Professional Development
imagineNATIVE offers a number of opportunities aimed at Indigenous filmmakers, musicians, writers, and story editors including our four imagineNATIVE Originals programs.
imagineNATIVE Originals
For over ten years, imagineNATIVE has partnered with artist-run centres across Canada to create opportunities for emerging Indigenous filmmakers to make an original short film while attending related workshops and working with a mentor. Supported by Netflix, these opportunities now offer $10,000+ toward the production of an original short film.
Attention Indigenous filmmakers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with an original idea for a short film!
imagineNATIVE is partnering up with Charles Street Video (CSV) to give the selected participant a minimum of $10,000 and $5,000 of in-kind services to create a short film to premiere at the 2026 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto!
We are in search of an Indigenous creator (emerging or established) who is a deadline-driven self-starter looking to expand their filmmaking experience and familiarity with Charles Street Video (CSV). The selected participant will receive $5,000 of in-kind equipment and hands-on training offered by CSV. Use the latest equipment and editing software to create a 5 to 10 minute short film!
Please note: Projects must be realistic in scope and subject matter as they must be completed and transferred as a digital file with closed captioning to imagineNATIVE for our theatre venue by April 2026. Print-quality film stills and a final synopsis will be required by March 2026 for publication in the imagineNATIVE catalogue and online.
Eligibility Criteria:
– This call is open to Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) candidates living in or near the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) only
– Open to applicants aged 18+
– Candidates must commit to attending the CSV training workshops
– You must live in Toronto or within commuting distance from the city in order to access CSV workshops and equipment; travel subsidy and cost of living are not covered by this mentorship
Additional Application Materials:
– ½ to 1-page film treatment
– A production schedule to meet the required final deliverables deadlines
– A budget that shows your film can be completed within the scope of the mentorship and delivered to imagineNATIVE by March 2026 to be included in the annual imagineNATIVE Originals programming at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
For any questions, please contact Cheyanne Jacko-Sawe at cheyanne@imagineNATIVE.org.
Apply Now | Deadline: May 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET
Attention Indigenous filmmakers in the GTA with an original idea for a 16mm short film!
Celebrating 20 years of supporting independent Indigenous film, the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) is once again partnering with imagineNATIVE to give the selected participant a minimum of $10,000 and in-kind services to create a short film to premiere at the 2026 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto!
We are in search of an Indigenous creator (emerging or established) who is a deadline-driven self-starter looking to expand their filmmaking experience and familiarity with 16mm filmmaking with LIFT. The selected participant will receive a LIFT membership from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, $750 in-kind worth of training workshops offered during LIFT’s summer and fall 2025 calendar, and a mentor. Candidates must commit to attending the LIFT training workshops that they register for from July 2025 to December 2025.
Expand your filmmaking experience and shoot and edit your 5 to 10 minute short film with the guidance of LIFT and imagineNATIVE!
The successful applicant will be provided with:
– A LIFT Production Membership from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
– Eligibility to enrol in up to $750 worth of training workshops offered during LIFT’s summer and fall 2025 calendar
– Mentorship from LIFT staff and mentors, pending their availability
– Support, mentorship, and the use of 16mm production equipment from LIFT
Please note: Projects must be realistic in scope and subject matter as they must be completed and transferred as a digital file with closed captioning to imagineNATIVE for our theatre venue by April 2026. Print-quality film stills and a final synopsis will be required by March 2026 for publication in the imagineNATIVE catalogue and online.
Eligibility Criteria:
– This call is open to Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) candidates living in or near the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) only
– Open to applicants aged 18+
– Candidates must commit to attending the LIFT training workshops
– You must live in Toronto or within commuting distance from the city in order to access LIFT workshops and equipment; travel subsidy and cost of living are not covered by this mentorship
Additional Application Materials:
– ½ to 1-page film treatment
– A production schedule to meet the required final deliverables deadlines
– A budget that shows your film can be completed within the scope of the mentorship and delivered to imagineNATIVE by March 2026 to be included in the annual imagineNATIVE Originals programming at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
For any questions, please contact Cheyanne Jacko-Sawe at cheyanne@imagineNATIVE.org.
Apply Now | Deadline: May 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET
Attention Indigenous filmmakers in British Columbia who have an original idea for a short film!
imagineNATIVE is partnering up with Capilano University to give the selected participant a minimum of $10,000 and in-kind services to create a short film to premiere at the 2026 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto!
