Canada Media Fund — Indigenous Program (administered by the Indigenous Screen Office)

Insider Tip

Apply through the ISO Portal (iso-bea. my.site.com), not via CMF's legacy system — ISO now reviews eligibility, selects, and directly contracts. Download the current ISO General Funding Guidelines PDF (2025–26 edition) before assembling; eligibility details and specific application forms are in that PDF, not on the public funding page. Projects benefit from identifying Indigenous language engagement, meaningful participation from 2SLGBTQIA+ or women creators, and community-based story origins. Engage with ISO's regional team via [email protected] early in your development cycle.

Success Profile

An Indigenous writer, director, or producer — either as an individual, collective, or through an Indigenous-owned production company — with a clear creative vision rooted in community and authored by Indigenous creators. Prior short-form or emerging work, participation in ISO-supported training pipelines, or broadcast/distribution interest from APTN or a Canadian broadcaster strengthens applications. First-time applicants are explicitly welcomed, especially through development and predevelopment streams.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated on: (1) Indigenous narrative sovereignty — depth of Indigenous authorship, creative control, and community connection; (2) Creative quality — strength of story, vision, and craft; (3) Feasibility — realistic budget, schedule, and production plan; (4) Team capacity — key creative and production team credentials; (5) Cultural and community impact — meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, languages, and audiences. Production streams additionally weigh distribution strategy and market viability.

Application Steps

Required Documents 8

Eligible Expenses 9

• Script and story development fees
• Writing and research
• Producer and director fees
• Production costs — crew, cast, locations, equipment
• Post-production (editing, sound, visual effects)
• Music licensing and composition
• Travel directly related to the project or professional development
• Interactive/immersive development costs (game design, XR development, platform integration)
• Distribution and marketing expenses where stream permits

Ineligible Expenses 5

• Ongoing operating expenses unrelated to the funded project
• Capital expenditures (equipment purchases beyond project-specific needs)
• Projects already completed or in distribution
• Projects without meaningful Indigenous creative control
• Activities conducted before contract signing (retroactive costs)

Intake Periods

Multiple intake windows per year across streams. CMF Indigenous streams typically open April and close mid-May; Story Fund Development opens July; Story Fund Production opens April. Sector Development travel is rolling until funds depleted. Always verify current windows on iso-bea.ca/funding-opportunities.

Deadline Notes

Multiple streams with distinct intake windows. 2026 cycle: CMF Indigenous Production April 15–May 13, 2026; CMF Indigenous Development & Predevelopment April 22–May 13, 2026; Story Fund Production (Features & Series) April 15–May 20, 2026; Story Fund Development July 8–August 19, 2026; Travel program (Sector Development) April 22, 2026 until funds depleted or March 1, 2027. Always verify the current ISO funding guidelines PDF before assembling.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

• Non-Indigenous creators or production companies
• Projects without meaningful Indigenous creative control
• Applicants based outside Canada
• Broadcasters or distributors applying for their own content slate (must be Indigenous-led production)
• Applicants without completed ISO Portal profile and identity verification

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

Clawback risk is low but exists where projects materially diverge from the approved creative vision, fail to deliver contracted outcomes, or misrepresent Indigenous authorship. Standard contribution agreement remedies apply.