Professional Development
Advance Your Career with the Institute
The imagineNATIVE Institute offers a number of opportunities aimed at Indigenous filmmakers, musicians, writers, and story editors including our four imagineNATIVE Originals programs.
imagineNATIVE supports and celebrates the diversity, artistry, and sovereignty of Indigenous artists from Indigenous Nations. As such, we identify the Nations/Tribes to which these artists come from and represent. We understand that in rare cases, an Indigenous person may not know their Nation or community due to the impacts of colonial or assimilationist practices. We welcome your submission and ask that you articulate your relationship to your Indigeneity. In the interest of maintaining the integrity of our mandate and mission to support Indigenous artists, imagineNATIVE reserves the right to follow up with applicants regarding eligibility.
Screenwriting Features Lab
Applications are now open for the 2026 imagineNATIVE Institute Screenwriting Features Lab!
Application Deadline: Thursday, August 5, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous, and aged 18+; open to applicants worldwide.
The Screenwriting Features Lab is a nine-month professional development program supporting three Indigenous screenwriters from Canada and around the world as they develop an original feature film script from concept and treatment to a third draft. Participants will receive guidance from Indigenous story editors and industry professionals throughout the program, with feedback at each stage of the writing process. Screenwriters will receive financial support through the program, with stipends awarded at key milestones, as well as travel and accommodations to attend the 2027 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. The final stage of the Lab includes the development of professional pitch deck materials to support participants in advancing their projects.
imagineNATIVE Originals Short Film Commission
Applications for the imagineNATIVE Originals mentorships are now open!
Application Deadline: Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit), 18 years of age or older, and eligible for one of the regional mentorships based in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Calgary, or Vancouver.
The imagineNATIVE Originals mentorships offer four separate opportunities for Indigenous filmmakers to develop and produce an original short film commissioned by imagineNATIVE to premiere at the 2027 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.
Presented in partnership with the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), Charles Street Video (CSV), the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF), and Capilano University, each mentorship provides production funding, in-kind support, professional development, and mentorship tailored to the selected filmmaker.
Applicants are selected based on the strength of their overall application, including their film treatment, visual reference lookbook, writing sample and/or script, production schedule, budget, and project feasibility. Participants will also receive access to workshops, equipment, and mentorship through their partner organization while developing a 5 to 10 minute short film.
Completed films will premiere as part of the imagineNATIVE Originals program at the 2027 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. Selected participants will also receive travel and accommodation support to attend the Festival, participate in their film’s premiere, and take part in a post-screening Q&A.
For questions about any of the imagineNATIVE Originals mentorships, please contact Janis ‘Rain’ Migwans at rain@imaginenative.org.
Applications for this opportunity are currently open.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit), 18 years of age or older, and based in Toronto or the Greater Toronto Area.
This opportunity is for Indigenous filmmakers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with an original idea for a short film.
imagineNATIVE annually partners with Charles Street Video (CSV) to support one filmmaker with a minimum of $12,000 in production funding and $5,000 in in-kind services to create a short film that will premiere at the 2027 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto.
This opportunity is geared toward 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.
The selected participant will receive:
- $5,000 of in-kind equipment access and hands-on training through CSV
- The opportunity to create a 5 to 10 minute short film using professional production equipment and editing facilities.
Please Note: Applicants must commit to attending the required CSV training workshops and live in Toronto or within commuting distance to access CSV facilities and equipment. Travel and living expenses are not covered through this mentorship.
Apply for the imagineNATIVE Originals + Charles Street Video (CSV) Commission Mentorship here
Applications for this opportunity are currently open.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit), 18 years of age or older, and based in Toronto or the Greater Toronto Area.
This opportunity is for Indigenous filmmakers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with an original idea for a 16mm short film. This opportunity is geared toward an Indigenous creator (emerging or established) who is a deadline-driven self-starter looking to expand their filmmaking experience through 16mm production.
Celebrating 21 years of supporting independent Indigenous filmmaking, the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) is once again partnering with imagineNATIVE to support the creation of a new Indigenous short film.
