With the federal government ramping up spending ahead of a fall election, Manitoba’s screen industry is benefiting via a $3.9 million investment in On Screen Manitoba.

The investment flows through the government’s Western Diversification Program, which “makes strategic investments in initiatives that enhance and strengthen the economy of Western Canada.”

Through On Screen Manitoba, the funding will be directed to the province’s linear TV and film sectors, as well as interactive digital media, gaming and mobile industries.

The focus will be promoting and increasing the preparedness of Manitoba-based film, TV and digital businesses outside of the provinces, both regionally and internationally. This year, On Screen Manitoba partnered with regional non-profit New Media Manitoba on the Media Exchange Project, an international trade and investment initiative. The government investment augments the initiative and will include getting prairie producers to markets, helping coordinate meetings and ensuring businesses are prepared when they get there.

Target markets include the European Union, U.S. and South Korea.

As well, a portion of the almost $4 million investment will go towards establishing a new provincial transmedia lab to foster innovation in the sector.

“This project actively helps film/TV and interactive digital media producers to work on business models and create new products to take to international markets. Our forthcoming Transmedia Lab will help with the design sprints and prototyping of these products so we can test the viability of concepts before going to market,” Kevin Hnatiuk, executive director, New Media Manitoba, said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

The funding will go to projects in both official languages, as part of a government mandate to promote access to “niche francophone markets” and in that regard, will extend outside of Manitoba to include French-language projects from Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.

Winnipeg image via Shutterstock