Development program

Individuals/Sole Proprietors, Collectives:
$20,000 for one (1) project

Indigenous-owned production companies:
$40,000 for a slate of two (2) projects;

• An additional $5,000.00 can be awarded per project to companies with confirmed funding from CMF, Telefilm or a public broadcaster;
• A maximum 10% of the total budget, including all proposed or confirmed financing, can be allocated towards producer fees;
• Recipients may receive less than the request amount as recommended by peer assessment and approved by the ISO.

All applicants to ISO programs must confirm they have read the General Funding Guidelines prior to submitting an application.

Indigenous Identity and Project Ownership

The spirit and intent of ISO funding is to support Indigenous storytelling and Indigenous companies and organizations that are controlled by Indigenous people, who have decision-making authority and creative control.

For the purposes of ISO programs, “Indigenous” is defined as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada. All applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

Please consult the Building Trust and Accountability: Report on Eligibility in the Indigenous Screen Sector which informs the ISO in regards to Indigenous identity, relationality, and access to funding programs. We also encourage applicants to consult the ISO’s working document on identity: ISO Policies and Processes for Eligibility in Relation to Indigenous Identity.

Applicants to ISO Funding Programs:

• Must own, control, or have optioned 100% of the project copyright, except for international treaty co-productions;
• Must not receive funding from other ISO programs for the same project activities or initiative. For example, funding for trainees cannot be included in another application to ISO Funding Programs;
• Must be able to accept a direct deposit in the name of the applicant;
• Must show proof that the Indigenous creatives have final decision making power in the case of co-writing/directing;
• If you are an emerging filmmaker, during the application process you must have a minimum of one (1) previous credit in the key role you hold in the project: director, writer, or producer and be able to demonstrate your ability to accomplish this project;
• Applicants whose project includes the hiring, selecting and/or engaging of First Nations, Inuit, and /or Métis employees, trainees, mentees or other, must adhere to the ISO Policies and Processes for Eligibility in Relation to Indigenous Identity;
• Must not be in a state of bankruptcy within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada);
• Applicants must adhere to the AI (Artificial Intelligence) guide in the General Funding Guidelines;
• Must be in good standing with ISO, with no outstanding final reports, defaults or pending complaints or investigations.

Individuals and Sole Proprietors

• Are a First Nations, Inuit or Métis person residing in Canada and who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
• Working in screen-based content, including TV, film, and web, gaming, apps, and XR (VR, AR);
• The project is under the financial and creative control of the applicant; two of the three key members of the creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner/lead producer) must be Indigenous;
• Is not in a state of bankruptcy within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).

Individual Applicants:
Please be advised the Canada Revenue Agency considers this funding as taxable income.

Sole Proprietors:
If you are applying as a sole proprietor, you may apply under your business name (when applicable) for the funding to be deposited to your business bank account. Please keep all expense receipts related to this funding to offset your tax obligations. Funds will not be deposited to an account in any name other than the applicant name.

Companies

• Indigenous-controlled: minimum 51% ownership by person/s who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis who is/are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada;
• The project is under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons; two of the three key members of the creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner/creative producer) must be Indigenous;
• Registered as a corporation with its head office in Canada;
• Main activity of the company is the production or support of screen-based content, including TV, film, web, digital narrative content, and XR (VR, AR);
• Is not insolvent or bankrupt, or in the course of the reorganization of its business within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).

Collectives

• Indigenous-led (if two members, both must be Indigenous, if more than two, the majority of the collective/group must be persons who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis), by citizens or permanent residents of Canada;
• Provide a collective agreement, signed by all members;
• Two or more artists working together under a group name with a bank account held in that name;
  The project is under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons, two of the key members of the creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner/creative producer) must be Indigenous;
• Main activity of the collective/group is the production or support of screen-based content, including TV, film, web, digital narrative content, and XR (VR, AR).

Indigenous governing bodies such as First Nation Band Offices, Inuit Communities or Métis Settlements

• Must currently be recognized as an Indigenous nation/established community;
• The project is under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons, two of the three key members of the creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner/creative producer) must be Indigenous and are permanent residents of Canada;
• Must demonstrate capacity for undertaking a screen-based project, community interest, and support.

This program provides support for pre-development and development phase activities:

• Applicants cannot have more than two (2) projects or a slate in Development with ISO at the same time;
• Applicants can apply for a second round of development in a subsequent fiscal year if they complete their deliverables and their final report is approved.

