such as eOne, Mongrel, Lionsgate, etc.);
3. 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 codevelopment applications).
4. 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.
To be eligible for financial support in the television stream, the project must:
a) be a series, mini-series (a minimum of two thematically connected episodes), pilot, MOW, or one-off;
b) be a scripted and fictional drama or comedy, documentary, variety, or children’s production;
c) be live-action or animation;
d) have secured a minimum of 20% of the development budget by development-targeted financing from an industry-recognized arms’ length broadcaster or distributor, or a combination thereof.
e) stronger applications will contain convergent elements.
5. 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
To be eligible for financial support in the web-based stream, the project must:
a) be a series, mini-series (a minimum of two thematically connected episodes), pilot, MOW, or one-off;
b) be a scripted and fictional (drama or comedy), documentary, variety, or children’s production;
c) be live-action or animation;
d) have secured one of the following two “triggers:”
i. Development or broadcast contract with a web “broadcaster” with an industry-recognized track record – projects with cash advances from the web “broadcaster” will be considered stronger;
ii. Development or distribution contract with a web-content specialist distribution company with an industry-recognized track record;
Application Steps:
Applicants must submit through Manitoba Film & Music’s new online application portal: https://www.mbfilmmusic.ca/apply
Documentation Needed:
Applicants must submit:
1. Detailed story outline and project description;
2. Detailed budget (locked, signed and dated);
3. Evidence of broadcaster and/or distributor commitment (if applicable);
4. Signed commitment letter(s) from ALL financial participants;
5. Development schedule;
6. Detailed cast & crew list;
7. Resumes for key creative positions;
8. Detailed marketing and distribution plan, indicating target audience and market potential;
9. Estimated production budget and shoot dates if deliverable is final script or packaging;
10. Complete chain of title documentation;
11. Co-development agreement between co-producers (if co-developing);
12. Additional documents may be required. Check the Program Contact for the full list of required documentation.
Other Things to Note:
There are no set deadlines for Development, applications can be sent in throughout the year.
About the author
Maurice
