Canadian Heritage announced Thursday permanent funding for the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO).
The department said it is committing $65 million over five years starting in 2024-2025 and then $13 million annually afterward to the independent and indigenous-led organization fostering of on-screen indigenous storytelling
“The funding will enable more First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to tell their own stories and see themselves reflected on screen,” said a press release.
“It provides stability, increases Indigenous self-determination, and allows the ISO to develop long-term relationships with partners and sponsors,” it added. “This announcement builds off work in the Online Streaming Act to support Indigenous storytelling and help audiences find and enjoy Indigenous programming in different languages.”
The ISO, which was created six years ago, delivered nearly $25 million to support First Nations, Metis, and Inuit creators, which represents roughly 42 percent of all funding in the indigenous screen sector, according to Heritage.
Stories from the ISO include Bones of Crow, Night Raiders, Slash/Back, and Dear Flora.
Three ISO-funded feature films premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022. The organization also held the first Indigenous Screen Summit at Cannes last year, according to the release.
“Securing ongoing funding marks a major milestone for the ISO and the Indigenous storytellers we support, and provides us all with a stable foundation from which to grow,” ISO CEO Kerry Swanson said in a release. “This is only the beginning for the ISO as we embark on the full expression of our mandate to build an Indigenous screen sector in Canada, and for Indigenous-made stories on screen to inspire audiences around the world.”
