Interactive and Immersive Program, in partnership with the CMF

All eligible applicants to this program can either apply for the development or production of their Interactive and/or Immersive Project.

First Nation, Inuit or Métis owned production companies:
$50,000.0 for development
$100,000.00 for production

First Nation, Inuit, Métis Collectives or Ad Hoc Groups:
$50,000.0 for development
$100,000.00 for production

First Nation, Inuit, Métis Individuals or Sole Proprietors:
$50,000.0 for development
$100,000.00 for production

First Nation Band Offices, Inuit Registered Communities or Métis Settlements:
$50,000.0 for development
$100,000.00 for production

• CMF Eligible projects that are approved by the ISO will be eligible for an additional $50,000.00 for development and $100,000.00 in production;
• Applicants applying as individuals (or sole proprietors) will only be able to access a maximum of $100,000.00;
• A maximum 10% of the total budget can be allocated towards producer fees and corporate overhead;
• 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-creation;
• 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);
• 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 .

Sole Proprietors:
If you are applying as a sole proprietor, you may apply under your business name 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);

First Nation, Inuit or Métis 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 o r 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).

First Nation, Inuit or Métis Band Office or Registered Community or Settlement

• 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 citizens or permanent residents of Canada;
• Must demonstrate capacity for undertaking a screen-based project, community interest, and support;
• Can accept a direct deposit in the name of the applicant.

Individuals (including sole proprietors):

• Are a First Nations, Inuit or Métis person residing in Canada and who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who has resided in Canada for at least eight months over the last one-year period;
• Work in screen-based content, including digital narrative content, gaming, apps, podcasts, XR (VR, AR), etc.;
• The project is under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons; two of the three members of the key creative team (director, writer, showrunner/producer) must be Indigenous;
• Is not in a state of bankruptcy within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).

Individual Applicants (this includes sole proprietors):
Please be advised the Canada Revenue Agency considers this funding as taxable income. Please keep all expense receipts related to these funds to offset your tax obligations. If you are registered as a sole proprietor, you must apply under your business name for the funding to be deposited to your business bank account. The funding will not be deposited to an account in any name other than the applicant name.

Corporations:

• Are Indigenous-controlled (minimum 51% ownership by person/s who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis);
• The project is under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons; two of the three members of the key creative team (director, writer, showrunner/producer) must be Indigenous;
• Registered as a corporation with its head office in Canada;
• Letters of Incorporation, a shareholder registry, and bios for each owner of the company must be provided, as well as their individual percentage of ownership;
• Main activity of the company is the production or support of screen-based content, including digital narrative content, gaming, apps and AR/VR/MR, etc.;
• 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).

First Nation, Inuit or Métis Collective or Ad Hoc Group:

• Indigenous-controlled (minimum 51% leadership by person/s who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis);
• The project is under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons; two of the three members of the key creative team (director, writer, showrunner/producer) must be Indigenous;
• Bios for each owner of the collective must be provided as well as their individual role in the project;
• Main activity of the collective is the production or support of screen-based content, including digital narrative content, gaming, apps, and AR/VR/MR, etc.

First Nation, community or band office, Inuit community or Métis settlement:

• 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 members of the key creative team (director, writer, showrunner/producer) must be Indigenous;
• Must demonstrate capacity for undertaking a screen-based project and secured individuals working in production or support of screen-based content, including digital narrative content, gaming, apps and AR/VR/MR.

The Interactive and Immersive program supports projects that incorporate Interactive and/or Immersive elements, including technology, user experience, distribution, and more.

• This program is intended to support activities such as prototyping, testing, experimentation, research, writing, and the creation of a project;
• Led and produced by creators who are Indigenous and have engaged in meaningful research, collaboration, and cooperation with Indigenous communities impacted by their projects;
• Applicants who received Interactive and Immersive Program funding in 2023-2024 to develop a project are eligible to apply for production, subject to final report approval;
• If your project intersects on multiple mediums and you are unsure if its eligible, please contact funding@iso-bea.ca.

Applicants who are funded by the ISO and meet the CMF-specific requirements, will be eligible to receive top-up funding from the CMF:

• Must be a for-profit production company (i.e., a taxable Canadian corporation, within the meaning of Canada’s Income Tax Act):
  • That is Canadian-controlled;
  • Has its head office in Canada;
  • In good standing with all applicable talent and industry associations and guilds;
• Projects must be interactive and/or highly immersive. This can include, but is not limited to:
  • Video games;
  • Interactive or Immersive projects that contain audio and audiovisual content (including XR/VR/AR);
  • Web applications;
  • Mobile applications;
  • Software applications with a connection to the Canadian cultural sector;

Note: a fuller definition of “interactive” and a full list of ineligible project types are both available in the CMF IDM Core Guidelines, section 3.2.2.2 and 3.2.2.3 (page 7);

• Canadian Elements:
  • Its underlying rights are owned, and significantly and meaningfully developed, by Canadians;
  • It is conceptualized in Canada, with at least 75% of its Eligible Costs being Canadian costs;
  • It is under Canadian ownership and Canadian executive, creative, and financial control;
• Applicants must obtain relevant insurance policies, as described in CMF’s Business Policies – Appendix B – 2024-2025.

