Sundance Native Lab 2025
Last Update: August 12, 2025
Canada
Year-long fellowship supporting emerging Indigenous Canadian filmmakers
Sundance Native Lab 2025 at a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $10,000
Timeline
- Open Date : December 3, 2024
- Closing date : December 23, 2024
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Grant Providers
- Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)
Program status
Closed
Overview of the Sundance Native Lab 2025 program
The Sundance Native Lab 2025 offers a $10,000 USD fellowship to one Canada-based Indigenous storyteller for a year-long mentorship program, supporting the development of narrative feature or episodic pilot scripts. The program provides hands-on training, including an in-person lab and monthly virtual check-ins, to advance storytelling and technical skills for emerging filmmakers and creators.
Financing terms and conditions
- A financial contribution of $10,000 USD is provided to the selected fellow as part of the lab.
- All travel, accommodation, and food costs for the in-person portion of the lab are fully covered by the program.
- Accessibility support of up to $500 CAD is available on a case-by-case basis to cover eligible accessibility expenses during the application stage.
Eligible projects & activities
- Participation in a year-long fellowship for Indigenous filmmakers or episodic creators to develop narrative feature or episodic pilot projects.
- Engagement in an in-person storytelling and technical skills lab, followed by monthly virtual check-ins.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 9,950
Developing a Métis sci-fi episodic script with cultural accuracy
$ 10,000
Creating a Cree-language short film script for streaming platforms
$ 9,800
Creating a Mohawk youth drama pilot and networking at lab
$ 10,000
Building a Dene virtual reality story pilot with accessibility supports
$ 9,800
Developing an Inuit comedy-drama pilot script with mentorship
$ 9,700
Writing a Mi’kmaq fantasy feature with mentorship and training
Eligibility criteria of the Sundance Native Lab 2025 program
- The applicant must be an Indigenous individual (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) residing in Canada and be a citizen or permanent resident.
- The applicant must work in screen-based content, such as TV, film, web, gaming, apps, or XR (VR, AR).
- The applicant or company must have 100% financial and creative control of the project.
- The project must be owned or optioned by the applicant with valid documentation of copyright or authorship.
- The company or individual must not be in a state of bankruptcy under Canadian law and must be in good standing with the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO).
Who is eligible?
- Companies and individuals working in audiovisual content, including television, cinema, the web, video games, mobile applications, and immersive technologies (VR, AR).
Who is not eligible
- Companies or organizations not controlled by Indigenous people (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) residing in Canada.
- Entities that have received funding from other ISO programs for the same project activities or initiatives.
- Businesses or applicants currently in a state of bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).
Eligible expenses
- Travel costs for participation in the in-person lab.
- Accommodation expenses during the in-person lab.
- Food expenses during the in-person lab.
- Accessibility expenses during the application stages (such as support for application writing, video or audio recording, equipment rentals, professional fees, language interpretation/translation fees, and final report submission support, up to $500 CAD).
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada (applicants must be residents of Canada)
How to apply to the Sundance Native Lab 2025 program
1
Review guidelines and eligibility
- Read the ISO General Funding Guidelines Policy
- Review the ISO Determining Indigenous Identity Guide
2
Prepare required documents
- Prepare required documentation including eligibility form, applicant information form, and project information form
- Compile narrative feature or episodic pilot script, bio and CV, and optional headshot
- Obtain chain of title, current IP agreement, or statement of authorship
- Gather any voluntary personal data and sign the ISO Declaration
3
Submit application through portal
- Complete your application in the ISO Apply Portal
- Upload all required forms and supporting documents
4
Eligibility review and follow-up
- Wait for the eligibility review by the ISO Program Coordinator and Program Manager
- Respond promptly if requested for additional information or missing documentation
5
Receive funding decision
- Receive notification of funding decision 2-3 months after application deadline
- Follow instructions provided if funding is approved
Additional information
- Applicants may request an extension for the application deadline by submitting their request at least 10 business days in advance.
- A monetary support of up to $500 CAD is available on a case-by-case basis to address accessibility expenses during the application process.
- Recipients are required to provide recognition of ISO support using textual references and the animated bilingual ISO logo in the credit sequence or other appropriate placement.
- Providing false or misleading information, particularly regarding Indigenous identity, may result in contract termination, denial of eligibility, repayment of funds, and possible civil or criminal prosecution.
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