CISF CONNECT Award Application | Canadian Independent Screen Fund

CISF Connect Award

CISF partners with Hot Docs to Award $10,000 for Audience Engagement

The Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators (CISF) is deepening its commitment to amplifying diverse voices in Canadian media with a new grant opportunity in partnership with Hot Docs. The $10,000 Hot Docs CISF Connect Award will be presented to a Canadian documentary by a Black or racialized creator that screened at the Hot Docs 2026 festival.

Since its inception in 2020, CISF has provided essential support to Black and racialized creators across Canada. This latest initiative is part of CISF CONNECT, a new marketing and audience development program created in response to the ongoing challenges BPOC creators face in getting their work seen. The program empowers filmmakers to take a more active role in promoting their stories and expanding their reach—both in Canada and internationally.

Applications will open on May 4th with a deadline of May 31, 2026 at 11:59pm ET.

Closing Date: May 31, 2026 at 11:59pm ET.

Objectives of the CISF CONNECT Award

Provide funding for marketing and audience engagement campaign to selected project.
Focus on building sustainable audience pipelines beyond one-off festival premieres.

Eligibility

Canadian documentaries
Black or Racialized filmmaker/filmmaking team.
Must have screened at Hot Docs 2026

Submit an Application

Full Name of Applicant / Producer(Required)

Name of Production Company(Required)

Must be BPOC-owned

Company Address(Required)

Full mailing address

Phone Number(Required)

Primary contact number

Email Address(Required)

Primary contact email

Website / Social Media Handles (if applicable):(Required)

Company or project-related

Project Information

Applicants must submit a Canadian documentary that screened at Hot Docs 2026.

Duration (in minutes)(Required)

Final runtime

Type of Project(Required)

Narrative Feature

Documentary Feature

Title of Project(Required)

Narrative or documentary feature film

Date of Completion(Required)

Month / Year

Short Synopsis (max 200 words)(Required)

Brief summary of your project

Director(s)(Required)

Name(s) and background

Producer(s)(Required)

Name(s) and background

Marketing and Audience Development Plan

Target Audience(s) (max 250 words)(Required)

Who is this project for?

Marketing Goals (max 150 words)(Required)

What do you hope to achieve with this grant?

Planned Strategies / Activities (max 250 words)(Required)

Examples: social media campaign, PR outreach, festival strategy, community engagement, etc.

Supporting Materials (Required Attachments)

Before uploading, please name your file(s) using the following format: [ProjectTitle]_[DocumentType] (Example: FutureProduction_BudgetBreakdown.pdf). This helps us track and organize submissions efficiently. Submissions that do not follow this format may be delayed in processing.

Link to the completed film(Required)

With password, if applicable

Applicant’s bio(Required)

Max 150 words

Budget Breakdown for Use of Grant Funds (max 1 page)(Required)

Attach a document detailing how the $10,000 will be allocated.

Max. file size: 512 MB.

Proof of BPOC ownership(Required)

E.g., signed statement or incorporation documents

Max. file size: 512 MB.

Any additional promotional materials (optional)

Max. file size: 512 MB.

Declaration

I certify that the information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that, if selected, the project team will be required to participate in an impact review process with CISF.

Digital Signature (Full Name)(Required)

Typing your name here acts as a digital signature and confirms that all the information provided is accurate.