Alberta Media Fund (AMF): Funding for Media Projects

August 16, 2017

by Katlynd

The Alberta Media Fund (AMF) plays an important role in supporting media development, production, and marketing projects in Alberta. Through various streams of government grants, the organization supports Alberta-based businesses producing high-quality media content within the cultural industries.

The Alberta Media Fund is divided into four sub-streams of project funding. This includes government funding for (1) production projects, (2) interactive digital media projects, (3) post-production, visual effects, and digital animation projects, and (4) project script development. Alberta businesses can accelerate their media projects by accessing government grants to offset project costs so that producers can refine their media products to support a more successful market release.

AMF provides small business grants on a first-come, first-served basis. Alberta government grants will be dispersed until March 31, 2018, or until funding is depleted.

Alberta Media Fund (AMF): Government Grants for Innovative Media Projects

The Alberta Media Fund provides funding to accelerate projects that support the Cultural industries and enhance the province’s media industry. Alberta government funding can be used to help offset the cost of labour and materials needed to complete large-scale media projects. AMF offers four unique streams of provincial funding listed below.

Alberta Production Grant: Provides up to 25-30% of eligible production costs to a maximum $5 million in grants per project. Funding supports the development, production, and marketing of film or television content, digital or interactive content, and/or web series.
Interactive Digital Media Grant: Provides up to 35% of eligible labour costs to a maximum $200,000 in grants per project. Funding supports the creation and development of interactive digital media content and gaming merchandise.
Post-Production, Visual Effects and Digital Animation Grant: Provides up to 18% of eligible labour costs to a maximum $200,000 in grants per project. Funding supports editing video and audio, sound effects, closed-captioning, subtitling, and digital animation.
Project Script Development Grant: Provides up to 30-50% of eligible project costs to a maximum $55,000 in grants per project, including up to $15,000 for pre-development, up to $25,000 for first drafts, and up to $15,000 for final drafts. Funding allows writers, directors, and producers to help create high-quality, production-ready projects and/or scripts.

Eligibility Requirements for the Alberta Media Fund

To qualify for government grants through any of Alberta Media Fund’s program streams, applicants must ensure they meet the following requirements:

Alberta Production Grant

The Alberta Production Grant stream provides small business grants to offset any eligible media production expenses that incurred within the province.

Eligible applicants may receive up to 25-30% of production expenses to a maximum $5 million in Alberta government grants.

To access government funding through the Alberta Production stream, applicants must:

Be an incorporated Alberta-based business;
Be engaged primarily in the film, television, and/or digital media production industries;
Develop content that is available for public consumption;
Be in good standing with the Alberta Media Fund.

Interactive Digital Media Grant

The Interactive Digital Media Grant stream provides Alberta small business grants to help digital media developers recruit top talent and expand their workforce.

Eligible applicants may receive up to 35% of labour expenses to a maximum $200,000 in small business grants.

To access Alberta government grants through the Interactive Digital Media stream, applicants must:

Be an incorporated Alberta-based business;
Be in good standing in all respects with funding received from the Government of Alberta, including the AMF by having no outstanding or overdue reporting documents;
Demonstrate primary business is the creation, development, and delivery of digital media content and gaming products;
Offer significant employment opportunity for an IDM professional or graduate;
Be in good financial standing; and
Be able to provide evidence of industry standard insurance.

Post-Production, Visual Effects and Digital Animation Grant

The Post-Production, Visual Effects and Digital Animation Grant provides government funding to help post-production businesses access top talent while encouraging action in the post-production, visual effects and digital animation industries.

Eligible applicants may receive up to 18% of labour expenses to a maximum $200,000 in Alberta small business grants.

To access Alberta government funding through the Post-Production, Visual Effects and Digital Animation stream, applicants must:

Be an incorporated Alberta-based business;
Be in good standing in all respects with funding received from the Government of Alberta, including the AMF by having no outstanding or overdue reporting documents;
Demonstrate primary business is the development and delivery of post-production services within Alberta, including the development of visual effects and digital animation;
Demonstrate that the organization provides services for arm’s-length, third-party organizations;
Be in good financial standing; and
Provide evidence of industry standard insurance.

Project Script Development Grant

The Project Script Development Grant stream provides government funding to help supports Alberta-based writers, directors, and producers create high-quality, marketable and commercial production-ready projects and/or scripts.

Eligible applicants may receive up to 30-50% of project costs to a maximum $55,000 in Alberta government funding.

To access Alberta small business grants through the Project Script Development stream, applicants must:

Be an incorporated Alberta-based business;
Applications must involve participation of a writer and producer (producer must be a resident of Alberta); and
Propose a new production project that is at least 30 broadcast minutes in length.

Please Note: Startups may apply as long as they are incorporated (can be in operation for less than 1 year) and include a detailed business plan.

How to Apply to the Alberta Media Fund

To get started with any of the AMF funding streams, eligible applicants are required to create a business profile on the Alberta Media Fund’s online application portal. After registering, applicants will need to complete and submit an application form for the specific stream they are applying to. Candidates will also need to provide company financial statements and a detailed project description that includes schedules and budgets.

Contact Mentor Works to discuss your eligibility for AMF funding. Our team can also provide comprehensive support throughout your business’ application process.

Upcoming Application Deadlines

Production: Ongoing intake – applicants must apply before initiating the project’s principal photography phase;
Interactive Digital Media: Ongoing intake – businesses may apply at any time;
Post-Production, Visual Effects and Digital Animation: Ongoing intake – candidates must apply no later than six months after initiating the project’s principal photography phase; and
Project Script Development: Closed – application intake will likely re-open in January 2018 and submissions will be due by March 1, 2018.

Please Note: AMF funding can be ‘stacked’ with other government funding programs, such as the Canada Media Fund.

Learn More About the Alberta Media Fund Small Business Grants

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Tags: Alberta Media Fund (AMF), Alberta Provincial Funding, Digital Media, Funding for Media Projects, Government Grants