SAW Video offers a variety of grants to video artists in all stages of their careers. Each grant provides a combination of equipment access, material costs, membership fees and workshop subsidies.
Note: SAW Video has recently changed its grant application process. Please read all grant information thoroughly.
Up to six grants awarded per year
Deadline: May 1*
Up to three grants awarded per year
Deadline: May 1*
One grant awarded per year
Deadline: January 9, 2012*
Up to three grants awarded per year
Extended Deadline: November 1*
Aboriginal Voices Production Fund
Up to three grants awarded per year
Extended Deadline: November 1*

*if the date falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the grant deadline moves to the next business day.
Applicable to all SAW Video Grants
SAW Video grants have varying deadlines but are each awarded once a year. Proposals are assessed by independent juries and successful applicants/grant recipients have 12 months to complete their projects. Applicants should not submit material that cannot be replaced.
Artists retain copyright of their productions but must provide a copy of their final production for the SAW Video archives.
As the majority of project support is provided in the form of equipment and facilities access, SAW Video grants are intended for residents of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Applicants do not have to be Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or have an application pending for permanent resident status.
Artists crossing over from other disciplines are welcome (i.e. music, theatre, performance, writing, visual arts and dance).
Applicants need not be members of SAW Video.
SAW Video supports independent artistic work initiated by the artist and behind which the artist is the driving force. Eligible projects are those which the artist maintains creative and editorial control over.
SAW Video grants do not support the production of feature-length projects. All projects funded by SAW Video must be under 60 minutes.
All genres are accepted (i.e. experimental, drama, documentary, animation, video installation, new media, etc.).
All grants are for video projects but may also include projects transferred to video from film.
SAW Video grants are intended to assist artists in the production and post-production of their projects and are not to be used exclusively for scriptwriting, research and development, or other pre-production purposes.
Access to SAW Video equipment is in the form of waivers that may be used solely for the awarded projects.
For more detailed information about eligibility criteria, the grant assessment process, formatting concerns, and what to submit with an application, please see the SAW Video Grant Guidelines and Application Form.
Questions may be directed to SAW Video's administrative coordinator at sawvideo@sawvideo.com or 613-238-7648.
SAW Video Media Art Centre 67 Nicholas Street Ottawa, ON K1N 7B9 t 613-238-7648
f 613-238-4617
e sawvideo@sawvideo.com
Up to six grants awarded per year
Deadline: May 1*
Established in the 1980s, JumpstART is SAW Video's longest-standing production incentive program, providing artists new to video an opportunity to explore the medium. In 2009, SAW Video launched a new incarnation of the production fund designed to provide even greater support for artists making their first videos. In addition to monetary and equipment support, the new JumpstART program offers a mentorship component aimed at supporting emerging artists throughout the production cycle.
Projects must be in the pre-production phase, and all post-production and editing must be done at SAW Video. (JumpstART budgets must take these costs into consideration.)
Participants are assigned a mentor whose role is to advise them throughout the process. Completed projects are screened a year after the start of the program.
Successful applicants receive:
Applicants must be available to complete the JumpstART program during the 12 months following receipt of the grant. During that time, they must attend three pre-set group meetings, four consultations with their mentors, and complete two mandatory workshops (one production, one post-production).
Questions? See the General Criteria section, the SAW Video Grant Guidelines and Application Form, or contact the administrative coordinator at 613-238-7648 or sawvideo@sawvideo.com.
Up to three grants awarded per year
Deadline: May 1*
The SAW Video Production Fund assists mid-career and established artists with independent video, new media, or multi-media projects either in production or post-production.
Each successful applicant receives:
Questions? See the General Criteria section, the SAW Video Grant Guidelines and Application Form, or contact the administrative coordinator at 613-238-7648 or sawvideo@sawvideo.com.
One grant awarded per year
Deadline: Jan. 9*
The Video Virgin Fund is a production support program that provides opportunities for LGBT artists in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. The program is aimed at gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgendered and two-spirited artists who wish to express themselves creatively through the medium of video. Applicants must be new to filmmaking or have less than three videos to their credit.
The successful applicant receives:
Questions? See the General Criteria section, the SAW Video Grant Guidelines and Application Form, or contact the administrative coordinator at 613-238-7648 or sawvideo@sawvideo.com.
Up to two grants awarded per year
Extended Deadline: November 1*
The Cultural Equity fund is a production support program that provides opportunities for visible minority artists to express themselves creatively through the medium of video. Applicants may be at any stage of their careers: emerging, mid-career or established.
Each successful applicant receives:
Questions? See the General Criteria section, the SAW Video Grant Guidelines and Application Form, or contact the administrative coordinator at 613-238-7648 or sawvideo@sawvideo.com.
Up to three grants awarded per year
Extended Deadline: November 1*
The Aboriginal Voices fund is a production support program for First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists who wish to express themselves creatively through the medium of video. Applicants may be at any stage of their careers: emerging, mid-career or established.
Each successful applicant receives:
Questions? See the General Criteria section, the SAW Video Grant Guidelines and Application Form, or contact the administrative coordinator at 613-238-7648 or sawvideo@sawvideo.com.