Deadline: 17-Sep-2025
The Montreal Arts Council is accepting applications for the Montreal Film Residency Grant. This program is a collaboration between the Conseil des arts de Montréal, SODEC, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), Les Films de l’Autre, and the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM). It aims to support a culturally diverse emerging professional artist in film and video to create a short documentary that offers a unique perspective on Montréal.
The residency is designed to help the artist integrate into Quebec’s media arts scene and develop professional skills. It also contributes to enriching Montréal’s filmography with fresh and timely portrayals of the city. Les Films de l’Autre will guide the filmmaker through their role as a producer. The selected artist will also receive a spot at Doc Lab Montréal, RIDM’s project incubator, and may have the opportunity to screen their film at the festival.
The grant totals $75,000, provided through financial support and services. The Conseil des arts de Montréal contributes $15,000 for project development and scriptwriting. The NFB offers $10,000 in production support and in-house post-production services valued at $35,000. SODEC provides an additional $15,000 for production. The filmmaker must include all partner contributions in their budget and cover any extra costs. This is a one-time, non-renewable grant.
Eligible costs include research, script writing, pre-production, shooting in Montréal, editing, sound design, and final film delivery. The project must result in a documentary no longer than 15 minutes, with an original take on Montréal. The film can be shot in any language, but French must be used for subtitles, voiceovers, or credits.
Ineligible projects include completed films, projects made for educational programs, promotional content, PSAs, instructional videos, series, and co-productions. Projects completed before a decision is made are also ineligible. Applicants must be individual artists who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and have lived on the Island of Montréal for at least one year.
Eligible applicants must be recognized as professional artists, have released at least one audiovisual work professionally, be culturally diverse, and be first-generation immigrants or visible minorities. They must be emerging artists aged 18 or older. Employees of any of the partner organizations cannot apply.
Artist collectives, non-profits, and cooperatives are not eligible. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Applications will be evaluated based on originality, feasibility, relevance to the theme, clarity of cinematic vision, strength of characters, creative treatment, uniqueness, budget practicality, and ability to meet the October 31, 2026, deadline.
For more information, visit Montreal Arts Council.