Completed applications can be submitted at any time before the deadline. Applications must be completed in the CISF portal. 

Opening Date: August 25, 2025

Closing Date: September 19, 2025, 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, United Kingdom, the Caribbean and Latin America. 

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

• Latin Americans (Latino, Latina, Latinx) 
• Middle Easterns and North Africans
• South Asians 
• Southeast Asians 
• East Asians 
• Pacific Islanders
• Multiracial (a combination of any of the above categories or any of the above categories with White or European ancestry)

No.

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

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.

1. Have a writer 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.

2. Have a writer or director or producer credit on at least one of the following:
   • A short doc, a feature doc, or a short film that has been released on a professional broadcast or streaming platform (i.e., not user-generated), theatrically, or premiered at an international film festival;  List of eligible festivals 

A sample of your previous screen-based work, such as a script for a TV hour or half-hour series (not including news programming); multiple episodes of a web, animation or children’s series (20+ pages); or a short or feature film. 

• 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 screenwriter.
• Your writing sample must be a different script from the one you are applying to develop through this program.

Include 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.

1. 1. You must include your credit on the film, dates of broadcast, release, or premiere, and name of broadcaster or exhibitor. 
   2. Writing samples released through verifiable professional online platforms (e.g., CBC Docs, NFB, The Guardian Docs) are accepted. Content uploaded to personal or user-generated platforms (e.g., personal YouTube or Vimeo channels) is not eligible.

• You may include a pitch document in your application.

The lead writer of the project should be the one applying and must be Black and/or racialized, meeting all other eligibility requirements.

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

No, you do not have to be incorporated.

You, the writer, must own 100% of the rights/intellectual property (IP) 

Note: If a producer has optioned the script, the project will be eligible.

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:

• A polished, industry-ready pilot script for your television series (including writing an outline, first draft and second draft).
• A series outline that includes short episode breakdowns for the first season.
• A professional pitch deck that includes a logline, character descriptions, series overview, episode summaries, and visual style.
• A prepared pitch presentation ready to be delivered to commissioners, producers and potential investors.

Successful applicants in the documentary category will receive funding to complete:

• A polished and comprehensive proposal ready for pitching to producers or networks. 
• A thorough research portfolio that includes all relevant background information, interviews, and sources that support the documentary’s narrative. 
• A 2-min demo, trailer or character reel. 
• A detailed treatment that includes key elements such as the logline, synopsis, character descriptions, visual style, writer’s connection to the subject and target audience. 
• A final presentation or pitch session where participants present their developed projects to a panel of industry experts for feedback and potential opportunities. 
• A full budget

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 in the best possible place at each stage of the program.

Applicants will also receive pitch training.