CMF Indigenous Development and Predevelopment funding

Interpretation, Application, Disclaimer, and other Important Information

These Guidelines are for the information and convenience of Applicants (as defined in section 3.1) to this Program. They provide an overview of the objectives of the CMF and Indigenous Screen Office (“ISO”). Compliance with these Guidelines is a prerequisite to eligibility for funding.

The CMF and ISO have full discretion in the administration of this Program and in the application of these Guidelines to ensure funding is provided to those Projects that contribute to the fulfillment of their respective mandates. In all questions of interpretation of these Guidelines, Agreements and whether Applicants and/or Projects meet the spirit and intent of any CMF policy, the CMF and ISO’s interpretation shall prevail.

All Applicants, Canadian Broadcasters and Eligible Canadian Distributors (where relevant) must also abide by the ISO’s General Funding Guidelines, the Accounting and Reporting Requirements (ARR) of the CMF and follow applicable business policies as created and amended from time to time. CMF Business Policies, including the ARR, may be found in Appendix B of these Guidelines and are also available from the CMF website at www.cmf-fmc.ca. Information included in Appendices A and B is an integral part of these Guidelines.

Projects that receive CMF funding in a given year are subject to the Guidelines and CMF policies in effect for that fiscal year. To be clear, changes to the CMF Guidelines and/or policies made in a subsequent fiscal year will not apply retroactively, unless specifically stated. The CMF fiscal year is April 1 to March 31.

Please note: These Guidelines may be changed or modified as required, without notice. Please consult the CMF website at www.cmf- fmc.ca and ISO website at iso-bea.ca/general-funding-guidelines for the latest Guideline news and documentation.

Provision of Documentation

It is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure the ISO (on behalf of the CMF) receives all relevant documentation and to update such documentation and information after a material change. The ISO may request other documentation and information to conduct an assessment and evaluation of the Project and, once assessed, to complete file reviews. For the purposes of Project assessment and evaluation, the CMF/ ISO reserve the right to rely solely on the written and audiovisual materials initially submitted by the Applicant.

Failure to Comply

If an Applicant fails to comply with these Guidelines, as determined by the CMF and ISO, then the CMF and ISO may refuse the application, revoke the eligibility status of the Applicant’s Project and may demand repayment of any sums paid to the Applicant.

Misrepresentation

If at any time, an Applicant as required by the Guidelines or as requested by the CMF or ISO, provides false information or omits material information in connection with an Application, the Applicant may suffer serious consequences. These may include, among other outcomes:

• Loss of eligibility for funding of the current Project;
• Loss of eligibility for funding of future Projects;
• Repayment of any funds already advanced, with interest; and/or
• Criminal prosecution, in the case of fraud.

These measures may be imposed not only on the Applicant but also on related, associated and affiliated companies and individuals (as determined by the CMF and ISO at their sole discretion). Any Applicant receiving approval for funding will be required to sign a legally enforceable agreement, which includes further provisions concerning misrepresentations, defaults, and related matters.

2.1 INTRODUCTION

In addition to the requirements set out in these Guidelines, Applicants must comply with (i) the rules and requirements of the applicable CMF policies and definitions in Appendix A and Appendix B.

Starting in 2025-2026, the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) will be responsible for the administration of all CMF Indigenous Programs. Applications should be directly and solely submitted to the ISO who will process and evaluate the applications, and contract Applicants of the selected projects. Documentation required at application is described on the ISO’s website found HERE.

The CMF and ISO support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, self-determination and the ability of sovereign nations to determine their own citizenship. Both organizations respect the histories, traditions, languages, and contemporary practices of these cultural groups and acknowledge the cultural sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples in Canada by respecting their artistic expression, cultural protocols, rights, and cultural self-determination. The CMF and ISO understand that different nations and Indigenous peoples have different concepts and approaches to determining identity, and there is not one way to be Indigenous (see subsection 3.1.1 for more information on Indigenous Identity).

