FilmNorth’s mission is to empower artists to tell their stories, launch and sustain successful careers, and advance The North as a leader in the national network of independent filmmakers. We achieve our mission by nurturing a vibrant, diverse community of film and media artists; providing education and resources at every stage of their careers; and celebrating their achievements.
Filmnorth’s grantmaking is defined less by one-off awards than by a fiscal-sponsorship model that supports film and media projects as they are being built. The largest recent grant in the file, $171,000 to Techknow Productions LLC in New York, shows the scale at which it can back a project through its administrative role. In Minnesota, where Filmnorth gives most often, it also supported Storyforge LLC with $85,494 and Andy Frye Productions LLC with $26,933, indicating repeated use of sponsored-project funding for independent production. Beyond project support, Filmnorth’s work centers on media artists and the infrastructure around them: fellowships for Minnesota artists, scholarships for courses and workshops, and venue access for screenings and community events. Its public description emphasizes helping artists tell their stories, build careers, and develop as part of a diverse film and media community. The recent grants list also shows support for music and film projects, including Walker West Music Academy, Ocho Bajos Music LLC, and Sound Unseen, all funded through Filmnorth’s project-based structure. Across the file, the foundation appears as an intermediary for creative work rather than a traditional direct-program grantmaker.
Filmnorth’s clearest emphasis is fiscal sponsorship for independent film and media projects. Recent examples include $26,125 to Tonka Amusements LLC in 2023, $20,055 to People and Wolves in 2024, and $14,577 to Rebel Girl Film LLC in 2024, all listed as fiscal sponsorship awards. That pattern suggests a steady role as a fiscal agent for project teams rather than a funder limited to institutions. The foundation also supports artist development through fellowships and training. Carelton College received $24,000 in 2024 for fellowship support, while the course-and-workshop program provides scholarships and low-income tuition options for media-making education. Venue-based support is another strand: Filmnorth waives cinema rental fees for screenings and community media events, which extends its support beyond production into exhibition and public presentation. Its grants touch film, media arts, screenwriting-adjacent work, and community-facing media activity.
Typical grants are modest in size, with a p25 of $8,006, a median of $10,729, and a p75 of $20,296. The file also includes much larger project-support awards, reflecting a wide spread between routine fiscal sponsorship grants and larger project commitments. Filmnorth operates as a fiscal sponsor and intermediary rather than a grantmaker with program-related investments, and it does not fund individuals. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Sound Unseen, People and Wolves, Mecklenberg County Film LLC, Ocho Bajos Music LLC, Walker West Music Academy, Nautilus Film Project LLC, and Andy Frye Productions LLC. Several listed programs accept unsolicited requests, including fiscal sponsorship, cinema access, festival travel grants, and course scholarships.
$951K
$6.1M
$2M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $8K and $20K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$20K
SAM BURNHAM
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Filmnorth gives most often in Minnesota: 79% of its grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The strongest out-of-state concentration is New York, which is the top state by grant count, with Techknow Productions LLC and Rebel Girl Film LLC both located there. In the recent-grants file, Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Vadnais Heights, Spring Park, Excelsior, Northfield, and Deephaven all appear as recipient locations. Outside Minnesota and New York, the list also includes Wisconsin through People and Wolves in Menomonie and Colorado through Elk Mountain Productions LLC in Aspen.
Filmnorth supports film and media arts, with a strong emphasis on fiscal sponsorship for independent projects. The data also shows fellowships, screenwriting- and media-making education, festival travel support, and waived cinema rental fees for screenings and community media events.
No. The foundation is marked as not funding individuals, and its recent grants are routed to project LLCs, nonprofit organizations, and other fiscal-sponsorship recipients rather than to people as direct grantees.
The grant-size distribution centers around relatively small awards: p25 is $8,006, median grant size is $10,729, and p75 is $20,296. The file also includes larger project-support awards, such as a $171,000 grant to Techknow Productions LLC.
Minnesota is the main giving state, with 79% of grants going to recipients there. New York is the top state by grant count overall, showing that Filmnorth also supports projects outside its headquarters state.
Recent fiscal-sponsorship recipients include Storyforge LLC in Saint Paul, Andy Frye Productions LLC in Minneapolis, and People and Wolves in Menomonie. The list also includes Sound Unseen, Rebel Girl Film LLC, and Walker West Music Academy.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Filmnorth that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Not explicitly listed on scraped project pages. Implicitly: film and media projects seeking tax-deductible donations or fiscal sponsorship; projects willing to host donations through FilmNorth and follow FilmNorth's fiscal sponsorship / donation requirements.
Who can apply: Applicants must be 18 or older; may be individuals, collectives, or organizations; projects must be film/media/screen-based events in FilmNorth’s cinema; project must be created by a Midwest resident; applicants must be able to coordinate the event.
