Sector Development

The ISO is not recommending request amounts for this program. Funding requests should be in line with the project scope, and expected impact.

Applicants who are proposing a new initiative or pilot program are encouraged to ensure their budget is in line with the scope and impact of their project. A demonstrated track record is an important part of the assessment criteria, and new initiatives should ensure their rationale and external support are clearly articulated in the application.

First Nation, Inuit, Métis Collectives or Ad Hoc Groups:
$100,000.00

• Projects that are awarded $250,000.00 and above will be subject to a hold-back of 3% of total funding, pending the completion of the project and an up to date cost report and schedule of project revenues and expenditures;
• A maximum 10% of the total budget can be allocated towards producer fees;
• Capital expenditures must be limited to 15% of the overall funding request (when applicable), and a strong rationale must be provided, as well as a long term management plan;
• Recipients may receive less than the request amount as 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.

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 program:

• Must own, control, or have optioned 100% of the project copyright;
• 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/project leads/managers/board members have final decision making authority;
• 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.

Company

• 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);

Indigenous Non-Profit Organizations or Registered Charities

• Must be Indigenous led, with a 51% Indigenous-majority Board of Directors and Indigenous-majority staff in key decision-making roles (ie. Executive Director, Artistic Director, Managing/Operations Director, Director of Finance, etc.);
• Must be an incorporated non-profit organization with head office in Canada;
• Includes: festivals, associations, arts service organizations, and training institutes.

First Nation, Inuit or Métis Collective or Ad Hoc Group

• 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 who have resided in Canada for at least eight months over the last one-year period;
• 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 leadership or creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner/creative producer;
• Must demonstrate capacity for undertaking a screen-based project, community interest, and support;
• Can accept a direct deposit in the name of the applicant.

BIPOC Non-Profit Organizations or Registered Charities

• Must be led by people who are Black, Indigenous or People of Colour, with a 51% BIPOC-majority Board of Directors and BIPOC-majority staff in key decision-making roles (ie. Executive Director, Artistic Director, Managing/Operations Director, Director of Finance, etc.);
• Must be an incorporated non-profit organization with head office in Canada;
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting the Indigenous screen sector through funding, programs, and targeted outreach;
• Funding must be for a specific project that has confirmed participation by Indigenous creators, and funding must be directed towards the Indigenous participants or creators.

Other Non-Profit Organizations or Charities

• A limited number of partnerships may be considered for non-profit organizations that are non-Indigenous or non-BIPOC for projects that are led by Indigenous people, that include a contribution of funding and/or resources from the applicant organization, and that have a clear benefit to Indigenous screen creators;
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting the Indigenous screen sector through funding, programs, and targeted outreach;
• Confirmation of other financing or funding is required.

The Sector Development program aims to support the development of the entire professional pathway from emerging to established creators and projects, such as:

• Early Stage: Youth programs, workshops for emerging creators, research initiatives, resources and toolkits, etc.
• Mid-Stage: Incubators, professional development opportunities, production training placements, targeted mentorship, festival programming, etc.
• Advanced Stage: Executive positions, high-level production training, special initiatives that build the profile for the Indigenous screen sector nationally or internationally, etc.

Sector Development can also be used for Indigenous companies and organizations to build capacity internally, or to build capacity within the sector more broadly.

• Internal funding: Projects developed within Indigenous companies or organizations that focus on capacity building for organizations whose principal mandate is to grow the Indigenous screen sector, hiring staff and creating employment opportunities, engaging consultants, community consultations, etc.
• External funding: Providing services, workshops, and training opportunities to the Indigenous screen community. Activities that are offered through a selection process, call for applications, are submission based, etc.

Applicants to this program must:

• Be able to demonstrate the potential to impact the Indigenous screen sector and a number of Indigenous participants;
• Be screen-based as their primary focus and have a track record in production (for production training) OR of delivering support, services or initiatives to Indigenous communities OR a specialized service or skill that addresses gaps in the Indigenous screen sector;
• Have a plan for responding to, and engaging with participants or community members as part of their project;
• Identify how they plan to track and report on impact;
• If youth are engaged in the project, a plan for how the youth will be supported during the initiative, and how they will be followed up after the completion of the activities;
• For production training, apprentices and mentors must be confirmed, OR a detailed recruitment plan must be submitted;
• For production training, confirmed financing must be in place in order to bring on trainees.