• Costs associated with the production phase of interactive and immersive content including equipment rentals, studio rentals, production office, on-set costs and fees;
• Engagement with experts, consultants, mentors, knowledge keepers or other professional development in relation to the project;
• Hiring of key creatives, cast, crew, technical expertise, publicists, cultural advisors/knowledge carriers, community liaisons, or specialized talent;
• Trainee and mentorship positions during production (except if applying to other funded training programs);
• Production of promotional materials ie. trailers;
• Producer fees up to 10% of the budget and contingency related costs (cap 5% of total budget);
• Translation and language support;
• Accessibility costs during production and post production;
• Fees and honorariums for community engagement;
• Facilitator and consulting fees;
• Technology costs, including equipment purchases (must include detail in budget notes).

• Re-takes or pick-ups;
• Activities and phases of a project that have been previously funded by the ISO;
• Development or Production costs that have already been incurred or paid;
• Activities that are carried out to satisfy Post-Secondary Course Requirements of an educational institution;
• Activities proposed by someone under the age of majority in the respective province;
• Activities that are illegal according to the Criminal Code of Canada;
• Activities carried out by organizations that have not paid, or do not pay, fees or royalties to artists according to the standards of the arts practice or sector;
• Costs for projects not included in the application;
• Promotional or sponsored content.

In addition to the ineligible expenses noted above :

• The CMF cannot fund the same activities or phases of work through two CMF programs. Applicants should notify the ISO if the CMF is already a funder on the project.

An initial review for eligibility and missing documentation will be conducted by the ISO Program Coordinator and Program Manager. The ISO Funding team will reach out if additional information is needed 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.

Applicants must supply the following information in the portal: ISO Apply. Details for each requirement can be found in the program in the ISO Apply portal, as well as in the Application Requirements checklist.

• Eligibility Form
• Applicant Information Form – Individual, Sole Proprietor, Company, Council, Community, or Settlement, Collective or Group
• Project Information Form
• Project Proposal
• Production/Development Schedule
• Budget and Financial Structure (template provided)
• Support Materials
• Marketing, Promotion and Distribution Plan (if applicable)
• Letters of Support
• Community Engagement Plan (optional)
• Bios and CVs
• Relevant Chain of Title documents and IP Agreement
• Application Requirements Checklist
• Voluntary Personal Data (optional)
• ISO Declaration

Applications must be completed in the application portal at ISO Apply. Applications must be completed in the ISO portal and submitted by October 28th, 2024 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.

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 will be based on the following criteria:

• Relationality and Context: The key creatives telling the story are well placed to do so. The project presents grounded understandings and interpretations of Indigenous expressions, cultures, languages and/or realities;
• Storytelling and Approach: The storytelling is interesting, creative, and has the potential to engage diverse audiences. Respect, care and thoughtfulness are demonstrated in the approach;
• Feasibility: The team has the capacity, knowledge and expertise to be successful and complete the project as proposed. The overall project plan is sound and has a clear vision and timeline to move forward;
• Impact: The project has potential to advance Indigenous storytelling, cultural life in community and contribute to the Indigenous Screen Sector. Project is aligned with the applicants goals and in reaching or impacting desired audiences;

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

• Regional and intersectional representation;
• Availability of funds, ISO mandate, and strategic goals;
• Thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and clarity of application.
• Representation of Indigenous languages;
• Sustainable production practices and that encourage environmental responsibility.

The Interactive and Immersive Program has a deadline of October 28th, 2024 at 5:00pm PST, at which time the ISO will:

• Close the program in ISO Apply;
• 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. Requests for extensions can be emailed to: funding@iso-bea.ca.

The ISO acknowledges that within the screen industry, numerous individuals require assistance beyond the conventional support offered by typical funding bodies. Consequently, 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.

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.

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 10 business days after their successful notice to update their information, by notifying funding@iso-bea.ca.

Successful applicants who are eligible for the additional CMF funding will be contracted directly with the CMF.

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 application portal.

All applicants are contracted on a two year term in this program. Requests for extensions to submit final reports are submitted via ISO Apply and can be found in each program application while in the Final Report stage.

Applicants with outstanding final reports in any ISO program will not be eligible for further funding until the report is submitted and approved.

Successful applicants who are eligible for the additional CMF funding will be required to submit a final report to the CMF. Reporting details will be outlined in the CMF agreement.

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:

• Instagram – indigenousscreen
• Twitter – screen_office
• Facebook – ISO.BEA

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.

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances, and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voices, and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors. Visit our website for more information.

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

Yes - Applicants can apply at any level of experience, however if you are an emerging creator, during the application process you must have a minimum of one (1) previous credit in the key role you hold in the project. Please review the “Funding Process and Priorities” section of the guidelines for further details.

Does this program support the development and production of an Interactive and/or Immersive project?

Yes - Applicants can apply for funding to support either the production or development phase of their project.

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

The maximum request amount for development is $50,000.00 and $100,000.00 for production. A reminder that the ISO can allocate less than the requested amount to successful projects.

Do I need other funding to apply to this program?

No, the ISO can fund a project with no other confirmed funding. Feasibility will be considered when applying all funding applications.

I applied for the Interactive and Immersive Program for the development of my project, and now I need to access production funding. Am I able to apply?

Yes, you are eligible. Applicants must submit a final report for the previous funding received and have the final report approved in order to be eligible to apply again

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?

Unfortunately, applications to this program that have already received previous ISO production phase funding will not be eligible in this program.

Can I submit multiple applications?

Applicants may only submit one application to this program per fiscal year.

I believe I am eligible for the additional CMF funding. How do I access this funding?

You will be prompted to indicate if you are seeking the additional funding in your application. If your application is successful, you will be connected with the CMF directly to contract directly with them.

I’m not sure my project is a good fit for this program, or have other questions.

Reach out! funding@iso-bea.ca