Film and Video Production Tax Credit

💡What Is This Program?

🎁What Benefits Are Offered?

A competitive tax credit offering up to 65% on eligible cost-of-salaries (including bonuses) or up to 38% on all eligible Manitoba expenditures (including bonus) for film and video productions. It is described as Manitoba's most competitive tax credit.

📋What Are the Application Steps & Timeline?

📝Steps to ApplySource

• Register as an applicant or grant writer/juror
• Complete user registration
• Create applicant profile
• Log in to complete applicant profile
• Select the program to apply for
• Fill out the application form
• Upload required documents
• Invite collaborators if necessary
• Submit the application for review

🌐Application PortalSource

https://www.mbfilmmusic.ca/how-to-apply

📤Submission MethodSource

online

🔄Intake TypeSource

rolling

📄What Documents Are Required?

✅Required DocumentsSource

• Detailed story outline and pre-market project description
• Detailed budget (locked, signed and dated)
• Signed commitment letter(s) for the balance of the pre-market development funding
• Pre-market development schedule
• Detailed cast & crew list (if applicable)
• Resumes for key creative positions
• Pitch plan
• Funding plan
• Marketplace readiness plan
• Complete chain of title documentation
• Co-development agreement between co-producers (if co-developing)

📎Optional DocumentsSource

• Signed long-form agreements for all financial participants (if applicable)
• Void cheque for account through which all expenses will be paid
• Banking resolution showing cheque signing authority for the account
• Business registration/Articles of incorporation
• Resolution of board of directors
• Most recent copy of the annual corporate return of information
• Most current financial statements
• Production Company Bio/Experience
• Information of commercial success of the work (if based on previous work)
• One copy of original work (if applicable)
• Any other relevant information

📐Format RequirementsSource

All documents must be versioned, dated and signed if applicable.

📥Templates AvailableSource

• Manitoba Expenditures Form

✉️Supporting LettersSource

Signed commitment letter(s) for the balance of the pre-market development funding.

💰What Expenses Are Eligible?

🧾Eligible ExpensesSource

• story editors
• consultants
• researchers
• marketing specialists
• travel
• sales and promotional materials
• market and concept research
• technical research
• gaming consultants
• designers

🚫Ineligible ExpensesSource

• producer fees
• corporate overhead
• payments to employees

📏Expense CapsSource

Up to $10,000 for scripted programming; up to $5,000 for non-fiction programming; not exceeding 50% of budget.

💳Payment ModelSource

advance

⏪Retroactive Expenses EligibleSource

No

🤝Is Matching Funding Required?

🔀Matching RequiredSource

Yes

📊Matching RatioSource

20% minimum

🏦Eligible Matching SourcesSource

• cash

📚Stacking RulesSource

Eligible for co-productions or co-ventures, but must share ownership

🛡️Proof of Matching RequiredSource

Copies of budgets prepared for third party funders must be provided to MFM

📊What Are the Reporting Requirements?

🗓️Reporting FrequencySource

annual

📑Reporting RequirementsSource

• Application form
• Budget copies for third party funders
• Marketing plan
• Project treatment

🔍Audit RequirementsSource

MFM retains the sole discretion to determine what qualifies as acceptable third party market trigger.

📢Branding RequirementsSource

Documents or media must clearly acknowledge receipt of development funding by MFM.

🗄️Record Retention PeriodSource

7 years