A new pilot project to support Indigenous creators in the pre-development project stage is being launched today in collaboration with the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), APTN, and CBC.
The CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program for Indigenous Creators in association with the ISO is open to emerging Indigenous television creators with scripted projects in English or an Indigenous language. Selected participants will have access to CBC and APTN executives, and receive custom-tailored support for their projects with the aim of progressing them to the next stage of development, and ultimately into production. Applications are open now, and can be found here.
“The ISO is excited to again work with two of our earliest partners APTN and CBC to help Indigenous screen creators get to the next stage of development and gain access to the national broadcasters,” said Kerry Swanson, ISO’s Co-Executive Director.
“This is an exciting time in the Indigenous screen sector. The more opportunities we can offer as broadcasters, the more growth we will see with all the talent in this country,” said Adam Garnet Jones, Director of TV Content and Special Events, ATPN.
The Early Stage Scripted Development Program is the first step between CBC/Radio-Canada and APTN in working together to create more Indigenous content following their recent announcement of a new Memorandum of Understanding.
“We are honoured to partner with the ISO and APTN to launch this innovative new program, which is an important next step to ensure that more Indigenous creators have the support they need to develop their stories for the screen," said Lea Marin, Director of Development, Drama, CBC.
Application guidelines can be found on the Indigenous Screen Office’s website here. Funding will be distributed based on project needs, to a maximum of $30,000. An initial review for eligibility will be conducted by the ISO Program Manager. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 22, 2022 at 5 p.m. CT.
The Early Stage Scripted Development Programwill run from September 2022 to the end of March 2023 and will provide custom-tailored training and support in the following areas:
- Development of bible, character and story arcs, and scripts;
- Building broadcaster relationships;
- Industry standards and practices re: development;
- Building a team;
- Pitching the project;
- Budgeting;
- Broadcast requirements and more.
About Indigenous Screen Office
The Indigenous Screen Office is an independent national advocacy and funding organization serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis creators of screen content in Canada. The ISO’s mandate is to foster and support narrative sovereignty and cultural revitalization by increasing Indigenous storytelling on screens and promoting Indigenous values and participation across the sector.
About APTN
APTN launched in 1999 as the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world. Since then, the network has become a global leader in programming that celebrates the rich diversity of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island and beyond. A respected non-profit and charitable broadcaster, APTN shares authentic stories in English, French and a variety of Indigenous languages with over 10 million Canadian households. APTN proudly features over 80% Canadian content and inspires audiences via multiple platforms, including its Indigenous-focused streaming service, APTN lumi.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
