CMF — Indigenous Program
Canada
Indigenous Program supports Canada's Indigenous production growth
grant_single|update January 24, 2025
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateApril 16, 2024
- grant_single|closingDateMay 2, 2024
- grant_single|grantStatusClosed
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Information and cultural industries
grant_single|grantors
- Canada Media Fund (CMF)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
The Indigenous Program supports the growth of Indigenous audiovisual production, emphasizing the sovereignty and narrative rights of Indigenous producers in Canada. The program offers maximum funding of up to 60% of eligible project expenses, with maximum contributions of $750,000 for dramas and animations and $550,000 for documentaries and other genres.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
This grant provides a combination of financial participation options to support eligible projects, with a focus on maintaining a balance of fund allocations between different project types and objectives.
- The first investment from CMF in an eligible project is provided as a license fee top-up covering up to 40% of the project's eligible expenses.
- Any additional funding exceeding the 40% limit is given as an equity investment.
- The cumulative CMF contribution must not exceed 60% of the eligible expenses of a project, inclusive of license fee top-up and equity combined.
- CMF deems any equity investment request under $100,000 as insufficient for capital investment, automatically converting such requests into a license fee top-up.
- The maximum contribution amounts are $750,000 for dramas and animations, and $550,000 for documentaries, variety, performing arts, and children's and youth programming.
grant_single_labels|projects
The CMF — Indigenous Program supports projects that aim to enhance the production and development of audiovisual content by Indigenous producers. Eligible projects are crafted to uphold Indigenous sovereignty in storytelling and include various aspects of creative production.
- Productions developed and controlled by Indigenous producers with a focus on creative, artistic, and administrative aspects.
- Projects that emphasize the use of Indigenous languages in at least 20% of their dialogues or narration, if feasible, to promote cultural representation.
- Series projects that, if in their second season or beyond, submit previous episodes for continuation under the program.
- Content creation initiatives actively involving Inuit, Métis, or First Nations screenwriters or directors.
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the ownership and control of the applicant company, as well as the cultural composition of its leadership.
- The applicant must meet eligibility criteria outlined in section 3.1 of the main Guide to Directives (production).
- At least 51% of the ownership rights of the applicant company and the project's copyright must be held by an Inuit, Métis, or First Nations producer(s).
- If the applicant company is not 100% owned by Indigenous producers, no single Indigenous owner can own less than 15% of the company and project copyright.
- The Indigenous owner must exercise full control over the creative, administrative, artistic, technical, and financial aspects of the eligible project.
- The Indigenous owner must have actively participated in the development of the eligible project and retain a financial interest proportional to their ownership in the project.
- The project must not be considered eligible if the decision-making power and final control over the company and project do not reside with an Indigenous owner.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Eligible applicants for the Indigenous Program must be audiovisual production companies that are majority-owned and controlled by Inuit, Métis, or First Nations producers. At least 51% of the applicant company's rights and the project's copyrights must be held by Indigenous producers. Additionally, control over creative, administrative, artistic, technical, and financial aspects of the project must be retained by an Indigenous owner.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
This grant does not specifically list ineligible companies or industries. Without explicit restrictions outlined, any guess would be speculative.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The grant covers expenses directly associated with the involvement of Indigenous apprentices and certain other specified costs.
- Attribution of one or more apprentice positions to members of Indigenous communities in Canada.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
This grant is specifically targeted towards companies established in the northern regions of Canada, as outlined in the eligibility criteria. This focus ensures the inclusion and support of indigenous communities within these geographic areas.
- Nunavut
- Nunavik
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
grant_single_labels|criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria with allocated point scores to ensure alignment with the grant’s objectives.
- Market Interest: 15 points
- Market Engagement: 5 points
- Potential Audience: 10 points
- Team: 24 points
- Background and Experience of Production and Creative Teams: 18 points
- Quality and Positioning of Applicant and Teams relative to the Project: 2 points
- Parity: 2 points
- Diversity: 2 points
- Community and Sustainability: 4 points
- Community Engagement Plan: 2 points
- Sustainability Plan: 2 points
- Creative Elements: 47 points
- Originality and Creativity: 37 points
- Innovation in Format and Production Value: 10 points
- Program Objectives: 10 points
- Proportion of Indigenous Language in Original Production: 5 points
- Level of Creative, Financial, Ownership, and Distribution Control by Indigenous Peoples: 5 points
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Preliminary Registration
- Create an account on the CMF's online application portal.
- Register your organization with the required details, ensuring compliance with eligibility criteria.
- Step 2: Prepare Application
- Review the Indigenous Program guidelines thoroughly to understand project and applicant eligibility.
- Prepare a detailed project proposal highlighting the narrative, creative team, market interest, and community engagement aspects.
- Compile necessary supporting documents such as detailed budgets, financing plans, and letters of intent from broadcasters or distributors.
- Ensure the involvement and compliance with control and ownership criteria by Indigenous creators.
- Draft a narrative sovereignty and community engagement statement to accompany your application.
- Step 3: Submit Application
- Log into the CMF's online portal to fill out the application form.
- Upload all required documents, ensuring each file meets the application's format and content guidelines.
- Verify all information for accuracy and completeness prior to submission.
- Submit the application before the closing date on May 2, 2024.
- Step 4: Confirmation of Submission
- Receive a confirmation email from CMF indicating your application has been successfully submitted.
- Save the submission confirmation for future reference.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here is additional relevant information for this grant:
- Applicants should ensure that the organizational narrative sovereignty and rights to self-narrate are central to their proposals.
- For second or subsequent seasons of series, applicants must submit a rough cut or final version of at least one episode from the previous season.
- A maximum of 25% of the program's funds will be allocated to internally produced projects or those affiliated with a broadcaster.
- Canadian distributors may qualify as eligible broadcasters in a pilot project for applicants based in Canada's North, enhancing local engagement.
- The maximum duration for all broadcast windows, including exclusive and non-exclusive periods, is six years.
- The CMF may waive broadcast or accessibility requirements for pilot shows if mutually agreed by both the broadcaster and the applicant.