For the purpose of CMF Programs, the CMF defines Indigenous Peoples in Canada as set out in Appendix A. Eligible Projects under this Program are administered under a selective process where applications are evaluated by peers according to the Evaluation Grid in section 5.2. Eligible Projects may receive funds subject to per-project Maximum Contribution amounts and other specified limitations.

Up to 15% of funds available for Indigenous Development may be allocated to Broadcaster-Affiliated Programming and In- house Programming (as defined in Appendix A).

Broadcaster-Affiliated Programming and In-house Programming are not eligible for support for Indigenous Predevelopment Funding.

Please note:

• Eligible Projects submitted for Indigenous Predevelopment Funding must be new projects that have not received any previous CMF funding;
• Returning series are not eligible for Indigenous Predevelopment Funding support; and
• Eligibility for Indigenous Development or Indigenous Predevelopment Funding does not guarantee Applicant or Project eligibility for further CMF and/or ISO development or production funding. For clarity, Eligible Projects may apply to the CMF Broadcaster Envelope Program (English and French) for other phases of development, but not for the same phase of development when accessing Indigenous Development or Indigenous Predevelopment Funding.

2.2 DEFINITIONS
Please see the CMF’s Appendix A for definitions on the following terms found in these Indigenous Program Guidelines:

• Broadcaster-Affiliated Programming
• Canadian Broadcaster
• Eligible Canadian Distributor
• Indigenous Peoples in Canada
• In-house Programming
• Related Digital Content
• Related Party

2.3 FLEXIBILITY FOR INDIGENOUS-LED PROJECTS

The CMF offers three flexibility measures to reflect the experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada (defined in Appendix A) and to recognize the unique circumstances of the Indigenous production community. These measures will apply to all CMF Linear Content Programs.

Indigenous Applicants Based in the Circumpolar North(1)

1. Essential Requirement #1 Flexibility

Essential Requirement #1 requires that an Eligible Project receiving Linear content CMF-funding must be certified by the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO) and has achieved 10/10 points (or the maximum number of points appropriate to the project), as determined by the CMF and ISO using the CAVCO scale.

Eligible Projects from Eligible Applicants that are owned and controlled by individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis working in Canada’s North will be granted the following flexibility on this requirement determined on a case-by-case basis:

• Provided the majority of the Project’s CAVCO scale positions are filled by Canadians, the CMF will also allow a minority of the Project’s CAVCO scale positions to be filled by individuals working in the Circumpolar North (defined in Appendix A) who are not Canadian.

This flexibility will apply to all CMF Linear Programs across all genres at the predevelopment, development, and production stages.

2. Eligible Triggering Commitment Flexibility (Production)

An Eligible Triggering Commitment Threshold is the minimum amount of financial contributions an Eligible Project must receive from the marketplace in order to unlock CMF funding for that Project.

While the CMF allows Canadian Broadcasters (and, if applicable, Eligible Canadian Distributors) (each defined in Appendix A) to contribute to a Project’s Eligible Triggering Commitment Threshold(2), Eligible Projects from Eligible Applicants that are owned and controlled by individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis working in Canada’s North will be granted the following flexibility on this requirement, determined on a case-by-case basis:

• Non-Canadian broadcasters from the Circumpolar North may contribute to a Project’s Eligible Triggering Commitment Threshold (either in combination with Canadian Broadcasters and, if applicable, Eligible Canadian Distributors, or acting as a sole trigger).

The applicable rights, Maximum Term and other material elements connected to Projects where a non-Canadian broadcaster from the Circumpolar North contributes to the Eligible Triggering Commitment Threshold are subject to CMF and ISO approval and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

For clarity, all CMF-funded production-stage Projects must be made available to Canadian audiences within eighteen (18) months of completion and delivery of the Eligible Project. Therefore, if a non-Canadian broadcaster from the Circumpolar North is the only entity that contributes to a Project’s Eligible Triggering Commitment, the Applicant must still ensure that the Project meets the Canadian Premiere Requirement (defined in section 3.2.4.1 of the Indigenous Production Guidelines)and is made available in Canada by a Canadian Broadcaster within eighteen (18) months of completion and delivery of the Project or it will be considered an Event of Default pursuant to Appendix B and the Applicant’s CMF Financing Agreement.