Deadline: Spring/Summer cycle closes April 27, 2026; Fall/Winter cycle closes October 26, 2026.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TECHKNOW PRODUCTIONS LLC | NEW YORK, NY | $405,220 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| BRINKEMA BROTHERS LLC | KENNEBUNK, ME | $285,563 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| STORYFORGE LLC | SAINT PAUL, MN | $32,638 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| NAUTILUS FILM PROJECT LLC | SPRING PARK, MN | $30,750 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| TONKA AMUSEMENTS LLC | EXCELSIOR, MN | $28,200 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| ANGRY DEAF PEOPLE PRODUCTIONS LLC | SAINT PAUL, MN | $23,527 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| INSIDE SENIOR LIVING LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $22,761 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| COME TALK TO ME LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $19,283 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| MECKLENBERG COUNTY FILM LLC | DEEPHAVEN, MN | $17,621 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| DEAD MEDIA MOVIE LLC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $16,791 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| OCEANS OF LIGHT PRODUCTIONS INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $15,977 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| SCORE LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $13,892 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| PICKETT PICTURES LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $9,400 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| SOUND UNSEEN | VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MN | $9,024 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| PEOPLE AND WOLVES | MENOMONIE, WI | $7,876 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| ANDY FRYE PRODUCTIONS LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $6,722 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| ALEC FISHER - THE FAIR DOCUMENTARY LLC | EDINA, MN | $6,201 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| TECHKNOW PRODUCTIONS LLC | NEW YORK, NY | $171,000 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| STORYFORGE LLC | SAINT PAUL, MN | $85,494 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| ANDY FRYE PRODUCTIONS LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $26,933 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| CARELTON COLLEGE | NORTHFIELD, MN | $24,000 | 2024 | FELLOWSHIP |
| SOUND UNSEEN | VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MN | $21,020 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| PEOPLE AND WOLVES | MENOMONIE, WI | $20,055 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| REBEL GIRL FILM LLC | NEW YORK, NY | $14,577 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| MECKLENBERG COUNTY FILM LLC | DEEPHAVEN, MN | $9,362 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| OCHO BAJOS MUSIC LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $7,600 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| MACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $7,500 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| WALKER WEST MUSIC ACADEMY | ST PAUL, MN | $7,500 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| NAUTILUS FILM PROJECT LLC | SPRING PARK, MN | $7,355 | 2024 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| TONKA AMUSEMENTS LLC | EXCELSIOR, MN | $26,125 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| SOUND UNSEEN | VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MN | $15,630 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| ESTRA HOUSE PRODUCTIONS LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $13,354 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| NAUTILUS FILM PROJECT LLC | SPRING PARK, MN | $11,599 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| THE NEARNESS OF YOU LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $11,458 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| WALKER WEST MUSIC ACADEMY | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| MECKLENBERG COUNTY FILM LLC | DEEPHAVEN, MN | $9,546 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| OCHO BAJOS MUSIC LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $9,500 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| PEOPLE AND WOLVES | MENOMONIE, WI | $9,073 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| WHAT AMERICA NEEDS FILMS LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $8,141 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| ANDY FRYE PRODUCTIONS LLC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $6,570 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
| ELK MOUNTAIN PRODUCTIONS LLC | ASPEN, CO | $6,165 | 2023 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP |
TECHKNOW PRODUCTIONS LLC
$405,220FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
BRINKEMA BROTHERS LLC
$285,563FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
STORYFORGE LLC
$32,638FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
NAUTILUS FILM PROJECT LLC
$30,750FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
TONKA AMUSEMENTS LLC
$28,200FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
ANGRY DEAF PEOPLE PRODUCTIONS LLC
$23,527FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
INSIDE SENIOR LIVING LLC
$22,761FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
COME TALK TO ME LLC
$19,283FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
MECKLENBERG COUNTY FILM LLC
$17,621FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
DEAD MEDIA MOVIE LLC
$16,791FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
OCEANS OF LIGHT PRODUCTIONS INC
$15,977FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
SCORE LLC
$13,892FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
PICKETT PICTURES LLC
$9,400FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
SOUND UNSEEN
$9,024FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
PEOPLE AND WOLVES
$7,876FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
ANDY FRYE PRODUCTIONS LLC
$6,722FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
ALEC FISHER - THE FAIR DOCUMENTARY LLC
$6,201FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
TECHKNOW PRODUCTIONS LLC
$171,000FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
STORYFORGE LLC
$85,494FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
ANDY FRYE PRODUCTIONS LLC
$26,933FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
SOUND UNSEEN
$21,020FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
PEOPLE AND WOLVES
$20,055FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
REBEL GIRL FILM LLC
$14,577FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
MECKLENBERG COUNTY FILM LLC
$9,362FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
OCHO BAJOS MUSIC LLC
$7,600FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
NAUTILUS FILM PROJECT LLC
$7,355FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
TONKA AMUSEMENTS LLC
$26,125FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
SOUND UNSEEN
$15,630FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
ESTRA HOUSE PRODUCTIONS LLC
$13,354FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
NAUTILUS FILM PROJECT LLC
$11,599FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
THE NEARNESS OF YOU LLC
$11,458FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
MECKLENBERG COUNTY FILM LLC
$9,546FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
OCHO BAJOS MUSIC LLC
$9,500FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
PEOPLE AND WOLVES
$9,073FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
WHAT AMERICA NEEDS FILMS LLC
$8,141FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
ANDY FRYE PRODUCTIONS LLC
$6,570FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
ELK MOUNTAIN PRODUCTIONS LLC
$6,165FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
