Department Of Commerce

The Montana Film Office was established in 1974 as a central information source for filmmakers and to provide services to the film industry and the citizens of Montana. Its primary role is to promote Montana as a media production location for film, television and print industries. Today, MFO operates within the Destination MT Division of the Montana Department of Commerce and is funded by an allocation of the Lodging Facility Use Tax – commonly known as the “bed tax.” In addition to the many benefits of filming in Montana, MFO offers a robust grant program to attract, grow and sustain the industry.

The Big Sky Film Grant program builds and supports partnerships with filmmakers and production companies to create Montana film industry jobs. In addition to providing grant funding, the program elevates and supports Montana filmmakers, crew and businesses and individuals providing products, services and locations to the film industry. To qualify, a production must film 50% or more of the principal photography days in Montana.

In 2023, Senate Bill 540 of the 68th Montana Legislature revised laws related to state-funded tourism promotion to require a specific allocation of bed tax for “Montana-based film grants.” The Big Sky Film Grant program was reformed and expanded to include a focus on rural Montana going forward.

Depending upon the category, eligible productions include feature films, short films, documentaries, television series, limited series, music videos and others. Certain categories of productions are excluded from the program, including, but not limited to, broadcast news or current affairs programs, interview or talk shows, instructional videos, sport shows or events, religious or political campaigns, adult content and daytime soap operas.

For complete eligibility and application requirements, refer to the BSFG Application Guidelines and BSFG Administration Manual.

Grant Categories

 

Feature Film and TV

Awards in this category are made to a Montana-based production of a feature length film, television series, or limited series, with a minimum Montana spend of $350,000. Award amounts are not limited in this category, but are subject to annual program funding limitations.

Resident Filmmaker – Feature Film and TV

Awards in this category are made to a Montana-based production of a feature length project that is produced by a Montana resident filmmaker who has a validated credit as a producer, director, or primary director of photography. Award amounts are a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $100,000 per project. Proof of Montana residency must be submitted with an application to be eligible.

Short-Form Content

Awards in this category are to a Montana-based production of a short-form content film project. Examples include a short narrative, pilot episode, documentary, animation, webisode, Montana-centric story, or a film series of episodes each 60 minutes or less in length and a budget of less than $350,000 per episode. Award amounts are a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $50,000 per project.

Resident Filmmaker – Short-Form Content

Awards in this category are made to a Montana-based production of a short-form content project that is produced by a Montana resident filmmaker who has a validated credit as a producer, director, or primary director of photography. Examples include a short narrative, pilot episode, documentary, animation, webisode, Montana-centric story, or a film series of episodes each 60 minutes or less in length and a budget of less than $350,000 per episode. Award amounts are a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $50,000 per project. Proof of Montana residency must be submitted with an application to be eligible.

Big Sky Film Grant

 HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 29 film creations will share more than $1.5 million in grant funding to film on-location productions across the state. The grant funding is awarded through Commerce’s Big Sky Film Grant Program.

“These 29 film projects are expected to spend an estimated $11.3 million in Montana and will bring in productions that will help boost the economies of many rural Montana communities including Alberton, Cooke City, Eureka, Ovando, Rocky Boy, Sula and Twin Bridges,” said Montana Department of Commerce Acting Director Mandy Rambo.

A total of 101 applicants requested more than $16 million in grant dollars this year, with $1.5 million available through the competitive BSFG for fiscal year 2024. The grants are awarded to eligible production projects in three different categories: Feature Film and TV, Feature Film and TV Resident Only, Short-Form Content and Short-Form Content Resident Only.

The following projects have been approved to receive BSFG funding:

Feature Film and Television Grants

  • El Jinete Films, LLC will receive $100,000 for the production of “New Dawn Rising.”
  • Inside Voices, LLC will receive $100,000 for the production of “Gone by Morning.”
  • It’s Happening Now, LLC will receive $100,000 for the production of “Floating.”
  • Level 1 Productions, Inc. will receive $75,000 for the production of “Dead Air.”
  • Story House Montana, LLC will receive $100,000 for the production of “St. George.”
  • The Reformer, LLC will receive $150,000 for the production of “Voice Out.”