(1) Please see Appendix A for the definition of Circumpolar North as defined by the University of Arctic.
(2) An additional exception exists for Indigenous Development (see section 3.2.4.1 for more information).

All Indigenous Applicants

3. Genre Flexibility

Provided an Eligible Project meets the other requirements of the Documentary definition (set out in section 4 of Appendix A), documentaries from Applicants owned and controlled by individuals who are First Nations, Inuit and Métis may include “how-to” programming related to Indigenous cultural elements (e.g., content related to Indigenous food, dance, language, etc.).

This flexibility will be extended to all Linear Programs at the pre-development, development, and production stages.

2.4 LANGUAGE OF PROJECTS

2.4.1. Original Language

The applicable language category is a single language determined by the original language of the Project. With some reasonable exceptions for documentaries, where a Project is versioned into another language, the language into which the project was versioned is not the original language.

In cases where there are multiple languages in a Project, the ISO (CMF) will evaluate a variety of factors (e.g., proportion of the different languages in the Project, language of development materials, language of submitted creative materials, etc.) to determine the Project’s original language.

Eligible Projects where the original language is in English, French, or a Diverse or an Indigenous may include other language(s) in the Project if it is for artistic purposes and/or its use is integral to the story (e.g. it is the first language of an expert in a documentary), provided the vast majority of the Project is in the original language (as determined by the CMF and ISO in their sole discretion). The ISO (CMF) will look at the Project in its entirety to see if, as a whole (e.g. purpose, content, dialogue, context, etc.), it truly meets the spirit of the specific Program’s language requirements.

For clarity, in the case of animated productions, the original language will be determined by which individual triggering entity (e.g., Canadian Broadcaster, Eligible Canadian Distributor) commits the highest market commitment to the Project.

2.4.2. Language of Creative Materials

The language of the Creative Materials for Indigenous Development and Predevelopment Projects must be in English, French, or an Indigenous(3) language.

(3) First Nations, Inuit, or Métis.

3.1 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

An Eligible Applicant to Indigenous Development or Indigenous Predevelopment funding must meet the following criteria:

• Is either a for-profit (i.e., a taxable Canadian corporation, within the meaning of Canada’s Income Tax Act) production company or Canadian Broadcaster (defined in Appendix A) that:
  • Is Canadian-controlled as determined in sections 26 to 28 of the Investment Canada Act.
  • Has its head office in Canada.
  • Is in good standing with all applicable talent and industry associations and guilds.

Note: For the purposes of these Guidelines, the term Applicant includes all co-applicants, and/or all Related Parties (defined in Appendix A), associated, affiliated or parent companies and/or individuals (as determined by the CMF at its sole discretion), as applicable.

The CMF encourages all Applicants to review its Default Policy in Appendix B as it contains important information that could impact the eligibility of a Project and/or Applicant.

3.1.1. Indigenous Identity

Identity connotes the beliefs, values, and expressions that encompass the memories, experiences, and relations that enable individuals and groups to construct themselves in the present. To apply for CMF funding as an Indigenous storyteller, and to be recognized as such, Applicants must know and be able to articulate their relation and connection to their Indigenous identity. This may include familial connections or nationhood and it may also include displacement.

Please see the ISO General Funding Guidelines Policy and Accountability Framework for more information on determining Indigenous Identity.

The CMF and ISO also reserve the right to request additional information, which could include but is not limited to:

• Proof of citizenship or nationhood;
• A list of family names and direct ties to their nation or community;
• A letter of support from a governance organization (e.g. band office);
• A letter of support or nomination from an Indigenous community, organization or group;
• Further clarification of the declaration of Indigenous identity of the Applicant; and
• A letter from the Applicant’s community outlining their relationship and how they are claimed.