The selected participant will receive:
- Eligibility to enrol in up to $750 worth of LIFT training workshops
- Minimum of $12,000 in production funding
- LIFT Production Membership
- Technical support to create a 5 to 10 minute short film
- Access to training workshops, mentorship from LIFT staff and mentors, and access to professional 16mm production equipment
Please Note: Applicants must commit to attending the LIFT workshops they register for and live in Toronto or within commuting distance to access LIFT facilities and equipment. Travel and living expenses are not covered through this mentorship.
Apply for the imagineNATIVE Originals + Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) Commission Mentorship here
Applications for this opportunity are currently open.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit), 18 years of age or older, and based in or near Vancouver.
This opportunity is for Indigenous filmmakers in British Columbia with an original idea for a short film.
imagineNATIVE annually partners with Capilano University to support one filmmaker with a minimum of $12,000 in production funding and mentorship to create a short film that will premiere at the 2027 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto.
This opportunity is geared toward an Indigenous creator (emerging or established) who is a deadline-driven self-starter looking to strengthen their filmmaking practice through mentorship and professional development.
The selected participant will receive:
- Mentorship from an Indigenous producer
- Support from Capilano University staff and the imagineNATIVE Institute, while developing and producing a 5 to 10 minute short film.
Please Note: Applicants must live in Vancouver or within commuting distance to access Capilano facilities and equipment. Travel and living expenses are not covered through this mentorship.
Apply for the imagineNATIVE Originals + Capilano University Commission Mentorship here
Applications for this opportunity are currently open.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit), 18 years of age or older, and based in or near Calgary.
This opportunity is for Indigenous filmmakers in Calgary with an original idea for a short film.
imagineNATIVE annually partners with the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF) to support one filmmaker with a minimum of $12,000 in production funding and $5,000 in in-kind services to create a short film that will premiere at the 2027 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto.
This opportunity is geared toward an Indigenous creator (emerging or established) who is a deadline-driven self-starter looking to expand their filmmaking experience through CSIF’s equipment, workshops, and mentorship opportunities.
The selected participant will receive:
- $5,000 in in-kind support, including equipment access, training workshops
- Hands-on guidance from CSIF staff while creating a 5 to 10 minute short film
Please Note: Applicants must live in Calgary or within commuting distance to access CSIF facilities and equipment. Travel and living expenses are not covered through this mentorship.
Apply for the imagineNATIVE Originals + Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF) Commission Mentorship here
Screenwriting Shorts Lab
Applications for this opportunity are currently closed.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous, aged 18+, and based in Canada or the US.
The imagineNATIVE Institute’s Screenwriting Shorts Lab is a professional development program for four Indigenous creatives (three Canadian-based artists and one US-based artist) who are interested in writing a short film script. The selected screenwriters will develop an original short script from treatment to final draft, working closely with Indigenous story editors and select imagineNATIVE staff throughout the process. Each participant will receive financial support throughout the Lab, with a stipend at the end of each milestone. The final stage of the intensive involves the creation of materials for a professional pitch deck. The program also provides participants with travel and accommodations to attend the next imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.
Indigenous Series Lab
Applications for this opportunity are currently closed.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous, aged 18+, and based in Canada or the US.
The Indigenous Series Lab is a six-month, multi-phase professional development and training program designed to support Indigenous writers in creating compelling scripted series for television and digital platforms. Structured around a series of residencies, online mentorship periods, festival engagements, and industry showcases, the Lab aims to provide participants with the creative tools, writing discipline, and market exposure needed to advance their projects toward commissioning, production, and international circulation. The program is jointly developed and delivered by imagineNATIVE and the StoryBoard Collective, with valued involvement from the Indigenous Screen Office and support from the Canada Media Fund.
Story Editor Mentorship
Applications for this opportunity are currently closed.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous, aged 18+, and based in Canada.
