Call for Applications: SaskTel Max Equity Fund (Canada)

Creative Saskatchewan may invest in eligible projects that demonstrate significant economic, cultural, and employment benefit to the Saskatchewan industry, and a high potential of recoupment and profit in the application.

Funding Information

• The Fund is a competitive fund that may provide equity investment in support of eligible productions to a maximum of 20% of the approved cash budget.

Eligible Projects

• Applicants must demonstrate at the time of application that a minimum of 50% of all third-party production financing is contracted, and all necessary insurance and performance bonds are in place;
• The project must be made available in a meaningful way to target Canadian audiences within 2 years of completion on any platform including a Canadian broadcaster or subscription video on demand (as demonstrated by a written commitment to air the completed project);
• Productions receiving funding must achieve six points out of ten (6/10) for Canadian content certification;
• A treaty co-production certified by the CRTC;
• Be closed captioned and have descriptive video;
• Applications may be submitted at any stage of the production or post production, but must be submitted prior to the completion of the project;
• Fund contributions can be used for the following project categories:
  • Long-form documentary
  • Informal education/recreation and leisure
  • Drama and comedy
  • Music and dance
  • Music video programs
  • General entertainment and human interest
• Fund contributions will not be used to fund projects in the news, reporting and actualities, and sports categories;
• New Media Content, such as video games, apps, customized web content etc., must be related to supporting an audiovisual production.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must have experience as producers of film, video, or digital delivery productions, co-own the project, receive producer credits, and be incorporated or registered pursuant to an Act to conduct business in Saskatchewan.
• Applicants must demonstrate at the time of application that a minimum of 50% of all third-party production financing is contracted, and all necessary insurance and performance bonds are in place.
• The project must be made available in a meaningful way to target Canadian audiences within two years of completion on any platform including a Canadian broadcaster or subscription video on demand.

Assessment Criteria

• The amount of Creative Saskatchewan investment, if any, within allowable caps will be determined during the competitive process by the strength of the application against the following criteria:
  • Demonstrated probability of recoupment and profit potential.
  • Economic benefit to the province of Saskatchewan.
  • Cultural benefit to the province of Saskatchewan.
  • Job creation potential within Saskatchewan, including training and career laddering opportunities for the freelance/self-employed community.
  • Feasibility of the production budget.
  • Production financing including support from the marketplace and leveraging of funds from the private sector and from outside Saskatchewan.
  • Experience of the producer, director and key creative team.
  • The quality and originality of the creative.

For more information, visit Creative Saskatchewan.