Travel Program

$2,500.00 for Canada travel
$3,500.00 for United States travel
$4,500.00 for International travel

• Applicants are eligible for a maximum amount of $4,500.00 per fiscal year;
• Recipients may receive less than the request amount.

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 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;
• Companies applying on behalf of employees for travel 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 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 if applicable;
• 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).

This funding is designed for:

• Applicants who have an official invitation, are scheduled in a program, receive notice of acceptance to a program/workshop, or have a project that is being screened or presented;
• Applicants/companies who are executing an international, or new market strategy, and whose business would benefit from the proposed activities;
• An Applicant can apply for up to two (2) market and/or premiere opportunities that require travel. If you require further support please reach out to the program manager;
• Applicants cannot apply as a Production Company and an Individual in separate applications;
• Festival screenings must be within eighteen months of completion of the project.

International Applications:

• Festival attendance must have film screening and/or an official invite;
• Applicants must clearly state if this is a premiere;
• Market place attendance must have a slate of projects suited for the proposed market.

The Travel Program is highly competitive due to the volume of applications received. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

Purchasing travel and medical insurance is at the discretion of the applicant and the ISO is not responsible for ensuring insurance has been acquired. The ISO is not liable for any lost, damaged, or stolen belongings of the applicant.

If a trip has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, the Applicant must return the portion of the unused funding to the ISO, with proof of payment for costs incurred prior to the trip. Funds can only be used for the trip specified in the application, you can not reassign funds to another trip.

Applicants seeking support for group travel for a national/international premiere or awards ceremony (with invitation/nomination) should review the ISO’s Marketing, Promotion and Distribution Program guidelines.

• Air (economy class);
• Ground transportation (trains, bus, cabs, uber, car rental, etc.);
• Mileage $.55/km for personal vehicles only, up to a maximum of $400;
• One checked baggage fee;
• Event registration;
• Accommodation, up to a maximum of $1500 for 6 nights in a standard room;
• Per diem, up to $100 per day for a maximum of 6 days;
• Child care costs up $100 per day for a maximum of 6 days (this applies uniformly, regardless of the number of children);
• Other costs associated with the proposed travel with rationale.

Please note, only eligible expenses with supported documentation will be considered.

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

• Costs associated with travelling for post-secondary courses;
• Development, production and post production related travel costs;
• Travel costs covered in other budgets submitted to ISO Funding Programs;
• Reimbursements for travel costs incurred before the submission date, exception made for airfare cost;
• Employees from organizations whose main purpose is industry support (i.e. training, funding, and/or festival activities) are not eligible to apply;
• Applicants cannot fund the same portion of the proposed travel through another organization (including band offices, arts councils, etc)

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 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.

Applicants must supply the following information 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
• Applicant Information Form – Individual, Sole Proprietor, Company
• Proposed Travel Information
• Travel Funding Application
• Personal Detailed Event Schedule
• Budget
• Transportation and Accommodation References
• Support materials
• Community Engagement Plan (optional)
• Project Related Support Material(s)
• 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 will be assessed on a continual basis until the funding is depleted.

Funding decision notifications will be provided 1-2 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.

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 ISO Internal Assessment process will consist of two (2) Program Managers and two (2) members of the funding team to ensure that the applicant has met eligibility requirements and has completed their application with required supporting documentation. The applications will be scored based on ISO assessment criteria and will be either recommended or not recommended for funding. The Program Manager will make the final recommendations to the Director of Funding based on the team’s internal assessment, program priorities and budget, and will receive final approval from the CEO.

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

• Travel Description
  • The applicant has clearly outlined the proposed trip; who is attending, what they will be doing and why have they selected this event;
  • They have provided clear goals and expected outcomes, demonstrating how this opportunity will benefit their career;
  • The selected event is appropriate for their career level and slate of projects.
• Event Schedule
  • The applicant has submitted a detailed event schedule that reflects their stated goals;
  • The itinerary demonstrates how they plan to achieve stated goals.
• Budget and supporting documentation
  • The submitted budget aligns with the requested amount, with a clear breakdown of ISO-covered costs and eligible expenses (that meet the maximum caps in guidelines);
  • The applicant has provided all necessary supporting documentation, including cost estimates, event invitations, confirmations, and any other relevant materials to verify their participation.
• Impact
  • The event presents a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the applicant’s career and/or company growth;
  • The event is aligned with reaching or impacting their stated goals.

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 Travel Program has a rolling deadline and applications are assessed as they are submitted. Funding is allocated until the funding for the fiscal year has been depleted. This means the program can close at any time without notice.

Once the funding has been depleted, 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.

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

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, including a final budget and final personal event schedule will be required within three months following the completion of the project. The final report template and requirements are made available through the ISO Portal.

Requests for extensions to submit final reports are submitted via 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.

What is the demand for this program?

There is a high demand for the Travel program. We encourage you to apply as soon as you’re able to.

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 the deadline of this program March 1st, 2026?

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 March 1, 2026, we will close the program.

I’m no longer able to go on the trip I applied for, can I use the funds for a different trip?

If a trip has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, the Applicant must notify the ISO immediately and return the portion of the unused funding. Funds can only be used for the trip specified in your application, you can not reassign funds to another trip.

What happens if I apply less than 15 business days?

Applications received less than 15 business days prior to the proposed trip will be deemed ineligible and not considered.

If I have an international film screening does that meet requirements for international travel?

While this does meet the minimum requirements, to strengthen your application we encourage you to include other event activities that you will be partaking in.

I’m an emerging filmmaker and am hoping to attend a large international marketplace, am I eligible to apply for travel?

You are eligible to apply however we strongly recommend that you are attending festivals and market places that suit your career level and goals

I’m not sure my planned travel fits the program requirements. What should I do?

Reach out! funding@iso-bea.ca.