Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)

Overview

The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) is the independent, Indigenous-led national funding and advocacy organization serving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis creators of screen content in Canada. Launched in 2017 and incorporated on November 7, 2019, under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, the ISO is headquartered in Toronto (Tkaronto). The CEO is Kerry Swanson, and the Board Chair is Brock Roe, who has served on the inaugural board since 2019.

The ISO emerged from decades of advocacy by Indigenous industry professionals who identified that an organization supporting Indigenous storytellers was a necessary component of a healthy Canadian media landscape. Seed funding for the ISO's creation came from APTN, CBC, the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), Telefilm Canada, and Canadian Heritage.

In March 2024, the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced permanent federal funding for the ISO: $65 million over five years starting in 2024-25, and $13 million per year ongoing. This provides the ISO with a stable foundation to continue building the Indigenous screen-based production sector. The ISO also aims to increase its resources through the CRTC's new regulatory framework aligned with the Online Streaming Act.

Funding Impact

For the last two completed fiscal years, the ISO delivered over $24.6 million to support First Nations, Métis, and Inuit creators, representing approximately 42% of all funding in the Indigenous screen sector. In 2022-23, the ISO disbursed $11.8 million in direct contributions to 191 recipients across 12 provinces and territories, plus an additional $1.02 million through strategic partnership programs. In 2023-24, total program disbursements reached $12.9 million, including $9.75 million through the Story Fund, $2.3 million for Sector Development, and $410,000 for Apprentice and Mentorship programs.

In May 2026, the ISO announced a $6,300,000 investment in Indigenous productions through the Production stream of the Story Fund Program. In the same month, the ISO and CMF announced a $480,000 combined investment in three Indigenous interactive and immersive projects. In June 2026, the ISO launched its first-ever professional development program dedicated to Indigenous screenwriters, in partnership with Paramount.

Funding Programs (2026-2027)

The ISO's fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31. All applications are submitted through the ISO Portal at iso-bea.ca.

Development Program

Companies with confirmed funding from CMF, Telefilm, or a public broadcaster can receive an additional $5,000 per project. A maximum of 10% of the total budget can be allocated to producer fees (individuals), or 20% to producer fees and corporate overhead collectively (companies). Applicants can hold up to two projects in Development simultaneously. The deadline for 2026 is August 19, 2026 at 5pm PST.

Production Program (Features and Series)

• Maximum request: $750,000
• Minimum project budget: $1,000,000 (including ISO funding request)
• Projects awarded $250,000 or above are subject to a 3% holdback, released after completion and final reporting
• Maximum 20% of total budget for producer fees and corporate overhead collectively
• Maximum 5% of total budget for contingency costs
• Projects must be CAVCO-certified as a Canadian film or video production with minimum 6 out of 10 points
• Feature films must be at least 44 minutes; TV series at least 22 minutes per episode
• Deadline: May 20, 2026 at 5pm PST

Finishing Fund Program

The total amount awarded cannot exceed 20% of the total production budget. Projects must have prior ISO funding (or secured national/international broadcaster or significant public funding on a case-by-case basis) and must have a rough or fine cut at submission. Rolling deadline until funds are depleted.

Marketing, Promotion and Distribution Program

Projects must have prior ISO funding (or secured national/international broadcaster or significant public funding) and a rough or fine cut at submission. Rolling deadline until March 1, 2027 or funds depleted.

Sector Development and Travel

Sector Development has a deadline of July 8, 2026. The Travel Program has a deadline of March 1, 2027.

Eligibility Requirements

For all ISO funding programs, the core eligibility criteria are:

• Indigenous-controlled: Minimum 51% ownership by person(s) who are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis and Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Creative control: Two of the three key members of the creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner/lead producer) must be Indigenous
• Corporate status: Registered as a corporation with head office in Canada (for company applicants)
• Primary activity: Production or support of screen-based content including TV, film, digital narrative content, and XR (VR, AR)

The ISO defines "Indigenous" as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada. All individual applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

The ISO provides up to $500 CAD in accessibility support per application (maximum $1,000 per year per applicant) for expenses incurred during the application process.

Indigenous Storytelling Protocols

The ISO's approach to funding is grounded in the recognition that Indigenous screen storytelling operates according to protocols for story ownership, community consultation, cultural accuracy, and the use of traditional knowledge that differ from mainstream industry practice. Projects funded by the ISO are expected to follow culturally appropriate protocols, including community consultation processes that take significantly more time than mainstream development timelines typically allow.

For non-Indigenous producers and co-production partners, understanding the ISO's protocol framework helps structure development agreements that respect Indigenous cultural requirements rather than imposing mainstream timelines. The ISO's published guidelines on working with Indigenous creators provide a baseline framework for co-production relationships.

Connection to NFB and Telefilm

The ISO operates alongside the National Film Board of Canada's (NFB) Indigenous Cinema programs, which have their own dedicated funding and a long history of supporting Indigenous filmmakers within the NFB's production infrastructure. The ISO provides an independent organizational home for Indigenous-determined projects not primarily linked to the NFB's production model.

ISO-supported projects can also access Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund's mainstream funding. ISO funding supplements rather than replaces access to these programs, providing an additional Indigenous-specific funding stream.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Indigenous filmmakers, the ISO provides funding specifically designed for their needs across the full project lifecycle: development ($20,000 to $40,000), production (up to $750,000), finishing ($25,000 to $60,000), and marketing/distribution ($25,000 to $50,000). The $13 million annual permanent funding ensures these programs will continue. The ISO prioritizes projects that have gone through its own development program for production funding.

For non-Indigenous producers seeking to co-produce with Indigenous filmmakers, the ISO is the institutional starting point. The 51% Indigenous ownership requirement and the two-of-three key creative team rule are non-negotiable. Producers should engage with the ISO and with relevant Indigenous communities from the development stage, not after financing is closed.

For international producers, the ISO's eligibility is restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents and Canadian-incorporated companies. International co-productions must structure the Canadian entity to meet the 51% Indigenous ownership threshold and ensure two of three key creatives are Indigenous. The ISO's fiscal year runs April 1 to March 31, and program deadlines vary: Development (August 19, 2026), Production (May 20, 2026), Sector Development (July 8, 2026), with rolling deadlines for Finishing Fund and Marketing/Distribution programs.

See Also

For the NFB's parallel Indigenous programs, see National Film Board of Canada (NFB) in this directory. For Telefilm Canada's mainstream funding that ISO-supported projects can also access, see Telefilm Canada in this directory. For estimating production costs when structuring an Indigenous co-production, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator. The official ISO website with all funding program details and the ISO Portal is at iso-bea.ca.