ISO allocates $6.3M to Indigenous Productions across Canada through the Story Fund Production Stream in 2025-2026

Toronto (Tkaronto), May 21, 2026 –The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) announces a $6,300,000 investment in Indigenous productions through the Production stream of the Story Fund Program, supporting a total of 26 Indigenous creative teams across Canada. In total, ISO provided funding for eight feature films, four short films, and 14 television series. These projects include seven from British Columbia, five from Ontario, four from Nunavut, four from Quebec, two from Manitoba, two from Saskatchewan, one Alberta/Ontario co-production, and one Manitoba/Ontario co-production.

The following 26 projects have been supported by ISO’s Story Fund Program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Project: A Life Less Empty Company: 102165306 Saskatchewan Ltd. Key Creative: Sera Lys McArthur, Nakoda; Rueben Martell, Cree Format/Genre: Feature film, Drama Region: Saskatchewan Synopsis: Emotionally stuck and isolated on his quiet reservation, Simon’s life is suddenly enlivened by the arrival of Karen, an enigmatic outsider, who challenges him to make a big change.

Project: Ancestral Beasts Company: 16198872 CANADA Inc. Key Creative: Tim Riedel, Red River Métis Format/Genre: Feature Film, Horror Region: Ontario Synopsis: A troubled Metis Woman returns to her rural, ancestral home looking for respite from her self-inflicted life troubles only to uncover a terrifying supernatural creature she must battle before it kills her and everyone she loves.

Project: In the Name of Science Company: 17204850 Canada Inc. Key Creative: Ernest Webb, Cree, Angie-Pepper O’Bomsawin, Abenaki/Mohawk, Brittany LeBorgne, Kanien’kehá:ka Format/Genre: Feature Film Documentary Region: Quebec Synopsis: In the Name of Science is an investigative feature film documentary about medical experiments done on Indigenous children by Canadian scientists over decades.

Project: Indigena Company: ARC-EN-CIEL FILMS INC. Key Creative: Siku Allooloo, Inuit/Taíno Format/Genre: Feature Film, Documentary Region: British Columbia Synopsis: INDÍGENA is a hybrid documentary that follows filmmaker Siku Allooloo’s journey to unearth the legacy of her late mother, Marie-Hélène Laraque, a Taíno activist from Haiti who founded a groundbreaking Indigenous newspaper at the heart of the 1970s Red Power Movement.

Project: Medicine Fire (previously: Untitled Ceremony Film) Company: High Noon Productions Inc. Key Creative: Lisa Jackson, Anishinaabe (Aamjiwnaang) Format/Genre: Feature Film, Documentary Region: Ontario Synopsis: John and Beatrice Fox are bringing ceremony back to their community to help others heal and connect with the strength they’ve found.

Project: Myth and Memory: The Untold Story of the Franklin Expedition Company: Myth and Memory Inc. Key Creative: Nyla Innuksuk, Inuk Format/Genre: Feature Film, Documentary Region: Ontario Synopsis: Blending oral histories with investigative storytelling, the feature documentary MYTH AND MEMORY dismantles the colonial legend of Franklin’s lost ships, centring Inuit voices to examine the struggle for cultural sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and the enduring pressures that threaten Indigenous self-determination.

Project: Noopiming – The Cure for White Ladies Company: Spotted Fawn Productions Inc. Key Creative: Amanda Strong, Red River Métis; Leanne Betasomasake Simpson, Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg Format/Genre: Feature Film, Animation Region: British Columbia Synopsis: Noopiming: Mashkawaji is frozen in a lake. From her isolation, her spirit speaks by being embodied by seven interwoven characters who, through ceremony and land-based practices, seek to find hope in their processes of loss and reclamation.

Project: Une tragédie inuite : La police au Nunavik Company: Nikan Productions (VI) Inc. Key Creative: Kim O’Bomsawin, Abenaki Format/Genre: Feature Film, Documentary Region: Quebec Synopsis: The northern village of Salluit, Nunavik, becomes the scene of a tragedy when Joshua Papigatuk is killed and his twin brother Garnet is seriously wounded by gunfire during a local police intervention. This act of violence, which painfully echoes systemic issues in how Canada treats Indigenous communities, sparks a strong response from Inuit communities and their allies across the country.

