Following are the key Saskatchewan funding and investment sources available for Canadian independent film and television program development, production and/or distribution.

SASKATCHEWAN ARTS BOARD INDEPENDENT ARTISTS GRANT PROGRAM
Development/Production/Post $$$: Creation/Production Grants: Established Artists, $17,000; Emerging Artists, $6,000. Applicants may apply for development, preproduction, production or post-production expenses as individual projects, but cannot have more than one active grant at a time with the Arts Board. Established artists may receive a maximum of $34,000 in a four-year period. For emerging artists, the maximum is $12,000 in a four-year period.
Other $$$: Professional development grants to a maximum of $7,500 for established artists and $4,000 for emerging artists. Research grants to a maximum of $7,500 for established artists and $4,000 for emerging artists. Travel grants to a maximum of $1,500 can be applied for under this program.
Criteria: Applicants must be Saskatchewan residents who have lived in the province for a minimum of one year and have artistic and editorial control over the proposed project.
Eligible projects: All productions except pilots for commercial or educational television, instructional and promotional projects, corporate or industrial projects, projects commissioned by educational institutions or social affairs agencies. Producers are ordinarily ineligible.
Deadlines: March 15, Oct. 1, 2009
Contact: Doug Townsend, visual and media arts consultant
Tel: (306) 964-1163
1-800-667-7526 (Saskatchewan only)
doug@artsboard.sk.ca
www.artsboard.sk.ca

SASKATCHEWAN FILM & VIDEO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (SASKFILM)
SaskFilm stimulates and fosters the development and growth of Saskatchewan’s film and television industry through a number of programs.
Development loans: Dramatic programs, MOWs, series and features can access between $5,000 and $25,000 throughout four phases of development (not exceeding 40% of the approved budget, except 50% for the first phase).
Non-dramatic projects can access a maximum of $7,000 for individual projects or $15,000 for series (not exceeding 40% of the approved budget).
Deadline: None; ongoing throughout fiscal year
MAX Equity Investment Program:
SaskFilm provides equity investments in eligible dramatic projects where there is significant benefit to the province’s film and television industry and where the potential of recoupment and profits are sufficiently high as demonstrated in the application.
A broadcast licence to a minimum value of 15% of the total cost of production must be secured. The program supports eligible production costs to a maximum of 20% of the approved budget or $100,000, whichever is less.
Deadline: Aug. 5, 2009
Filmmakers Program: SaskFilm provides financial assistance to the province’s filmmakers for the production of films or videos in any genre, including experimental, art films, documentary and drama. The program supports up to 40% of the approved budget to a maximum of $15,000. Financing is in the form of a grant.
Deadlines: March 2, Oct. 1, 2009
Non-Dramatic Equity Investment Program: SaskFilm provides equity investment in support of eligible production costs to a maximum of 15% of the approved budget or $20,000 for a single production – $40,000 for a series of a minimum of three episodes, whichever is less. The fund supports Saskatchewan-based non-dramatic productions that result in significant benefit to the provincial film and video industry. A broadcast licence of fair market value must be secured.
Deadline: July 21, 2009
Market Travel Assistance Program: SaskFilm provides financial assistance to Saskatchewan-based producers to travel to approved program markets. Up to 75% of the approved travel budget, to the following maximums, are provided: $350 within Saskatchewan, $2,000 within Canada, $2,500 within the U.S., $3,500 outside North America.
Deadline: At least 30 days prior to the event
Festival/Competition Travel Assistance Program: Saskatchewan residents who are nominated for awards or whose film or television production is invited to compete or screen at major industry events can receive up to 50% of the approved travel budget, to a maximum of $1,500 per event.
Deadline: At least 30 days prior to the event
Marketing and Promotions Program: Provides individual grants to Saskatchewan-based producers to support a special event or screening to a maximum of $1,000 for Saskatchewan screenings, $2,000 for non-Saskatchewan screenings, or 40% of the total event budget, whichever is less. Events and screenings must take place in Saskatchewan prior to broadcast or theatrical release; or the event must screen and celebrate the achievements of a group of film or television producers.
Deadlines: Minimum of two weeks prior to the event/premiere
Writer in Residence Program: SaskFilm, in partnership with Super Channel, assists Saskatchewan writers develop their craft with the intent to increase industry accessibility to Saskatchewan screenplays. A maximum of five screenplays will be selected for ongoing script consultation with a writer in residence. Successful applicants are given preset timelines to complete a full screenplay, rewrite and polish.
Deadline: Check website for updates
Contact:
Tel: (306) 798-9800
1-800-561-9933 (Saskatchewan)
Fax: (306) 798-7768
www.saskfilm.com

SASKATCHEWAN FILM EMPLOYMENT TAX CREDIT
Production $$$: Offers tax credits of up to 55% per project.
Saskatchewan’s base tax credit can rebate 45% of the total wages of all Saskatchewan and deemed labor (labor is capped at 50% of the production budget).
Deemed labor is a non-Saskatchewan resident providing mentorship to a Saskatchewan resident. Twenty-five percent of a production’s eligible labor costs may be eligible for deeming. Deemed labor can include both below-the-line positions and above-the-line positions, such as producers, directors, writers and talent.
In addition, the program provides a bonus of 5% of total Saskatchewan expenditures for productions based 40 kilometers outside the province’s two major cities (Regina and Saskatoon).
The program also offers an additional 5% tax rebate for visiting and local producers who hire Saskatchewan residents on projects that attain 6/10 points of specified positions.
Eligible projects: Drama, variety, animation, children’s, music, educational, informational series, or documentary projects intended for television, cinema, videotape, digital, CD-ROM, multimedia and non-theatrical production.
Criteria: Must have a permanent establishment in Saskatchewan. Must pay at least 25% of its salaries and wages to Saskatchewan resident employees. Cannot be a shareholder in a Canadian broadcaster or specialty channel. Cannot be controlled by a corporation based outside Saskatchewan.
Opps for outside producers: An out-of-province company can co-venture with a Saskatchewan production company in one of two ways:
• Form a single-purpose company headquartered in Saskatchewan for the sole purpose of producing the project. This single-purpose entity does not have to share in copyright ownership, but must meet all requirements for production company eligibility and the Saskatchewan partner must have at least 50% control of the entity.
• Set up a coproduction between an eligible Saskatchewan-based company and an out-of-province company or companies. In this case, the Saskatchewan-based company must be the entity applying for and receiving the credit.
There are no copyright requirements, no Canadian- or Saskatchewan-content requirements, and no corporate or project caps.
Contact:
Tel: (306) 798-9800
1-800-561-9933 (Saskatchewan)
Fax: (306) 798-7768
www.saskfilm.com