Creative Saskatchewan has extended the reach of their to $12 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
This is the third year in a row that Saskatchewan’s film industry has received increased investment from the government, and the prairie-province is poised to take on even more business than ever before.
“Over the last year and a half, Creative Saskatchewan has invested $24.9 million into 41 productions.” Said Megan Folden, Creative Saskatchewan.
The Sceptre Sandhills (Courtesy of Tourism Saskatchewan, Dave Reede Photography.)
Projects that recently wrapped include Minds Eye Entertainment apocalypse-thriller Die Alone, which stars Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix franchise, Memento), Douglas Smith (Don’t Worry Darling, Big Little Lies) and Frank Grillo (Captain America and The Purge franchises), the romantic drama feature A Cowboy Christmas, and survival series ALONE Season 10 to name a few.
Incentives
Creative Saskatchewan offers several funding programs for film and television, including development, production, and even marketing grants. Funding is available for full-length feature films, music videos and everything in between. The grants are user-friendly, easy to navigate, and boast some of the fastest turnaround times in the country. Expect a friendly voice on the phone when you call the film commission, the staff are always available for one-on-one consultations.
Feature Film and Television Production Grant:
Saskatchewan Stream: eligible applicants may apply for financial support equal to a maximum of 30% of all eligible Saskatchewan expenditures up to a maximum of $5,000,000.
Service Production Stream: eligible applicants may apply for 25% of all eligible Saskatchewan expenditures up to a maximum of $5,000,000.
Both streams: applicants might be eligible for the following bonuses (to a commitment not exceeding a maximum of 40% of eligible Saskatchewan expenditures for Saskatchewan Stream, or maximum of 35% for Service Production Stream):
-10% frequent filming bonus: Where applicants complete 3 or more eligible productions per year in Saskatchewan.
-5% rural bonus: Where a majority of production takes place within Saskatchewan, 50km outside Regina or Saskatoon.
-5% Saskatchewan post-production bonus*: Where majority post-production is taking place in Saskatchewan.
* This bonus applies to all eligible expenses, not just the eligible post-production expenses.
The John Hopkins Regina Soundstage
Saskatchewan’s production studios recently underwent renovations and upgrades to its dressing rooms, hair and makeup spaces, and office areas.
The purpose-built, state of the art production facility is located in the heart of Regina. The size, height and amenities of the stages and production offices within the facility make them among the largest and most comprehensive studios in Canada. Located within a beautiful 2,300-acre lakeside park, the facility offers three soundproof stages of varying sizes, ranging from 7,000 to 15,000 square footage of space and 42-foot high ceilings.
“The John Hopkins Regina Soundstage – Stage 1 (Creative Saskatchewan)“.
More than prairie: Diverse and comprehensive locations services
A land of unexpected contrasts, Saskatchewan’s key appeal is its variety. While Saskatchewan has doubled for many Midwestern and small-town American settings, and even stood in for Las Vegas, visitors may be surprised to learn that this is just a fraction of the province’s backdrop.
“We are much more than wheat fields and grasslands,” says Folden, “Saskatchewan is home to rugged badlands, sand dunes, and boreal forests. More than half of our province is boreal forest, and we have about 100,000 lakes, which is not what people think of when they think of Saskatchewan. Our communities include our beautiful, untouched north, quaint villages, and vibrant city centers like Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Moose Jaw.” Saskatchewan has four true seasons, and has the most hours of sunshine of any province in Canada.
Committed to delivering client satisfaction and establishing long term business relationships, the agency offers script breakdown services, customized photo services, access to an extensive locations gallery, scouting services throughout Saskatchewan, and ground transportation during location scouting for prospective producers. Submit a request for hosted scouting HERE.
“We’re in a period of rapid growth and there’s lots of appetite for business here,” says Folden. “There’s genuine excitement from the public and from our government. The opportunities for film in Saskatchewan are as endless as our horizons.”
