BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO/PRAIRIE PUBLIC) – It appears the North Dakota Legislature twice allocated funding – calling it a Motion Picture Production and Recruitment grant – to be given to a specific Bismarck production company, and a number of other North Dakota filmmakers have asked the Governor, Attorney General and state Procurement Officer to look into the situation.
In the 2021 Legislative session, a conference committee working on the budget for the state Commerce Department took $100,000 out of a tourism and marketing grant and created the film grant. A statement of purpose for the amendment said the one-time funding was to go directly to Canticle Productions, which made the film “End of the Rope,” and was founded by the chair of the University of Mary’s drama department.
During the 2023 session, the legislature increased the grant amount to $600,000 at the request of Representative Bob Martinson. A footnote in the conference committee report on the Commerce budget said, “adds funding for a motion picture production and recruitment grant to be provided directly to Canticle Productions.”
Other North Dakota filmmakers say they could not apply for the 2021 grant, and the window created for the 2023 competitive grant was only six days. They said they have no problem with Canticle but they have questions about the process and have asked state agencies to investigate.
