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Dear friends and colleagues,
Happy fall! It’s been a busy month, and TIFF was a huge part of that. Over the course of the Toronto International Film Festival, we hosted a presentation on Manitoba and a panel with local producers at TIFF: The Market, had many great meetings with national and internationals partners, funders and producers, and popped into Access Canada where CEO Lynne Skromeda spoke on a panel about Intra-Canadian co-production.
Lynne – along with Steven Foster and Brian Clasper – attended several networking events including the American Hostage launch party, and the Strong Son launch party. A huge congratulations to the team from American Hostage on the series' premiere, and to Manitoba's very own Ian Bawa, along with the whole Strong Son team on the film’s premiere and for all the positive reviews. Also, Winnipeger Matthew Rankin won the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award – a huge honour. Well done!
We also threw a party of our own: our legendary “Manitoba Party” at the ACE Hotel. We premiered our new Manitoba reel, and were thrilled with the attendance which included federal Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, Marc Miller, provincial ministers Adrien Sala and Jamie Moses, and Premier Wab Kinew! The party itself is not only a great celebration of Manitobans, it’s a great place to do business, as evidenced by many of our industry folks coming back with new connections and opportunities. Huge thanks to our party sponsors, without whom the party wouldn't have been possible: Farpoint Distribution, AVRO XR, Big Sky Studios, On Screen Manitoba, Frank Digital, Inferno Pictures, Directors Guild of Canada, ACTRA, Bonus Pictures, Eagle Vision, Buffalo Gal Pictures, Kistikan Pictures, Frantic Films, Original Pictures, ICG 669 and Flatland Production Services. Thank you to everyone who joined us! Be sure to check out our photo gallery.
In other news, we’re happy to share that MFM-alum, Iriny Shenoda has received one of just four CMPA Mentorship Program for Diverse Producers placements with Merit Motion Pictures! We are looking forward to seeing where this partnership leads.
Congratulations to Levers for being included on the DGC’s 2026 Discovery Award Long List, and Acting Good for their DGC nomination for Best Production Design.
If you’re looking for a great doc as the weather chills, check out the Manitoba Documentary Archive’s Schmockey Night, by director and producer Will Jones, and The Imperfectionist, written and directed by Jonathan Phu Son Lê.
Also in this month’s newsletter, we’re giving you a heads up on BreakOut West 2026, and breaking down our forthcoming film tax credit changes. Lots going on this fall for our industry!
~From the team at MFM
Spotlight on BreakOut West 2026
BreakOut West is a music festival, conference, awards show, and so much more. Giving Western Canadian artists the opportunity to showcase their music and network with colleagues and industry members, this year’s event is happening in Victoria, BC, September 30 to October 4.
Manitoba’s Neighbour Andy is one lucky band chosen to perform at the festival. When asked what they’re looking forward to at the festival, the group’s guitarist, Mark Davidson said, “BreakOut West is an exciting opportunity for us to play in front of industry professionals and showcase in a new market; it's also an opportunity for us to connect with artists from different parts of the country. We're looking forward to playing in front of some new faces and making new connections." MFM is proud to have recently funded Neighbour Andy through our Produce recording program. They will be playing October 2 and 3 during the festival.
The festival also features the Western Canada Music Awards, which will be handed out October 1. Several Manitobans were nominated, including Manitoba artist, Jana Jacobs. Jana told us, “Funding from MFM was instrumental (ha!) to recording and releasing songs I had been sitting on for five (5!) years… All of this led to a Western Canadian Music Award nomination for R&B Artist of the Year, and I couldn’t have done it without Manitoba Film& Music.” See the full list of WCMA nominees here.
MFM wishes everyone attending the best of luck at BreakOut West 2026!
More to explore:
Congratulations to The Watchmen for receiving the 2026 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize, a celebration of exceptional Canadian albums from the past – for their album McLaren Furnace Room. MFM is proud to have funded the album in 1991-92.
Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prizes - Deadline: Oct 7
Indigenous: IMPACT online information session - Oct. 8, 12 p.m. (with Manitoba Music)
Check out Neighbour Andy closer to home @ The Burton Cummings Theatre: Oct. 24
2027 JUNO Awards submissions now open: Deadline: Nov. 5
GEAR Up - Safer Studios session – Nov. 5, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Heads up! MFM’s film tax credit policy is changing in 2027 – here’s what you need to know
Changes are coming to the Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit for productions beginning principal photography or key animation on or after January 1, 2027.
These changes reflect amendments passed by the Manitoba government in The Income Tax Act (Manitoba) and are intended to modernize the program, improve tax credit forecasting, provide clarity on professional standards, allow for earlier access to tax credits for deemed labour on multi-year productions and strengthen the tax credit program integrity.
So, what’s changing? Here are the highlights:
- New Pre-Certification requirement: Productions intending to claim the tax credit must provide MFM with key financial estimates no later than 30 days after principal photography or key animation begins, unless they have already applied for a Registration Certificate by that time.
- New defined professional standards: Eligible productions will be required to meet industry recognized professional technical, artistic or creative standards. The legislation also clarifies certain excluded production types, including e-sports and music videos.
- Greater advances for productions using deemed labour: Multi-year productions will be able to include eligible non-resident (deemed) labour at the Advance Certificate stage, potentially providing producers with a larger tax credit advance and earlier access to tax credit value.
- Stronger program integrity: New provisions strengthen program integrity by allowing MFM the discretion to withhold certification in cases involving intentional omissions, misrepresentation or overdue payments.
More updates to come: Additional policy changes are currently in development and will be announced before the updated Cost-of-Salaries and Cost-of-Production Tax Credit Guidelines are published later this fall.
What isn’t changing?
The tax credit rates are not changing! Our competitive incentives of up to 65% on eligible Manitoba labour or up to 38% on eligible productions costs are staying the same. The new changes primarily affect eligibility, certification, reporting and administration of the program.
The new changes will apply to projects beginning principal photography or key animation on or after January 1, 2027. Productions beginning before that date will continue under the existing rules.
We know you’ll have questions as the changes come into effect, and MFM will work with industry to support a smooth transition.
Read the full list of FAQs for more information or contact MFM at taxcreditapplications@mbfilmmusic.ca to discuss how these changes might affect your production.
More to explore:
Manitoba-made Lucky Strikes now available on Apple TV, Prime Video and more.
Manitoba-shot Sundown screening at Beyond Fest.
Director Karen Lam talks about Armageddon Road with CBC.
Zoot Pictures’ documentary Angkor: Hidden Jungle Empire has been selected to compete in the 2026 Arkhaios Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Film Festival, Oct. 12-18.
Winnipeg-filmed and co-produced by Thin Stuff Productions, A. Rimbaud will screen at the Dave Barber Cinematheque, Oct. 23, 24 and 28. Oct 23 and 24 screenings will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Patrick Wang.
Winnipeg actor Justin Otto chosen for the Canadian Film Centre's CBC Actors Conservatory.
MFM Programs
Music – Indigenous: IMPACT: Deadline Nov. 12
Music – Promote Program: Open now
Music – Perform Program: Open now
Various Film & TV funding programs without deadlines: Open now (including Development Loans, Emerging Talent Grants, and Feature Film Marketing Funds)
Partner Opportunities
ACTRA Manitoba's AGM – Sep. 29
Volunteer with OurToba: Board Member and Media Team Member. Application deadline: Oct. 1.
One Stop Business Workshop, presented by CBC, CAVCO and CMPA (FREE) – Nov. 17 & 18
Spotlight
So very cool (and creepy): The new Carrie series, adapted from Stephen King’s 1974 novel, and starring Manitoban Summer H. Howell premieres on Prime, Oct. 7.
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