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

Opening Date: July 27, 2026

Closing Date: August 23, 2026, 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 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. You can only apply with one submission to the Fund. 

• Yes. Writers who have previously received funding through the Rogers-BSO Script Development Fund may apply again, provided they have not exceeded the program’s maximum participation limit (already participated in 2 previous rounds).

Yes, to be eligible for the program, you must:

1. Have a writer, co-writer or story editor 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.

OR

2. Have a writer, director, or producer credit on at least one of the following:

• A short doc, a feature film, 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 an hour or half-hour TV 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. 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.

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.

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

• 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.

No, to be eligible the lead writer of the project must identify as Black and/or racialized.

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. 

Yes, provided you, as the lead writer, own 100% of the rights to the intellectual property (IP). 

Note: Projects for which a producer has optioned the script remain eligible to apply.

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 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 position at each stage of the program.

Applicants will also receive pitch training.