This program is currently between intakes. 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. Confirm on the official site ↗
Updated July 2026 · Verified against Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) administering Canada Media Fund Indigenous Program budget guidelines
▲ Growing ✓ First-Timer Friendly Milestone-Based Est. 2017
Grant Federal Between Intakes

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

Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) administering Canada Media Fund Indigenous Program budget
Maximum Funding
$10M annual envelope under ISO administration; typical projects...
Between intakes — CMF Indigenous streams closed May 13, 2026
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
Varies
Canada Media Fund — Indigenous Program (administered by the Indigenous Screen Office) provides up to $10M annual envelope under ISO administration; typical projects from tens of thousands up to several hundred thousand per award. The Canada Media Fund's $10M annual Indigenous Program transferred from Telefilm administration to the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) on April 1, 2025 — a historic shift framed around Indigenous narrative sovereignty. Between intakes — CMF Indigenous streams closed May 13, 2026.
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Eligibility & Details

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Program Description

The Canada Media Fund's $10M annual Indigenous Program transferred from Telefilm administration to the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) on April 1, 2025 — a historic shift framed around Indigenous narrative sovereignty. Funds development, production, and interactive/immersive projects by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis screen-based creators and Indigenous-owned production companies. Two main streams operate under this envelope: CMF Indigenous Development & Predevelopment + CMF Indigenous Production (features, TV, web series), alongside ISO's broader Story Fund and Interactive and Immersive Program. For Indigenous creators only.

Eligibility Requirements

  • First Nations, Inuit, and Métis creators and storytellers based in Canada
  • Individuals, sole proprietors, collectives, community groups, and Indigenous-owned production companies
  • Projects must be Indigenous-led — creative control, authorship, and ownership with Indigenous creators
  • Project types vary by stream: features, TV series, web series, short films, video games, AR/VR/MR works, apps, and interactive audiovisual content
  • Must align with ISO's mandate of advancing Indigenous narrative sovereignty
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Film Media Film Media Creative Industries Arts Culture Cultural +1 more
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
High
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
$10M annual envelope under ISO administration; typical projects from tens of thousands up to several hundred thousand per award
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Deadline
Between intakes — CMF Indigenous streams closed May 13, 2026

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
High
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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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.

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Confirm Indigenous Eligibility and Stream Fit Review ISO's Indigenous identity eligibility criteria and identify the correct stream (CMF Indigenous Development & Predevelopment, CMF Indigenous Production, Story Fund Production, Story Fund Development, or Interactive and Immersive).

Required Documents 8

✓ Project narrative including synopsis, treatment, and creative vision statement
✓ Indigenous authorship/ownership declaration and community connection documentation

Eligible Expenses 9

Ineligible Expenses 5

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

Telefilm Canada Theatrical Production Program Canada Council for the Arts — Explore and Create Provincial film funds (Ontario Creates, Creative BC, SODEC, Manitoba Film & Music) Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) APTN development and production licensing
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

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How Canada Media Fund — Indigenous Program (ad... Compares

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Canada Media Fund — Indigenous Progra... $10M annual envelope under ISO administration Moderate Milestone-Based Between intakes — CMF...
Canada Council for the Arts - Explore... Up to $75,000 Moderate Advance Payment Rolling — apply any time...
Canadian Film or Video Production Tax... 25% Moderate Tax Credit Offset Ongoing
Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit 25% of eligible BC Moderate Tax Credit Offset Ongoing
Creative Industries Funding Varies Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing (multiple...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Canada Media Fund — Indigenous Program (ad...

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Can sole proprietors apply as individuals?
Yes — individuals, sole proprietors, collectives, and Indigenous-owned companies all qualify. ISO explicitly lists 'individuals' as eligible in their guidelines.
What's the typical award for development projects?
Development & predevelopment awards typically range $10K–$75K. The 2024–25 Production Stream averaged $225K per project across 28 projects.
Do I need to be incorporated to apply?
No — incorporation is not required. Eligibility includes individuals, sole proprietors, collectives, and Indigenous-owned companies.
Why do applications get rejected?
Most rejections cite non-Indigenous-led projects, lack of creative control by Indigenous creators, or weak community/nation connection documentation.
Can I stack this with other funding?
Yes — compatible with Telefilm, provincial funds, CPTC tax credit, and APTN licensing. ISO explicitly lists these as stackable.

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