Feature Film and Television Resident Only Grants

  • 99 Productions, LLC will receive $100,000 for the production of “Counting to a Thousand.”
  • Rob G. Green Photography, LLC will receive $100,000 for the production of “Traverse.”
  • Saltland Productions, LLC will receive $100,000 for the production of “Warrior Cowboys.”

Short-Form Content Grants

  • Montana SOL, LLC will receive $15,000 for the production of “The Age of Wellness.”
  • Play Practice Productions, LLC will receive $25,000 for the production of “Dr. Randall & Sons' Traveling Medicine Show.”
  • Rare Antiquities will receive $35,000 for the production of “The Blistering, Blundering West.”
  • Velocity Films, LLC will receive $40,000 for the production of “Last Stand at Butte City.”
  • Venture Digital Media, LLC will receive $50,000 for the production of “Mobtana.”

Short-Form Content Resident Only Grants

  • 4:08 Productions, LLC will receive $25,000 for the production of “The Montana Sessions.”
  • Another Pictures, LLC will receive $25,000 for the production of “Winkup.”
  • Audrey Hall Photography, LLC will receive $25,000 for the production of “Dear Western Sky.”
  • Fault Line Inc. will receive $25,000 for the production of “The Heist.”
  • Friendly Fishes Films, LLC will receive $25,000 for the production of “The Merlin.”
  • Hollow Duck Productions, LLC will receive $10,000 for the production of “Tarkio.”
  • JMac Productions, LLC will receive $40,000 for the production of “Montana’s Best.”
  • KR Creative Strategies will receive $25,000 for the production of “The Story of Us, the Women Who Shaped Montana.”
  • Leap of Faith Enterprise, LLC will receive $40,000 for the production of “Sharktana.”
  • Mathew Halvorson will receive $20,000 for the production of “The Babcock.”
  • Paige Williams Co., LLC will receive $25,000 for the production of “Real Women of White Sulphur Springs.”
  • Panel and Script, LLC will receive $15,000 for the production of “The Last Judgement.”
  • Rise Up Montana will receive $40,000 for the production of “Journey to the Sun.”
  • Same Land Film, LLC will receive $40,000 for the production of “Maltá u Lusí.”
  • Sojourn Productions, LLC will receive $30,000 for the production of “Montana Carol.”

In 2023, Polar Productions received $40,00 of BSFG funding for the production of “Wild Foods: Montana.” Kevin Chap, show host, writer and producer said, “Our experience creating ‘Wild Foods: Montana’ has been nothing short of transformative. As I crossed the Continental Divide into the Centennial Valley, surrounded by golden aspens and the sunlit peaks of Mount Nemesis, I felt a deep sense of connection, like returning home. This sentiment echoed throughout our production. We look forward to building an ongoing partnership with the Montana Department of Commerce to create additional episodes that explore Montana’s untold stories. We aim to bring lasting benefits to the state and foster meaningful engagement for years to come.”

Since the BSFG program started in 2013, nearly 380 film projects have received over $13 million of grant funding to assist with those productions.

In 2023, Senate Bill 540 of the 68th Montana Legislature revised the laws related to state-funded tourism promotion to require a specific allocation of lodging facility use tax for Montana-based film grants. The Montana Department of Commerce Film Office is funded by an allocation of the Lodging Facility Use Tax, commonly known as the “Bed Tax.”

For more information about the Big Sky Film Grant, visit commerce.mt.gov.

RESOURCES FOR APPLICANTS:

To Apply

For those with an OKTA account, log in to the Montana Department of Commerce Grants and Loans portal at https://montana.servicenowservices.com/mtgl and search for the Big Sky Film Grant application category of interest (there are four different applications, one for each category).

For those who have not yet registered for an OKTA account, select User Registration and follow the State of Montana’s instructions. Be sure to use a business email and create an specific OKTA login for the business. Using a personal, citizen account for the Big Sky Film Grant application is not advised. For assistance creating an account, call the State’s IT Service Desk at 406-444-2000 or visit okta.mt.gov.

Program information, application best practices, optional templates and required forms are available within the application portal.

Do not wait until the last minute to apply, technology glitches may happen. Film Office staff are available to assist applicants Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Call 406-841-2881, or send an email to montanafilm@mt.gov.

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