• Costs associated with the development phase of screen-based content including research and script/project development for new works;
• Accessibility costs, including necessary equipment;
• Fees and honorariums for community engagement, consultants/advisors, facilitators, mentors, or knowledge keepers;
• Translation and language support;
• Fees for directors, writers, story editors, advisors, and contractors engaged for development work;
• Trainee and mentorship positions (except if applying for funded training activities with the ISO);
• Legal fees such as licensing of existing IP (optioning- requires proof that the option is available);
• Translating existing Intellectual Property (IP) into new screen-based works;
• Fees and costs for the creation of pitch decks, storyboards, schematics, production bibles and proof of concept videos, etc;
• A maximum 10% of the total budget, including all proposed or confirmed financing, can be allocated towards producer fees;
• Contingency costs – maximum of 5% of the total budget.

Please note, additional costs may be eligible for funding via this funding program. If you are unsure if your proposed costs are eligible, please contact funding@iso-bea.ca.

• Development costs that have already been incurred or paid;
• Costs for projects not included in the application;
• Activities that are carried out to satisfy Post-Secondary Course Requirements of an educational institution.

Please refer to Page 18 and 19 of the General Funding Guidelines for further information about ineligible activities.

An initial review for eligibility and missing documentation will be conducted by the ISO Program Coordinator and Program Manager. This review is intended to confirm the eligibility of an application and confirm the application’s readiness to move forward to assessment.

The ISO Funding team will reach out if additional information is needed to confirm eligibility and readiness, and applicants will be given a short period (maximum 10 business days) to submit any outstanding documents.

Ineligible or incomplete applications can be withdrawn at any time in the process. Applicants will be notified by the ISO when the application is withdrawn. If an applicant is unable or does not submit the required information within the specific time frame then the project will be deemed ineligible for funding.

Applications must be submitted in the ISO Portal.
Details for each requirement can be found in the program in the ISO Portal, as well as in the Application Requirements Checklist.

• Eligibility
• Application Information – Individual, Sole Proprietor, Company, Organization or Educational Institute, Council, Community, or Settlement, Collective or Group
• Project Information
• Development Schedule
• Transportation and Accommodation References (if applicable)
• Training Plan (if applicable)
• Budget and Financial Structure (must use template provided)
• Letters of Support (optional)
• Other funding contracts (if applicable)
• Creative Materials (i.e. Script, Shooting Script, Outline, One pager, etc.)
• Bios/CVs
• Chain of Title, IP Agreement, Statement of Authorship or Copyright
• Community Engagement Plan (optional)
• Application Requirements Checklist
• Voluntary Personal Data (optional)
• ISO Declaration

Applicants are encouraged to review the Application Requirements Checklist prior to submitting an application to this program.

Applications must be completed in the ISO Portal and submitted by August 20th, 2025 at 5pm PST on the closing date. The portal will close on the deadline and applications will not be accepted after that time. Please refer to the ‘Requesting an Extension’ section for information on receiving an extension.

Funding notifications can be expected 3-4 months following the closing. Please expect delays for holiday closure in December.

The ISO’s funding priorities across all programs, as further defined in the General Funding Guidelines, are as follows:

• Provide support to authentic Indigenous storytellers;
• Strive to support Indigenous storytelling where it is happening across regions;
• Create paid employment and career development opportunities for Indigenous people;
• Encourage environmental responsibility and sustainable production practices in development, production and distribution of their projects.

Please refer to Page 6 and 7 of the General Funding Guidelines for further details.

This program will be assessed through a peer review process made up of Indigenous individuals representing different nations, a range of industry practices, and regions of Canada. All final funding decisions will be made by the ISO on the basis of the peer review recommendations.

The assessment criteria will be based on:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Impact:
  • 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.

The ISO also considers the following key points during assessment and allocation of funding:

• Availability of funds;
• ISO mandate and 3-year strategic plan;
• Thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and clarity of application.

The Development Program has a deadline of August 20th, 2025 at 5:00pm PST, at which time the ISO will:

• Close the program in the ISO Portal;
• Update the website, and announce the closure on social media and via the ISO newsletter.

Please contact funding@iso-bea.ca within 10 business days of the program’s closure if you require a downloaded copy of your application. Otherwise, all in-progress applications will be deleted 10 business days after the program has been officially closed.

The ISO’s fiscal year is from April 1st to March 31st.

Applicants may request an extension to submit their application. Requests must be submitted at least 10 business days in advance of program deadlines to determine eligibility. Extensions to submit applications, if approved, are limited to 5 business days after the deadline. Extension requests must include a rationale and be emailed to: funding@iso-bea.ca.

The ISO acknowledges that within the screen industry, numerous individuals require assistance beyond the conventional support offered. The ISO will provide monetary support of up to $500.00 CAD on a case-by-case basis to address accessibility expenses during the application stages. Applicants will be asked to provide a detailed invoice and rationale included with their request.

These expenses include but are not limited to;

• Application writing and support;
• Video or audio recording;
• Equipment rentals;
• Professional fees;
• Language interpretation/translation fees;
• Final report submission support.

