How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 30000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program?

CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program is funded by Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)

What are CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program's eligibility criterias?

Indigenous-controlled (minimum 51% First Nations, Inuit, or Métis ownership) Registered as a corporation with head office in Canada Main activity is the production or support of screen-based content

CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program

Last Update: August 12, 2025

Canada

Supports early-stage scripted development for emerging Indigenous creators

CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $30,000

Timeline

Open Date : June 26, 2025
Closing date : July 24, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries

Grant Providers

Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)

Program status

Closed

Overview of the CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program program

The CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program provides up to $30,000 in funding to support emerging Indigenous television creators in moving scripted projects from pre-development into development and production. Eligible activities include script development, project pitching, team building, and industry-specific training.

Financing terms and conditions

Grant funding is provided based on project needs, up to a maximum amount of $30,000.
Accessibility funding of up to $500 may be available on a case-by-case basis to support eligible expenses during the application process.

Eligible projects & activities

Development of scripted television projects from pre-development to early development stage.
Creation of project bibles, character profiles, and story arcs for potential TV productions.
Preparation and refinement of pitch materials and pitch decks for television series concepts.
Building relationships with broadcasters and industry professionals to advance project development.
Custom training and mentorship tailored to the needs of emerging Indigenous writers and producers in the scripted TV sector.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 28,000

Drama pilot script development focused on Indigenous language revitalization

$ 29,750

Industry training and pitch refinement for Indigenous sci-fi series team

$ 29,250

Animated series concept development about Ojibwe legends for children

$ 29,800

Script and pitch development for teen comedy rooted in Inuit culture

$ 29,500

Development of a supernatural drama series with Indigenous themes

$ 29,900

Creation of a dramatic limited series inspired by Métis history

Eligibility criteria of the CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program program

The company must be at least 51% owned and controlled by First Nations, Inuit or Métis persons who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
The company must be registered as a corporation with its head office located in Canada.
The project must be under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons, with at least two of the three key creative roles (director, screenwriter, showrunner/creative producer) held by Indigenous individuals.
The company's main activity must be the production or support of screen-based content, such as TV, film, digital narrative, web, or XR (VR, AR).
The company must not be insolvent, bankrupt, or in the course of business reorganization.

Who is eligible?

Indigenous-controlled companies (minimum 51% First Nations, Inuit, or Métis ownership) engaged in the production or support of screen-based content
Corporations registered in Canada with activities in TV, film, web, digital narrative content, or XR (VR, AR)

Who is not eligible

Companies that are not Indigenous-controlled (less than 51% owned by First Nations, Inuit, or Métis individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents).
Businesses whose main activity is not the production or support of screen-based content (e.g., companies outside of film, TV, web, digital narrative content, or XR industries).
Companies not registered as a corporation with a head office in Canada.
Companies that are insolvent, bankrupt, or undergoing business reorganization within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).

Eligible expenses

Development of project materials such as bible, character and story arcs, and scripts.
Support for building broadcaster relationships and industry standards compliance.
Consulting and professional fees (e.g., for application writing support, video or audio recording, equipment rentals, language interpretation/translation).
Pitching and project presentation costs, including the creation of pitch decks.
Budgeting and broadcast requirements-related expenses.
Accessibility support expenses, up to $500 for application-related needs (e.g., application writing, equipment rentals, professional fees, language support).

Eligible geographic areas

Companies with head offices located in Canada.
Applicants who are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis persons residing in Canada.

Eligibility criteria of the CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program program

Vision and strength of the project idea.
Viability of the project and readiness, including its scope and timeline.
Impact, including advancement of the applicant’s career within Indigenous storytelling and potential contribution to the Indigenous Screen Sector or cultural enrichment.
Regional and intersectional representation.
Thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and clarity of the application.

How to apply to the CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program program

Read the program guidelines

Review the ISO General Funding Guidelines before starting your application
Ensure you understand all program requirements and criteria

Verify Indigenous identity eligibility

Consult the ISO Determining Indigenous Identity Guide
Verify eligibility regarding Indigenous identity requirements

Prepare required documents

Gather all required documents such as bios, CVs, project proposal, and pitch deck
Prepare documents for upload on the ISO portal

Complete online application forms

Complete the eligibility form and application forms on the ISO portal
Fill out project information and upload supporting materials

Review and validate application

Review all entered information and attached documents for completeness and accuracy
Ensure all requirements in the checklist are met

Submit your application

Submit your completed application via the ISO portal by the deadline (July 24, 2025, 5:00pm PST)
Applications will not be accepted after the deadline

Await funding results

Wait for funding decision notifications (expected within 1-2 months after the deadline)
Respond to any additional information requests if contacted

Additional information

Recipients are required to acknowledge ISO support with a bilingual animated logo in the credit sequence or appropriate placement in completed work.
Applicants can request accessibility funding of up to $500 to address barriers during the application process, such as language, technology, or disability accommodations.
If a project’s material aspects or budget changes, prior approval from ISO is required before reallocating funds to new project activities.
Applicants with outstanding final reports in any ISO program are ineligible for further funding until submitted and approved.

Apply to this program

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