ISO Funding Programs

Indigenous Screen Office

This program offers support to Indigenous screen-based creators in the Production phase of their project. Indigenous creators applying to this program are undertaking work in the Production of screen-based content, including TV and web series, and film. We encourage ISO applicants to this program to access this funding for activities during the production phase that will ensure a strong project, including fees for key creatives, producers, crew members, technical expertise, cultural advisors/knowledge carriers, community liaisons, and/or legal advice.

Indigenous Screen Office

This program offers support for project development, recognizing that time and resources are critical to the creation of strong content. Many Indigenous creators undertake extensive protocols and community-engagement work during this phase, and ISO support is intended to support these practices, in addition to other development costs. We encourage ISO applicants to this program to access this funding for key supports needed to develop the project idea such as cultural and community engagement work, learning from experts, mentors, or knowledge keepers or other professional development in relation to the project.

There are two funding streams available:

1. Individuals/Sole Proprietors, Collectives, Community Groups and Companies: Up to $20,000 for one (1) project 2. Companies: Up to $40,000 for a slate of two (2) projects

ISO / Netflix

ISO has partnered with Netflix to provide funding to support training, professional development and culturally specific approaches for Indigenous on-screen content creators and Indigenous-owned production companies. There are two funding streams available:

1. Production Apprenticeships: The intent of this funding is to support new opportunities for hands-on training and career progression for Indigenous creatives through all stages of production, or in a production studio.l. The apprentice(s) should have a record of production experience and demonstrate that this opportunity, with the support of the proposed mentor(s), will support their skills building and career development.

2. Cultural Mentorships: This opportunity was created for Indigenous producers, directors and writers to be able to engage in cultural mentorship, community engagement, cultural learning, and protocols work during the pre-development, development, and production phases of their projects. This may include working with Elders, language speakers, knowledge keepers and/or community members to develop their project idea or to support their personal growth and development in their career as a screen-based storyteller. Indigenous owned production companies may apply for this funding to bring cultural mentor(s) on set for cultural learning, knowledge sharing, and to implement cultural and traditional practices related to the completion of a production.

This program provides support to Indigenous screen-based content creators for the production of New Media projects. Applicants to this program may undertake project work in the Production of high calibre game design, AR/VR/XR, apps, podcasts and narrative audio/visual immersive projects. We encourage ISO applicants to this program to access this funding for activities during the production phase that will ensure a strong project, including fees for the project team and technology costs, Cultural Advisors/Knowledge Carriers, community liaisons, and/or legal advice.

*If your project intersects on multiple mediums and platforms or does not fall under one of these practices, please contact the funding@iso-bea.ca. This funding is open to Individuals, Sole Proprietors, Collectives/groups, and Companies.

Amazon Studios

The ISO is partnering with Amazon Studios to provide Canadian Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour screen-content creators the opportunity to develop a half-hour scripted or unscripted series pitch in English for presentation to executives for Amazon Prime Video.