Closed
Source verified August 12, 2026
Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators
Indigenous pre-development support for screen projects
Offered by
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Funding available
$ 18,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Indigenous writers and/or producers from the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis who reside in Canada
See full eligibility
Overview
The Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators offers up to $18,000 to Indigenous creators in Canada to support pre-development work and professional growth. It supports scripted or unscripted series, including documentary and youth proposals, and can fund writing, pitch materials, and script consultation.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 18,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Pre-development support for Indigenous screen projects
- Development of bibles, character arcs, story arcs, and scripts
- Pitch preparation and project presentation
- Building broadcaster relationships, budgeting, and broadcast requirements
Documents Needed
- Project description
- Pitch deck or creation plan describing the show’s audience, tone, genre, characters, key setting, story, and what makes it a singular series
- Optional short video presentation
- A written response explaining what training and professional development support the team and project need
- Biographies and CVs for key creatives
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Indigenous writers and/or producers from the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis who reside in Canada
- Creators whose projects are still at the pre-development stage
Who is not eligible
- Applicants who are not in good standing with the BEA
- Applicants with unresolved official complaints with the BEA or its funding partners
- Immediate family members of board directors or the board chair
- Applicants who are currently reconnecting with their Indigenous community and proposing a reconnection project
- Companies with a history of not paying cast or crew associated with a production
Eligible expenses
- Writing
- Pitch documents
- Script consultation
- Rights acquisition costs
- Teamwork-related costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activities required to satisfy post-secondary course requirements
- Activities proposed by a person who has not reached the age of majority in their province or territory of residence
- Illegal activities under the Criminal Code
- Projects by organizations that do not pay artists fees or royalties according to professional or sector standards
- Talk shows, live sports events, game shows with a monetary prize, reality TV, music videos, advertising, new shots or sequences to be added, and activities or project phases already funded by the BEA
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- For permanent residents, a community situated at the border of Canada
Selection criteria
- Vision and strength of the project idea
- Project viability and readiness, including the project leads, scope, and timeline
- Impact, including the applicant’s career advancement in Indigenous storytelling and the project’s contribution to relational communities or the Indigenous screen sector
How to apply
- Read the BEA general funding terms
- Read the BEA guide on determining Indigenous identity
- Complete the application in the ISO Apply portal
Processing and Agreement
- The BEA performs an initial eligibility review and may request missing documents, giving the applicant up to 10 days to provide them.
- Ineligible or incomplete applications may be withdrawn at any time during the process.
- The program is reviewed by a committee made up of representatives from APTN, Radio-Canada, and the BEA.
- Accepted applicants must sign a legally binding agreement with additional provisions on false declarations, defaults, and related matters.
- A final report is required within three months after project completion, and late reports block further BEA funding until the report is submitted and approved.
Additional information
- The program is administered by the BEA in collaboration with Radio-Canada and APTN.
- Selected participants receive personalized support from managers at Radio-Canada and APTN.
- Intellectual property remains with the creator during pre-development.
- If a project moves to development, rights are negotiated with the broadcaster(s).
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators Program
What is the Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators?
The Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators offers up to $18,000 to Indigenous creators in Canada to support pre-development work and professional growth. It supports scripted or unscripted series, including documentary and youth proposals, and can fund writing, pitch materials, and script consultation.
How much funding can be received?
Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators Funds up to $18,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators program?
To be eligible for the Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators program, you must:
Indigenous writers and/or producers from the First Nations, Inuit or Métis who reside in Canada
Applicants must have original IP, access to rights, or demonstrate that rights are available
Applicants must have at least two screen credits as a producer, director, or screenwriter, and the project must still be at the pre-development or early development stage
What expenses are eligible under Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators?
Pre-development support for Indigenous screen projects
Development of bibles, character arcs, story arcs, and scripts
Pitch preparation and project presentation
Building broadcaster relationships, budgeting, and broadcast requirements
Who can I contact for more information about the Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators?
You can contact Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) by email at financement@iso-bea.ca or by phone at 705-933-4538.
Where is the Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators available?
The Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators program is available across Canada.
Is the Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Radio-Canada and APTN Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators is a Grant and Funding