If you have barriers to access including but not limited to language, internet or physical barriers, please contact the ISO to discuss accommodations and support at funding@iso-bea.ca.

Responsible: The adoption of AI must be ethically responsible and carefully considered. This includes safeguarding intellectual property, privacy, and data, while being vigilant about potential bias and discrimination.

Collaborative: AI should be viewed as a tool to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. Its implementation should foster collaboration between humans and technology.

Transparent: The use of AI must be transparent and accountable. Clear and relevant contextual information about its application and usage should be provided to ensure understanding and trust.

Please see Page 24 of the General Funding Guidelines for more information.

If at any time, an Applicant, as required or requested by the ISO, provides false information or omits or misrepresents material information in connection with an application, including with respect to Indigenous identity, such provision of false information, omission or misrepresentation will be considered an event of default and the ISO may exercise the following contractual rights:

• Termination of any contracts, including any remedies thereunder;
• Denial of eligibility for existing and future funding;
• Repayment of any funds already advanced;
• Civil and potential 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 that are parties to the application. Any Applicant receiving approval for funding will be required to sign a legally enforceable agreement, which includes provisions concerning misrepresentations, defaults, and related matters.

All signatories of ISO Contribution Agreements must be Indigenous. Companies, collectives and non-profits with Indigenous and non-Indigenous owners, board members, and collective members, must ensure the Indigenous representatives sign all contracts

Funding must be deposited into an account belonging to the Applicant. If Applicants wish to update their company or Applicant information, they have 5 business days after their successful notice to update their information, by notifying funding@iso-bea.ca.

Please see Page 31 of the General Funding Guidelines for an example of an ISO Contribution Agreement.

A final report will be required within three months following the completion of the project. Any material changes to a project and its budget must be approved by ISO before funding can be transferred to different project activities. The final report template and requirements are made available through the ISO portal.

Requests for extensions to submit final reports are submitted via the ISO Portal and can be found in each program application.

Applicants with outstanding final reports in any ISO program will not be eligible for further funding until the report is submitted and approved. It is the responsibility of the Applicant to keep track of final report deadlines.

Recipients must acknowledge ISO support with a textual reference and a bilingual animated logo in the credit sequence, or appropriate placement in the completed work, where applicable. ISO logos are available for download on the ISO website.

When sharing information about ISO funded projects or opportunities, Applicants are required to tag ISO on any social media posts related to this funding, and include the ISO logo when applicable:

• Facebook: @ISO.BEA
• Instagram: @indigenousscreen
• Threads: @indigenousscreen
• LinkedIn: @indigenous-screen-office
• Bluesky: @iso-bea.bsky.social
• X (Twitter): @screen_office

Questions are encouraged at least two weeks prior to submission or the application closing date and may be directed at any time to funding@iso-bea.ca.

When should I apply for this program funding?

Applicants should apply to this program once they have initial research, permissions, an overview and synopsis and writers in place to continue or complete the Development stage of a project.

What is the demand for this program?

There is an increased demand in the Development program and it can be competitive. We encourage you to start your application early to ensure your eligibility and that you have adequate time and resources to make a complete application.

What is the maximum amount of funding I can request in this program?

Individuals/Sole Proprietors, Collectives and Groups: $20,000 for one (1) project; Companies: $40,000 for a slate of two (2) projects; OR, Up to $25,000 per project if it has confirmed funding from CMF or TELEFILM or a public broadcaster. *A reminder that the ISO can allocate less than the requested amount to successful projects.

What happens to my in-progress application if the program closes before I submit?

Please refer to the “Program Closure” section of the guidelines. If you wish to access the application after the program has closed, please contact funding@iso-bea.ca within 10 business days of the program’s closure.

What if I or my company already has received previous ISO funding for the same project?

If the main applicant(s)/company currently has an ISO supported Development application for the same project that has not yet been reported on, the applicant will be required to first submit a Final report on the previous application. The new application should support activities not covered by the previous application.

I am applying with a new project and have not completed a past project supported in Development from the ISO. Can I apply again to this program?

Applicants will be required to first submit an interim report on the previous application in order to be eligible to apply again.

I am an emerging creator, am I eligible for this program?

If you are an emerging filmmaker, during the application process you must have a minimum of one (1) previous credit in the key creative role.

Is there accessibility support in completing this program application?

Yes, the ISO provides up to $500.00 CAD in additional funding to cover accessibility costs incurred during the stages of applying for funding. Requests for application support are encouraged at least two weeks prior to the application due date. If you have barriers to access including but not limited to language, internet or physical barriers, please contact the ISO to discuss accommodations and support at funding@iso-bea.ca.

I’m not sure my project is a good fit for this program.

Reach out! funding@iso-bea.ca.