Completed applications can be submitted at any time before the deadline. Applications must be completed in the CISF portal and submitted by July 17, 2023, 8:59 pm PT / 11:59 pm ET. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Black people: people who trace their roots to Sub-Saharan Africa including those with origins in the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America 

People of Colour: people who are descended from one or more of the following communities: 

• Latin American (Latino, Latina, Latinx) 
• Middle-Eastern and North African
• South Asian 
• Southeast Asian 
• East Asian 
• Multiracial (a combination of any of the above categories or any of the above categories with White or European ancestry)

No. Projects cannot have any existing development or production commitments.

No. Writers can only apply with one submission to the Fund.

PITCH TREATMENTS must be no more than one page. 

• Scripted pitch treatments must be for either ongoing or limited series. 
• Documentary pitch treatments must be 30-min, 45-min, or 60-min ongoing or limited series or one-off projects. 

WRITING SAMPLES can be in the form of:

• A script of a TV hour or half hour series
• Multiple episodes of a web, animation or children series (20+ pages)
• A scripted short or feature film or
• A full-length play.
• For unscripted writing samples, a one-page synopsis of a previous documentary film that has been broadcast or released.

In order for all projects to be fairly assessed, the writing sample submitted must NOT be connected to the pitch treatment included in the application. 

Yes, to be eligible, lead writers must have a writing credit on at least one of the following: 

• One episode of a TV show that has been broadcast, 
• A feature or short film that has been released theatrically or premiered at an international film festival List of eligible festivals
• A full-length produced play.

No. Please do not submit any script bibles, visuals, videos, or URL links. These are not required nor will they form part of your application's assessment.

Scripted writing samples can be in the form of:

• A script of a TV hour or half hour series (not including news programming)
• Multiple episodes of a web, animation or children series (20+ pages)
• A scripted short or feature film 
• A full-length play. 

NOTE: Scripted writing samples are not required to have been broadcast on TV or released theatrically. We encourage you to submit a sample that best reflects your voice as a writer.

As most documentaries do not have a script, we require a one-page synopsis of a previous documentary film that has been broadcast on TV, released theatrically or premiered at an international film festival. List of eligible festivals.

You must include your credit on the film, dates of broadcast, release, or premiere, and name of broadcaster or exhibitor.

The lead writer of the project must be BPOC and must meet all eligibility requirements. 

No, if you are the lead writer of the project, you are not required to have a producer or team attached to be eligible to apply.

No,  it is only if a producer is attached to the project that you need to submit incorporation documents.

No, the project must have no existing development or production commitments prior to applying for the fund.

No, revisions will not be accepted once a project is submitted.

No, submissions will not be returned and no feedback will be provided to unsuccessful applicants.

Successful applicants in the scripted category will receive funding to complete an outline and a final draft of one episode. 

Successful applicants in the documentary category will receive funding to complete an outline, a full treatment, and a 2-min character reel (can be produced using properly lit and framed iPhone or  Zoom interview(s)).

Successful applicants will be assigned a script advisor for the duration of the program. This advisor will work with the applicant to ensure that the project is at the best possible place at each stage of the program.

Applicants will also receive pitch training.