• Project fees and expenses including participant fees, facilitator fees, mentor fees;
• Program management and/or coordination;
• Technology and facility expenses related to the project;
• Travel costs for participants, trainees, or key collaborators (please note, applications focused exclusively on travel should refer to the Travel Funding program);
• Community engagement and consultation work related to the project;
• Organizational capacity building costs, clearly defined in the proposal and related to the administering of the project;
• Other associated project costs clearly identified with project description. Please speak with the Program Manager for any questions related to additional eligible expenses specific to your proposal.

• Non-Indigenous for-profit companies, including production companies;
• Development or Production costs;
• Individuals;
• Operational or capacity related costs for non-Indigenous or non-BIPOC non-profit organizations or charities.

We encourage applicants to this program to meet with the ISO Sector Development Program Manager before completing an application. Please contact funding@iso-bea.ca to set up a meeting. If you are unsure if your project is eligible for this program, please reach out.

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 – Company, Organization or Educational Institute, Council, Community, or Settlement, Collective or Group
• Project Information Form
• Project Proposal 2024-2025
• Project Timeline and Activities (template provided)
• Budget (template provided)
• Letters of Support
• Support Materials
• Bios and CVs
• Community Engagement Plan (optional)
• Application Requirements Checklist
• Voluntary Personal Data (optional)
• ISO Declaration

Applications must be submitted in the application portal at ISO Apply. Applications will be assessed on a continual basis until the funding is depleted. The ISO funding team will review applications approximately once a month when the program is open.

Funding notifications will be provided within 3-4 months after the application is submitted. Please expect delays for holiday closure in December.

Please refer to the “Program Closure” section for information about steps taken by the ISO once the funding has been depleted for the fiscal year.

ISO staff will internally assess each application in line with the program focus and the assessment criteria as follows:

• Impact: The proposal aims for the advancement of the Indigenous screen sector, promotion of cultural sovereignty and self-determination via project outcomes, skills development and support, innovation in activities and implementation of work, tangible outcomes for Indigenous screen-based creatives;
• Feasibility: The project’s readiness to move forward, previous work in proposed area, demonstrated successes in delivering support, strong team and Indigenous leadership, focus on collaboration and meaningful partnership(s);
• Application: Thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and clarity of application including complete documents, sound budget, clear articulation of project scope and goals, etc.;
• Community engagement: Responsiveness to sectoral gaps and stated needs, connection to the involved communities and history of delivering support
• Availability of funds, ISO mandate, and strategic goals;
• Long term viability and sustainability: The proposal aims to build on the existing work in the Indigenous screen sector, advancing the learning and training outcomes for Indigenous screen based creatives, aims to create lasting infrastructure for Indigenous storytelling and cultural enrichment;
• For non-Indigenous controlled non-profits or registered charities: Meaningful involvement from relevant industry partners and demonstrated commitment to the professional development of Indigenous creators.

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.

The Sector Development program has a rolling deadline, and therefore applications are assessed as they are submitted, and funding is allocated until the funding for the fiscal year has been depleted.

Once the funding has been depleted, the ISO will:

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

If applicants wish to access the application in the portal, they must contact funding@iso-bea.ca within 10 business days of the program’s closure. The ISO will provide a downloaded copy if requested. 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.

Extensions to submit an application may be granted but 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; and
• 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.

Exemptions are made in the Sector Development Program when the organization is non-Indigenous led or controlled.

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.

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.

Applicants applying for two years of funding must submit an interim report halfway through the project activities. The interim report will be made available through the ISO Apply application portal.

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.

Is the deadline of this program February 1st, 2025?

No. This program has a rolling deadline, which means the ISO reviews projects as they are submitted and allocates funding to successful projects until there is no more funding for the fiscal year. If there is still funding available by February 1st, 2025, we will close the program.

What is the demand for this program?

There is a high demand for the Sector Development program. We encourage you to apply ASAP to ensure you have access to the program while there is still funding available.

What is the average funding request for this program?

There isn’t an average allocation per project for this program. Because of the variety of projects we support, allocations are truly project dependent. We encourage applicants to apply ensuring their project is well-funded, successful, and will operate as intended. 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.

What happens to my application if I submit it, but the funding is allocated shortly thereafter?

The ISO will keep your application in the portal, and review your application at the start of the new fiscal year. This can mean an additional wait time for a decision on your application, and the ISO may request additional information if there have been updates to the program.

I have a small-scale initiative or project idea. Can I apply to this program?

Yes! Applications to the Sector Development program can be any size, as long as the rationale for how it benefits the Indigenous screen sector is articulated, and the applicant’s capacity to carry out the proposal is demonstrated. One Indigenous creative offering a workshop in their community is considered to be benefiting the Indigenous screen sector!

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

Reach out! funding@iso-bea.ca.