Toronto (Tkaronto), August 20, 2026 – The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) is pleased to release its 2025–26 Annual Report, marking a year of historical growth for the organization and continued momentum for Indigenous storytellers across Canada and internationally.
In 2025–26, the ISO disbursed $11.5m directly to 224 recipients through its Story Fund and Sector Development programs, with 53% identifying as Indigenous women. An unprecedented 78% of Story Fund projects incorporated Indigenous languages. An additional $8.6m was delivered in the first year of ISO’s successful administration of the CMF Indigenous program.
ISO received an unprecedented number of applications to its funding programs, making it the most competitive year in the organization’s history. The demand reflects the extraordinary growth of the Indigenous screen sector, and the capacity still needed to achieve its full potential.
According to the 2025 Profile report from the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), Indigenous production generated $347 million in production volume across film, television and immersive/interactive content in 2024–25, supporting 4,300 jobs and contributing an estimated $399 million in total economic impact. This is the highest total Indigenous production volume since the data was first tracked in 2019-20, and marks a 141% increase since the ISO started delivering funding.
“These figures clearly demonstrate that investing in Indigenous content creation has far-reaching impacts,” said Kerry Swanson, CEO of the Indigenous Screen Office. “Indigenous storytelling is not only vital to cultural representation and narrative sovereignty, it is also contributing significantly to Canada’s creative economy, creating jobs and generating economic value in communities across the country.”
The last year marks the completion of year one of the ISO’s three-year Strategic Plan. ISO’s continued development of new funding programs, strategic partnerships and Indigenous-centred approaches are creating new opportunities for First Nations, Inuit and Métis creators in both Canada and internationally – and preparing the organization for its next stage of growth.
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About Indigenous Screen Office
The Indigenous Screen Office is an independent national advocacy and funding organization serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis creators of screen content in Canada. The ISO’s mandate is to foster and support narrative sovereignty and cultural revitalization by increasing Indigenous storytelling on screens and promoting Indigenous values and participation across the sector.
For more information please contact:
Jean-Francois D. O’Bomsawin
Director of Communications and Francophone Initiatives
[email protected]