Ethics Commission investigates film grants complaint

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – A group of North Dakota filmmakers are still awaiting answers on the motion picture recruitment grants administered through the Department of Commerce and how one private business was able to receive all of the grant funding given out over two legislative sessions.

North Dakota filmmaker Matt Fern said he submitted an ethics complaint in February after complaining and then not hearing from Governor Burgum and Attorney General Wrigley. He said the ethics complaint he submitted is against the owner of Canticle Productions, Daniel Bielinski. Fern said he asked the commission to investigate the possibility that Bielinksi acted as an unregistered lobbyist and also had attempted to influence the legislative assembly.

“Since submitting the ethics complaint earlier this month in August, I received an update from the Ethics Commission that the complaint had moved into the investigation stage,” said Fern.

Fern said the North Dakota Auditor released a report on the Department of Commerce identifying concerns with inconsistent timelines for the 2023 grant application process. He said he and his group are now waiting to receive a report from the Ethics Commission on its findings.

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