3.1.2. Determining Applicant Eligibility

It is the responsibility of the Applicant to provide information related to identity to satisfy the CMF and ISO’s eligibility criteria. If an Applicant has not satisfactorily answered questions related to identity, the CMF and ISO may take one or more of the following actions as part of our screening and assessment processes:

• Follow up with the Applicant to seek further clarification, if time permits;
• Withdraw the application from the review process prior to assessment, informing the Applicant that eligibility questions were not answered satisfactorily;
• If flags or concerns related to identity occur during the assessment process, the CMF and ISO will recommend the Applicant as a low priority for funding.

Applicants who have received prior funding are not exempt from this process.

3.2 ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

An Eligible Project to Indigenous Development or Predevelopment Funding must be linear audiovisual content that meets the following requirements:

• the CMF’s Essential Requirements;
• the CMF’s Genre Requirements (as set out in Appendix A);
• the Ownership and Control Requirements;
• the Eligible Commitment Requirements and Conditions; and
• the Miscellaneous Requirements.

An Eligible Project must be developed as a Canadian production or intended as an audiovisual treaty coproduction (see subsection 3.2.1.1 below for more information on treaty coproductions). A Canadian scriptwriter must be involved in all stages of development.

The Applicant must have acquired all rights and options to the Project, exclusive for the period of time necessary for the adaptation of the original work or concept, the scriptwriting, the production and worldwide distribution.

Eligible Applicants may apply with a maximum of one (1) Eligible Project in each of Indigenous Predevelopment and Development per fiscal year.

3.2.1. Essential Requirements

An Eligible Project must meet the Essential Requirements listed here. For a series (or mini-series, as applicable), the Essential Requirements apply to each episode of the cycle, even if all episodes are not submitted for CMF funding. The CMF and ISO determine whether the Eligible Project meets the Essential Requirements and their interpretation shall prevail.

1. The Eligible Project will be certified(4) by the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO) and has achieved 10/10 points (or the maximum number of points appropriate to the Eligible Project), as determined by the CMF and ISO using the CAVCO scale.
   Note: For In-house Programming only, CRTC project certification as a “Canadian program” will be accepted in lieu of CAVCO certification for the purposes of meeting Essential Requirement #1.
2. Underlying rights are owned, and significantly and meaningfully developed, by Canadians.
3. The Eligible Project is shot and set primarily in Canada.

Further details on Essential Requirements, and permissible genre-specific exceptions, are in Appendix A.

The CMF and ISO recognize that Eligible Projects at the predevelopment and development stage are necessarily nascent, evolving works that may not strictly comply at application with all requirements of section 3.2 and its subsections. As such, Eligible Projects must be reasonably intended to comply with the three Essential Requirements above, as appropriate to each category of production and programming genre, as set out in Appendix A, plus all other requirements of subsections 3.2.1 through 3.2.5. The CMF and ISO shall determine whether a predevelopment or development Eligible Project is reasonably intended to comply with these sections.

(4) Exceptions may be granted by the CMF for exempt broadcasters regulated by the CRTC via Broadcasting Order CRTC 2015-88.

3.2.1.1. Audiovisual Treaty Coproductions

With respect to the CMF eligibility for Projects intended to be audiovisual treaty coproductions, only Canadian Applicants may apply for development and predevelopment funding (and only Canadian costs are eligible for funding), and the active creative contribution of a Canadian scriptwriter is required.

For more information on audiovisual treaty coproductions between Canada and other territories, please see Telefilm Canada’s treaty coproduction guidelines.

3.2.2. Genre Requirements

The CMF supports the following genres: Drama, Documentary, Children and Youth, and Variety and Performing Arts, which are each defined in Appendix A (some flexibility exists for Children and Youth programming and Indigenous content). A non-exhaustive list of genres and programming formats that are not eligible for CMF funding is included in Appendix A.