We are in search of an Indigenous creator (emerging or established) who is a deadline-driven self-starter looking to expand their filmmaking experience and familiarity in the industry with Capilano University. The selected participants will receive mentorship from an Indigenous producer and support from Capilano University staff and the imagineNATIVE Institute to create a 5 to 10 minute short film and grow their filmmaking experience.
Please note: Projects must be realistic in scope and subject matter as they must be completed and transferred as a digital file with closed captioning to imagineNATIVE for our theatre venue by April 2026. Print-quality film stills and a final synopsis will be required by March 2026 for publication in the imagineNATIVE catalogue and online.
Eligibility Criteria:
– This call is open to Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) candidates living in or near the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) only
– Open to applicants aged 18+
– You must live in the Vancouver area or within commuting distance from the city in order to access Capilano facilities and equipment; travel subsidy and cost of living are not covered by this mentorship
Additional Application Materials:
– ½ to 1-page film treatment
– A production schedule to meet the required final deliverables deadlines
– A budget that shows your film can be completed within the scope of the mentorship and delivered to imagineNATIVE by March 2026 to be included in the annual imagineNATIVE Originals programming at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
For any questions, please contact Cheyanne Jacko-Sawe at cheyanne@imagineNATIVE.org.
Apply Now | Deadline: May 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET
Attention Indigenous filmmakers in Calgary who have an original idea for a short film!
imagineNATIVE is partnering up with the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF) to give the selected participant a minimum of $10,000 and in-kind services to create a short film to premiere at the 2026 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto!
We are in search of an Indigenous creator (emerging or established) who is a deadline-driven self-starter looking to expand their filmmaking experience and familiarity within the industry with CSIF. The selected participant will receive $5,000 worth of in-kind services in equipment, workshops, and hands-on experience from the CSIF staff. Use the latest equipment and editing software to create a 5 to 10 minute short film!
Please note: Projects must be realistic in scope and subject matter as they must be completed and transferred as a digital file with closed captioning to imagineNATIVE for our theatre venue by April 2026. Print-quality film stills and a final synopsis will be required by March 2026 for publication in the imagineNATIVE catalogue and online.
Eligibility Criteria:
– This call is open to Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) candidates living in or near the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) only
– Open to applicants aged 18+
– You must live in the Calgary area or within commuting distance from the city in order to access CSIF facilities and equipment; travel subsidy and cost of living are not covered by this mentorship
Additional Application Materials:
– ½ to 1-page film treatment
– A production schedule to meet the required final deliverables deadlines
– A budget that shows your film can be completed within the scope of the mentorship and delivered to imagineNATIVE by March 2026 to be included in the annual imagineNATIVE Originals programming at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
For any questions, please contact Cheyanne Jacko-Sawe at cheyanne@imagineNATIVE.org.
Apply Now | Deadline: May 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET
Calling Industry Leaders
Are you an industry professional interested in meeting with Indigenous creatives? Applications to be a Micro Meetings leader are now open!
The 2025 Micro Meetings event is held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM (ET) during the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival’s Industry Days (June 4-7, 2025) in Toronto. Micro Meetings will take place in-person on June 4, 2025 at the TIFF Lightbox, Learning Studios A + B with a virtual option on June 10, 2025 during the online Festival for those who are unable to attend in-person.
This full-day event is the world’s only market event of its kind dedicated to Indigenous screen and digital content. This exciting event provides Indigenous creatives valuable face-to-face time with industry decision-makers in various sectors of the screen industry.
Leaders are industry professionals who wish to accept meetings with Indigenous creatives. We are looking for:
- Festival programmers
- Curators
- Buyers
- Funders
- Sales agents
- Distributors
- Professionals working in acquisitions and distribution
- Professionals working in production and development
- Agents and professionals working in representation
We are seeking those roles and more — all are encouraged to apply.
Register for our Micro Meetings international networking event to begin building meaningful relationships through one-on-one meetings with innovative Indigenous creatives in the screen industry!
Indigenous creatives, stay tuned! Calls for Micro Meetings participants (who can book meetings with the industry leaders) will open soon.
Please note all meeting times are scheduled and listed in Eastern Time (ET).