The imagineNATIVE Institute’s Story Editor Mentorship program is designed to provide Indigenous creatives with the skills to edit and provide notes on both long and short form film scripts. Previously presented in partnership with The Harold Greenberg Fund (which closed in 2021), this program has since been reimagined to support two Indigenous creatives in their journey to becoming professional story editors. The selected participants will work closely with an established story editor and will work alongside the cohorts of the Screenwriting Features Lab and the Screenwriting Shorts Lab to gain hands-on experience expanding story and character development.
Indigenous Film Criticism Fellowship
Applications for this opportunity are currently closed.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indigenous and aged 18+; open to applicants worldwide.
Curating Indigenous Circumpolar Cultural Sovereignty at York University, in partnership with the Banff Centre, imagineNATIVE, and the Arctic Indigenous Film Fund, invites applications for the inaugural Indigenous Film Criticism Fellowship. This new program supports emerging Indigenous writers who want to shape the future of criticism in Indigenous screen culture. It responds to the long-standing gap in writing about Indigenous film and recognizes that strong, informed criticism is essential to a thriving Indigenous screen industry.
Participants will strengthen their own critical voices in ways that are informed, respectful and grounded in community. The fellowship explores how to offer honest critique in spaces where relationships can make this work both complex and sensitive. Through hands-on workshops and mentorship with experienced Indigenous writers, programmers and curators, participants will learn how to analyze films that tell meaningful stories, including those created with limited production resources. The program includes access to both tailored and general industry sessions at one of the most established international Indigenous festivals, a dedicated writing retreat, and the opportunity to develop articles for possible publication on a curated Indigenous cinema profile on Letterboxd.
The fellowship also creates space for deep conversation and recognizes the diversity of Indigenous cinema and nations. Mainstream criticism often treats Indigenous films as a single category and this program works to challenge that tendency.
Schedule
The Fellowship takes place through a combination of online and in-person experiences.
Online workshops:
- Three virtual workshops on writing and contextualizing Indigenous cinema, the role of programming and the value of critique, and the ways films are curated and experienced within the community, taking place during the following dates and times:
- March 17, 2026 | Start time: 8:00 AM NZT / 8:00 PM CET / 3:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM MT
- March 24, 2026 | Start time: 8:00 AM NZT / 8:00 PM CET / 3:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM MT
- March 31, 2026 | Start time: 7:00 AM NZT | 8:00 PM CET / 2:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM MT
In-person experiences:
- In-person attendance at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival from June 2-7, 2026
- In-person writing retreat at the Banff Centre from June 8-16, 2026
All travel expenses within Canada are covered. Participants will receive a stipend of $1,500 CAD and a writing fee of $500 CAD per article for up to three articles selected for publication.
How to Apply
Submit the following materials:
- Your CV or resume
- A short paragraph about one of your favourite films and why it is meaningful to you
To submit your application or if you have any questions, please contact Amee Le at ameele@imagineNATIVE.org and Maisha Baddoo at maisha@imagineNATIVE.org.
Application Deadline: February 7, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
Micro Meetings: Call for Leaders
Applications for this opportunity are currently closed.
Eligibility: Applicants must have experience in the screen industry (e.g. festival programming, curation, buying, funding, agent representation, sales, acquisitions, distribution, production, development), and must have a 2026 In-Person Festival Pass and a Swapcard account; open to applicants worldwide.
Are you a Festival Programmer, Curator, Buyer, Agent, or Funder? Do you work in Sales, Acquisitions, Distribution, Production, or Development?
Register for imagineNATIVE’s Micro Meetings, a full-day international networking event, to begin building meaningful relationships during one-on-one meetings with innovative Indigenous creatives in the screen industry!
Micro Meetings is the world’s only market event of its kind dedicated to Indigenous screen and digital content. This exciting event provides Indigenous creatives with valuable face-to-face time with industry decision makers in various sectors of the screen industry.
The 2026 Micro Meetings event is held on June 3, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM during Industry Days at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto. In addition to our in-person Micro Meetings event, we are also offering a virtual option which will take place on June 12, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 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).