3.2.3. Ownership and Control Requirements

To be eligible for Indigenous Development or Predevelopment funding, an Eligible Project must meet these criteria:

• It is under Canadian ownership and Canadian executive and creative control.
• It is under the financial control of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
• It is, and has been, controlled creatively and financially by a Canadian production company during all phases of development.
• Final control in all matters relating to the Applicant company(5) and the Project, and at least 51% of the Applicant company’s ownership and of the Project’s copyright are retained by an individual producer (or multiple producers) that is a First Nations, Inuit, or Métis person (“Indigenous Owner”).
  For clarity, in addition to the Indigenous Owner(s) having final control and meeting this 51% ownership threshold, where an Applicant company is not 100% owned and controlled by an Indigenous Owner(s), no individual Indigenous Owner shall own and control less than 15% of both the Applicant company and copyright in the Eligible Project.
• The Indigenous Owner exercises full creative, executive, artistic, technical and financial control of the Eligible Project.
• The Indigenous Owner initiates and continues to meaningfully participate in the Project’s development.
  For clarity, where the final control and central decision makers in both the Applicant company and the Project are not with the Indigenous Owner(s) from the Applicant company, the Application will not be considered eligible for funding. The CMF and ISO reserve the right to request additional documentation (including by-laws and articles of incorporation) to ensure the ownership and control provisions are met.
• The Indigenous Owner retains and exercises all effective controls or approvals necessary for any stage of the development consistent with those of a producer. This includes control and final approval of creative decisions and financing, distribution and exploitation, and preparation and final approval of the budget, subject to reasonable and standard approval rights customarily required by arm’s-length financial participants, including Canadian Broadcasters and distributors.
• Generally, no more than 49% of the development financing is provided by a single non-Canadian entity, person or related entity. Interim lending of more than 49%, however, may be provided by a non-Canadian arm’s-length entity in the business of lending money and taking security.
• The Applicant owns all rights (including copyright) and options necessary for the development, production and distribution in Canada and abroad (with appropriate case-by-case exceptions for a purchased format) and retains an ongoing financial interest in the Eligible Project.

(5) Including the Applicant company’s Board of Directors.

3.2.4. Eligible Triggering Commitment Requirements and Conditions

All applications for Indigenous Predevelopment financing must include a letter of interest from either:

• A Canadian Broadcaster, or
• a Digital Distributor as deemed eligible by the CMF and ISO(6) to be eligible for CMF funding.

All applications for Indigenous Development financing must include Development Fees by a Canadian Broadcaster or a Digital Distributor as deemed eligible by the CMF and ISO(7) to be eligible for CMF funding.

Development Fees must meet or exceed a minimum amount, expressed as a percentage of the Eligible Costs of the Project (i.e. Eligible Triggering Commitment Threshold) to be eligible for CMF Indigenous Development funding.

3.2.4.1. Eligible Triggering Commitment Threshold

In Indigenous Development, the Eligible Triggering Commitment Threshold is the minimum amount of Development Fees that an Eligible Project must receive from the marketplace in order to unlock CMF funding for that Project.

• An Eligible Project must receive a Development Fee of 10% of the Eligible Costs from either:
  a Canadian Broadcaster, or
• a Digital Distributor as deemed eligible by the CMF and ISO(8) to be eligible for CMF funding.

(6) For Indigenous Development, as a pilot initiative, the CMF and ISO may consider a digital distributor to be a Canadian Broadcaster for the purposes of providing a commitment for financial participation, if the CMF and ISO determine that the digital distributor is a company that is Canadian-controlled (as determined in sections 26 to 28 of the Investment Canada Act). The CMF and ISO will decide case-by- case whether a digital distributor qualifies for this initiative. (7) See footnote above. (8) See footnote above.

