ACCESS is On Screen Manitoba’s new industry development program.
The Manitoba film & television production community is facing a fast-paced and unrelenting wave of industry change. In addition to a global economic downturn and the fluctuating dollar, Manitoba’s production industry was hit in 2009 by a precipitous drop in Canadian broadcaster orders that reduced our indigenous production. The appearance of lucrative incentives in states from Louisiana to Michigan has lured off-shore production away. Ontario, Quebec and Alberta followed suit, increasing their incentives to regain their competitive positions.
In 2007/08 production volumes in Manitoba were $133 million. In 2008/09 production volumes fell to $62 million. Drama production dropped from $113 million to $45.9 million. Feature film production declined from $86.4 million to $11.5 million in 2008/09. This downward trend continues into 2009 and threatens to irreparably erode our infrastructure and crew base.
ACCESS is a key building block of the industry’s three-year plan to regain our competitive advantage and build sustainability. These initiatives are On Screen Manitoba’s response to the need to support our industry through a technological evolution that is rapidly drawing together tradition and digital media and changing our existing business models. It commits resources to helping traditional media producers make the leap into convergent media and expand their relationships in the international markets where increasingly they must find their financing. It also addresses the opportunity to leverage the strengths of our key niche markets – the aboriginal and francophone production communities. ACCESS initiatives will also help meet our industry’s workforce challenges through a comprehensive study and strategy. Finally, it includes economic research that will give us the data to measure our impact and the success of our strategies.
We are adding two new components to take advantage of Manitoba’s unique niche markets: Francophone and Aboriginal. We will be hiring two new coordinators who will be responsible for these two communities in the aim to grow the industry even more.
You can download the applications, guidelines and reporting forms here, on our Guidelines page!
Please read this if you have any outstanding Programs Reports before applying again...
ON SCREEN MANITOBA ACCESS PROGRAMS DEFAULT POLICY, PDF
If you have any questions regarding the eligibility of the event or opportunity you would like to apply for,
please contact Angela Kuehl at 204-927-5891 or angela@onscreenmanitoba.com.