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, the film office 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 2025, the passage of Senate Bill 409 revised laws related to Commerce and the bed tax. The bill updated SB 540, which passed in 2023, restructuring the allocation of bed tax revenue by specifying how Commerce can use these funds for purposes like tourism promotion and grants.

The purpose of the Big Sky Film Grant is to build and support partnerships with filmmakers and productions companies to create film industry jobs throughout the state. In addition to providing grant funding, the Program elevates and supports Montana filmmakers, crew and businesses that provide products, services and locations to the film industry. To qualify, a production must film 50% or more of the principal photography days in Montana.

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, sports shows or events, religious or political campaigns, some adult content and daytime soap operas.

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

The Big Sky Film Grant program application cycle is open Dec. 1, 2025, until 11:59 p.m. MST on Feb. 15, 2026.

Grant Categories

Filming 50% or more of the principal photography in Montana is a requirement for all categories. To be eligible for the Montana resident-only categories, the production company must be located in Montana, or the individual filmmaker must be a Montana resident with a validated credit as a producer, director or primary director of photography. Proof of Montana residency must be submitted with an application.

Feature Film and TV

Open to non-residents for productions 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

Open exclusively to Montana residents for productions of a feature-length film, television series or limited series. Award amounts are a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $100,000 per project.

Short-Form Content

Open to non-residents for production of a short-form content film project. Examples include a short narrative, pilot episode, documentary, animation, webisode, Montana-centric story or 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

Open exclusively to Montana residents for production of a short-form content 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.

 RESOURCES FOR APPLICANTS:

To Apply

Access the Montana Grants and Loans Portal at: montana.servicenowservices.com/mtgl. An OKTA account is required. For those who have not yet registered for an OKTA account, select User Registration and follow the instructions. Once confirmed, login to the Citizen portal, not the State portal. For assistance with OKTA, 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.

Explore the application early. Do not wait until the last minute to apply, as technology glitches may happen. Montana Film Office staff is available to assist applicants Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more updates from the Montana Department of Commerce Film Office, subscribe to receive email updates here.

Questions?

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