Project: CRYPTID Company: Alex Vance (applied as an individual) Key Creative: Alex Vance, Métis Format/Genre: Short film, Horror Region: British Columbia Synopsis: After a Métis woman is bitten during an intimate encounter at a party in the woods, she wakes up stranded, alone and finds her body transforming into something… strange.

Project: Deb’s Return Company: 1569537 B.C. LTD. Key Creative: Kerriann Cardinal, Métis Format/Genre: Short film, Documentary Region: British Columbia Synopsis: Retired Kwakiutl lawyer and community activist Deb Mearns holds the distinction of being B.C.’s first Indigenous woman lawyer. Now in her mid-70s and recovering from a major health issue, Deb decides to return to Vancouver after decades away to reconnect with colleagues and friends.

Project: Kiviuq Iguttarjuarlu (Kiviuq and the Bee Woman) Company: Kiviuq Media 1 Inc. Key Creative: Louise Flaherty, Inuit, Germaine Arnaktauyok, Inuit, Jamesie Fournier, Inuit Format/Genre: Short Film, Animation Region: Nunavut Synopsis: The legend of Kiviuq is situated between oral history, legend, and spirituality. It is an account of a great Inuit traveller and shaman who embodied the values of wisdom and perseverance. This traditional story is an essential part of Inuit oral history that can be found in almost all Inuit regions across the Arctic. The full story of Kiviuq would take many days to tell, so it is often told as separate adventures.

Project: Tears of Our Sisters Company: Howah Productions Inc. Key Creative: Victoria Anderson Gardner, Anishinaabe Format/Genre: Short film, Drama Region: Ontario Synopsis: A young Cree woman moving to the city becomes the target of a predator, but with the strength of her Ancestors she turns the hunt against him.

Project: Acting Good Season 4 Company: Big Makwa Pictures IV Inc. Key Creative: Tina Keeper, Cree Format/Genre: Television Series, Comedy Region: Manitoba Synopsis: It’s in Grouse Lake that you’ll find PAUL and ROSE, who now have their baby PJ, and live in Sagatay Lodge with Paul’s mother AGNES, and of course STEPHEN HARPER. AGNES’ grandgirl CHICKADEE has moved into Paul’s old attachment and she is having growing pains and she tries to figure out her next steps after high school. JO is now National Chief, having left her heartbroken boyfriend Nurse LOGAN.

Project: AKI Company: 2774223 Alberta Ltd./Niswih Mahngohg Inc. Key Creative: Bruce Thomas Miller, Matachewan First Nation, Jamie Lee Reardon, Flying Post First Nation Format/Genre: Television Series, Documentary Region: Alberta/Ontario Synopsis: AKI is a docu-series about Indigenous languages that will be hosted by Eli Baxter, Ojibwe language keeper, that will take the audience on an experience of learning Indigenous language, culture and teachings. Season 1 will be focused on the Ojibwe language and its teachings and will have special guests to help us learn more about the wonderful culture of the Indigenous people of Canada.

Project: Arnattaujuup Unikkaaqtuaqtangit Company: Arnaktauyok Media 1 Inc. Key Creative: Amber Fradsham, Inuit, Germaine Arnaktauyok, Inuit Format/Genre: Television series, children’s animation/live action Region: Nunavut Synopsis: Arnattaujuup Unikkaaqtuaqtangit is an animated series that showcases traditional Inuit stories retold, directed, and narrated by renowned Inuk artist, Germaine Arnaktauyok. Arnattaujuup Unikkaaqtuaqtangit embodies the tradition of Inuit storytelling that has been passed down through generations to impart lessons of social and ecological survival.

Project: Joke Signals Dakota Hebert (applied as an individual) Key Creative: Dakota Hebert, Dene Format/Genre: Web Series, comedy Region: Saskatchewan Synopsis: Five Indigenous stand-up comedians share their comedy, their experiences in pursuing a career in stand-up, and their hearty opinions on the mainstream scene.