3.2.5. Miscellaneous Requirements

An Eligible Project must meet these criteria:

• It conforms to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Code of Ethics and to all programming standards endorsed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), including the CAB Violence Code and the CAB Equitable Portrayal Code.
• It cannot contain elements of excessive violence, hate propaganda, sexual violence, or sexual exploitation or elements which are obscene, indecent or child pornography within the meaning of the Criminal Code (as amended from time to time), and is not libellous or in any other way unlawful, and is in compliance with all applicable privacy and other laws and regulation.
• It is a new production. A new production is one which is not substantially a repackaged version of a previously- produced production. In the case of a series, the ISO/CMF will consider the entire cycle to determine if the Project is a repackaging (e.g., some “making-of”, “best of” and/or “catch-up” episodes may be permitted). Projects comprised mainly of stock footage may be new productions provided the footage is not merely repackaged in whole or from large segments for the Project.
• When working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, cultures, concepts and stories, the CMF encourages all Applicants to respect the guiding principles and best practices set out in the On-Screen Protocols & Pathways Media Production Guide.
• The CMF encourages all Applicants to implement more environmentally-sustainable practices and cleaner technologies – and reduce the use of unsustainable resources – in the development, production and exploitation of their Projects. For content that is created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology:
  • the CMF encourages all Applicants to respect the CMF’s AI Guiding Principles; and
  • it is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that (i) all underlying rights to Eligible Projects are owned and meaningfully developed by Canadians and (ii) Eligible Projects have unobstructed access to all underlying rights.

A CMF Contribution to an Eligible Project will follow any criteria noted in this section.

4.1 NATURE OF CONTRIBUTION

In Indigenous Development and Predevelopment, Eligible Projects receive non-interest-bearing advances. 100% of the Eligible Project’s advance must be repaid on or before the earliest applicable event of repayment as described here:

• The first day of official preparation for principal photography of the Eligible Project (regardless of the platform for which it is produced) or upon other use of the script/Creative Materials.
  OR
• The transfer, sale, assignment, or other disposition of the script/Creative Materials.

4.2 AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION

The Maximum Contribution by the CMF to an Eligible Project receiving Indigenous Development or Predevelopment Funding is outlined below.

Predevelopment: the lesser of 84% of Eligible Costs or $35,000.

Development: the lesser of 75% of Eligible Costs or $100,000.

If applicable, the Canadian Broadcaster’s entire Development Fee and any other confirmed sources of development financing must be included within the financial structure prior to confirmation of the CMF contribution amount, up to the Maximum Contribution level.

The Maximum CMF Contribution Amount is $200,000 for all combined development activities and phases for all CMF Programs. For clarity, the Maximum Contribution Amount will be calculated on the Project’s Eligible Costs in the applicable budget.

4.2.1. Eligible Costs

In Indigenous Development and Predevelopment, only Canadian costs are Eligible Costs. Eligible Costs are costs set out in the development or predevelopment budget for the Eligible Project or the final cost report as applicable (including both Related-Party and non-Related-Party costs) – plus costs the CMF and ISO consider necessary and minus costs the CMF and ISO consider excessive, inflated or unreasonable.

CMF participation is calculated on the Eligible Costs of a Project and assessment of a Project’s Eligible Costs is at the CMF and ISO’s discretion. Eligible Costs are estimated by the CMF and ISO at the time of application, based on budgets for the Project. Eligible Costs may include cost increases between budget and approved final costs.

In Predevelopment, Eligible Costs should primarily be devoted to early-stage creative materials.

The following will not be considered Eligible Costs:

• In development, with the exception of the option or acquisition of rights and the expenses associated with acquiring those rights (as long as they are not paid to a person with an Ownership Interest as defined in Appendix B), costs incurred more than twelve (12) months prior to the Applicant entering into an eligible development agreement(9); or
• In predevelopment, costs incurred before the 2025-2026 CMF fiscal year will not be considered Eligible Costs.

Please note the CMF predevelopment and development budget templates outline allowable Eligible Costs.

