Sector Development Program

Indigenous Collectives:
$100,000.00

Non-Indigenous organizations:
$125,000.00

Indigenous-owned production companies applying for production training:
$150,000.00

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

• Projects that are awarded $250,000.00 and above will be subject to a minimum hold-back of 3% of total funding and the final amount will be provided to the Applicant following the completion of the project and provision of a final cost report, a schedule of ISO expenditures or audited financial statements, and a final report. All ISO funding over $250,000.00 must be approved by the ISO Board of Directors;
• A maximum 10% of the total budget, including all proposed or confirmed financing, can be allocated towards producer fees, when applicants are applying with a production training proposal;
• 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 recommended by the Standing Committee 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/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);
• Applicants must adhere to the AI (Artificial Intelligence) guide in the General Funding Guidelines;
• Applicants can only apply once in a fiscal year, unless otherwise specified;
• Must be in good standing with ISO, with no outstanding final reports, defaults or pending complaints or investigations.

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/lead 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).

Indigenous-run 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;
• Main activity of the organization is the production or support of screen-based content, including TV, film, web, digital narrative content, and XR (VR, AR);
• Includes: festivals, associations, arts service organizations, and training institutes.

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/lead 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 leadership or creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner/creative producer);
• Must demonstrate capacity for undertaking a screen-based project, community interest, and support.

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 audio-visual 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, infrastructure projects, 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 related to a project, 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 confirmed funding from the ISO Production Program in order to be eligible for production training funding;
• 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.
• 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.

• 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);
• Organizational capacity building costs, clearly defined in the proposal and related to the administering of the project;
• Accessibility costs;
• Translation and language support;
• Fees and honorariums for community engagement, consultants/advisors, facilitators, mentors, or knowledge keepers;
• Trainee and mentorship positions (except if applying for funded training activities with the ISO);
• Producer fees – maximum of 10% of the total budget, when applying for production training.

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.

• 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.

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 – Company, Organization or Educational Institute, Council, Community, or Settlement, Collective or Group
• Project Proposal
• Project Timeline and Activities (template provided)
• Training Plan (if applicable)
• Budget (template provided)
• Letters of Support/Other Funding contracts
• Support Materials
• Chain of title documents (as applicable)
• Bios and CVs
• Community Engagement Plan (optional)
• 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 submitted in the ISO Portal. Applications must be submitted by the first deadline on: June 4th 2025 at 5pm PST, or by the second deadline on: October 14th, 2025 5pm PST.

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.

Applicants who were not successful in the first deadline are not eligible to submit for the second deadline.

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.

The Sector Development Program will be reviewed by a Standing Committee assembled by the ISO Team. The Standing Committee will operate on a one year term and be composed of Indigenous professionals from a variety of sectors, including, but not limited to: audio-visual, education, non-profit, visual art, community organizations, and more.

The Standing Committee will be tasked with reviewing applications, making recommendations on project funding, assuring adherence to the ISO’s strategic plan and program criteria, and providing feedback to the ISO team on the Sector Development program and its structure.

The Standing Committee will assess each application in line with the program focus and the assessment criteria as follows:

• Relationality and Context
  • The person and people leading the project 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.
  • Responsiveness to sectoral gaps and stated needs, connection to the involved communities and history of delivering support.
• 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, and aims to create lasting infrastructure for Indigenous storytelling and cultural enrichment.
• 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;
  • The project’s readiness to move forward, previous work in the proposed area, demonstrated successes in delivering support, strong team and Indigenous leadership, focus on collaboration and meaningful partnership(s).
• Impact
  • The proposal aims for the advancement of the Indigenous audio-visual 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;
  • 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 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 Sector Development Program has two deadlines of: June 4th, 2024 at 5:00pm PST, and October 14th, 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.

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.

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 or opportunities until the report is submitted and approved. It is the Applicants’ responsibility to keep track of final report deadlines on projects.

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.

What is the demand for this program?

There is a high demand for the Sector Development program which continues to increase every year. We encourage you to apply when the program opens.

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

Indigenous Collectives can request a maximum of $100,000.00. Non-Indigenous organizations can request a maximum of $125,000.00. Indigenous-owned production companies applying for production training can request a maximum of $150,000.00. For other applicants, the ISO is not recommending request amounts for this program. Funding requests should be in line with the project scope, and expected impact.

When should I apply for this program funding?

Applicants should apply to this program once they have a clear plan and approach prepared. For first time projects or pilot programs, applicants should present a clear vision and plan of approach. For those applying with existing programs, applicants should apply before the program has opened or is accepting applications.

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

Please refer to the “Program Closure” section of the guidelines.

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

Applicants should have a track record of providing services and supporting the growth of the Indigenous screen sector. Emerging creators are eligible, but should have relevant experience in their proposed activities.

Can I submit multiple applications to this program?

No, Applicants can only submit one application per fiscal year.

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, or have other questions.

Reach out! funding@iso-bea.ca.