The CMF will allow reasonable costs related to environmentally sustainable activities, practices and personnel connected to a Project that received Indigenous development or predevelopment funding.

While gifts to the public are ineligible as marketing expenses, gifts made to Indigenous communities recognized as cultural practice and referenced in the On-Screen Protocols & Pathways Media Production Guide will be accepted as Eligible Costs.

4.2.2. Eligible Digital Content

While no longer a required element for CMF linear content funding, producers can continue to include costs for the development of digital media content related to their linear Project (“Related Digital Content”). For more information on the parameters of Related Digital Content, please see the full definition in Appendix A.

Additional CMF Business Policies relating to Eligible Costs are in Appendix B of these Guidelines.

4.2.3. Related Party Transactions

All Related Party fees, Related Party allowances and any other Related Party transactions must be:

• Disclosed to the CMF and ISO; and
• In accordance with the current CMF Accounting and Reporting Requirements in Appendix B.

(9) An eligible development agreement is the current, legally binding agreement between the Applicant and a Canadian Broadcaster that unlocks CMF development funding and includes a Development Fee that meets the Eligible Triggering Commitment Threshold.

5.1 PEER ASSESSMENT EVALUATION

Starting in 2025-2026, all Eligible Projects applying to CMF Indigenous Development or Predevelopment will be evaluated via a peer assessment process to promote fairness, transparency and accountability in decision making, while at the same time ensuring knowledgeable assessment of artistic ability and merit. The CMF and ISO will ensure that a minimum of three
(3) assessors comprised of Indigenous individuals representing different nations and regions of Canada are reviewing applications, and that clear and transparent instructions are in place for assessing applications. Eligible Projects will be selected and awarded funding based on this process.

The following priorities will be considered as part of the assessment process:

• Regional and language representation;
• Representation of diverse Indigenous perspectives and intersections including gender, 2SLGBTQ+, and persons with disabilities;
• Different career levels, including emerging voices; and
• A commitment to sustainable practices.

5.2 PROJECT ASSESSMENT IN THE SELECTIVE PROCESS

Projects in Indigenous Development and Predevelopment compete for funding according to a selective process by peers.

To make funding decisions, the CMF and ISO will rely on a peer review panel and Projects will be selected using the Evaluation Grid below.

In this Program, the CMF and ISO,

• reserve the right to limit how many Projects are awarded funding to a single Applicant in a given funding application round,
• will not accept a revision to the evaluated elements of a Project that would affect its final weighting, and
• reserve the right to not fund Projects below a minimum score based on the evaluated and ranked Projects in that application round.

Evaluation Grid

CMF Development & Predevelopment Criteria 2025/2026

Relationality and Context:

• The person and people leading the Project or telling the story are well placed to do so.
• The team’s processes are grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, understanding and interpretations of Indigenous expressions, cultures, languages and/or realities.
• Cultural protocols, and a community engagement plan (where applicable), have been addressed in the process and planning.

Percentage of overall score: 30%

Storytelling and Approach:

• The storytelling is interesting, creative, and has the potential to engage diverse audiences.
• Creative elements can include, but are not limited to, the subject matter, themes, issues and narrative.
• Respect, care and thoughtfulness are demonstrated in the approach.

Percentage of overall score: 25%

Feasibility:

• The team demonstrates the capacity, knowledge and expertise to be successful and complete the Project deliverables as proposed. Any gaps in their experience are addressed by bringing in collaborators.
• The budget is in line with the proposed Project activities/deliverables and costs are explained via budget notes, quotes, etc.
• The overall project plan is sound and has a clear vision and timeline to move forward.

Percentage of overall score: 25%

Impact:

• The Project has potential to advance Indigenous storytelling, cultural life in the community and contribute to the Indigenous Screen Sector.
• The deliverables are aligned with the applicant’s goals and moving the Project towards distribution. The Project has potential in reaching and impacting audiences.

Percentage of overall score: 20%