#FIRSTLOOK: INDIGENOUS SCREEN OFFICE’S 2026 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SLATE

The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) celebrates a strong Indigenous presence at the 2026 edition of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), with eight ISO-supported projects featured at the Festival and a series of Market events bringing together Indigenous filmmakers, industry leaders and international delegates. For the first time, the ISO will co-partner with Telefilm Canada at the Canadian Pavilion, further solidifying the Indigenous presence at TIFF.

“This year marks an important milestone for the ISO. For the first time, we are partnering with Telefilm Canada at the Canadian Pavilion, reflecting how far we have come in building a strong, united and sustainable Indigenous screen sector,” said Kerry Swanson, CEO of the Indigenous Screen Office. “With eight ISO-supported projects having their world premiere at TIFF, and Indigenous creators and producers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and around the world coming together through the TIFF Market, we are seeing Indigenous storytelling take its rightful place not only on our screens, but in the spaces where partnerships, financing and international opportunities are created. This is the future we have been working towards.”

The ISO invested a combined total of $2.7 million CAD in the development and production of eight films selected in this year’s official program, which spotlights a list of talented emerging voices and award-winning established Indigenous filmmakers.

The ISO-supported projects at TIFF 2026 include 5 feature films, 1 short film, and 2 immersive films:

SEVENTEEN, directed by Justin Ducharme and produced by Experimental Forest Films and You Boy Productions – World Premiere, Discovery

SMUDGE THE BLADES, directed by Cody Lightning and produced by Lightning Mill Inc. and North Country Cinema, World Premiere, Centrepiece

(HABOOLM KSINAALGAT) SOUL CATCHER, from Amanda Strong and Pamela Post, World Premiere, Short Cuts

IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH, directed by Nyla Innuksuk and produced by Innuksuk’s Mixtape VR and Sphere Media, World Premiere, Platform

HOW WE STAND, directed by Marie Clements and produced by Marie Clements Media and Screen Siren Pictures, World Premiere, Centrepiece

TURTLE ISLAND RAP, directed by Alexandra Lazarowich and produced by T.I. RAP Inc. and Scenario Media, World Premiere, TIFF Docs

TARTUPALUK, from Laakkuluk Williamson and produced by Scintilla, Nation of Lovers Productions and Ánorâk Film, World Premiere, Innovation Hub

MEKWÂC: NOW IS GOOD, from James Monkman and produced by Quantum Wampum and James Monkman Studio, World Premiere, Innovation Hub

As part of TIFF: The Market, ISO will host a series of events September 10–14 designed to foster connection, collaboration and new opportunities for Indigenous screen storytellers in Canada and internationally.

Canadian Pavilion Opening

Thursday, September 10 | 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. | Canadian Pavilion, Metro Toronto Convention Centre

The Canadian Pavilion welcomes delegates with an opening prayer from an Indigenous elder alongside remarks from the ISO, Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates.

Ontario/Australia Day

Thursday, Sept, 10, 9:30am-3:30pm |Allied Music Centre at Massey Hall (178 Victoria Street)

This day-long event features information-sharing sessions, including a panel discussion on Australian and Ontario co-productions and B2B meetings. Screen Australia is supporting the participation of 11 production companies. In addition, its First Nations Department has funded 7 production companies through the First Nations Factual Co-production Development Fund. Ontario Creates and the ISO have invited 20 Ontario-based producers to participate in the event and meet with the Australian delegation.

Ontario/UK Day

Friday, September 11 | 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. | Allied Music Centre at Massey Hall (178 Victoria Street)

In partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI), Ontario Creates will host a B2B event for producers from the United Kingdom who identify as Black and/or as part of the Global Majority, and Ontario producers selected by the Black Screen Office (BSO) and the ISO.

ISO Indigenous Breakfast
Saturday, September 12 | 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. | TIFF Lightbox

ISO hosts its by-invitation Indigenous Breakfast, welcoming The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture alongside an international delegation of Indigenous filmmakers to TIFF. The gathering will bring Indigenous creators and industry representatives from Canada and around the world together to build relationships, exchange ideas and celebrate Indigenous storytelling at the Festival.

Meet the ISO Team at the Canadian Pavilion

Monday, September 14 | 9:30 a.m.–10:15 a.m. | Canadian Pavilion, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Stage 1

Members of ISO’s Funding team Tash Naveau, Kaya Wheeler and Melanie Nepinak Hadley will introduce ISO’s programs and discuss funding opportunities available to Indigenous screen-based storytellers and organizations.

North is Now: Indigenous Storytelling in the Arctic
Monday, September 14 | 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. | Canadian Pavilion, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Stage 1

As the Arctic becomes increasingly important on the world stage, Indigenous storytellers are creating new opportunities for collaboration, co-production and international partnerships.

Bringing together leaders from across the circumpolar North, this conversation will explore how Indigenous-led institutions are building sustainable screen industries, strengthening narrative sovereignty and positioning Canada as a key partner in the future of Arctic film and television.

ISO Late-Night Reception
Monday, September 14 | 9:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m. | TIFF Lightbox

ISO will close out its TIFF activities with a by-invitation late-night networking reception bringing together Indigenous filmmakers, industry leaders, partners and guests for an evening of connection and community.

ABOUT THE INDIGENOUS SCREEN OFFICE
The Indigenous Screen Office is an independent national advocacy and funding organization serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis creators of screen content in Canada. The ISO’s mandate is to foster and support narrative sovereignty and cultural revitalization by increasing Indigenous storytelling on screens and promoting Indigenous values and participation across the sector.

#FIRSTLOOK: INDIGENOUS SCREEN OFFICE CONTRIBUTES $1 MILLION TO IQALUIT TV PRODUCTION STUDIO

The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) has confirmed its 1M dollar contribution to the building of a film and television production studio in Iqaluit, Nunavut. ISO was first-in-funder for the studio initiative, led by Red Marrow Media, which triggered a private partnership investment from fellow Inuk entrepreneur Cody Dean, and marks a notable milestone as ISO’s largest funding commitment yet. This is part of a larger investment in Nunavut through the ISO’s Sector Development program, which also includes support for two broadcast entities, Inuit TV and Uvagut TV.

The capital contribution to create the studio space in Iqaluit ensures Red Marrow’s as-yet untitled scripted series created and written by Inuit writers and producers Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril will be shot in Nunavut rather than in the south, maximizing the benefits of the project for the Inuit production community. The project is majority produced by Red Marrow Media, in partnership with Miranda de Pencier’s Toronto-based production company Northwood Entertainment and is the first ever CBC/APTN/Netflix collaboration. Following production, the studio will continue to create economic development opportunities for Nunavut’s film and TV industry, and be shared for broad community use.

“ISO worked hard to negotiate terms with Canadian Heritage that would allow us to support capital costs because we know this is a critical component to building capacity in the Indigenous screen sector – particularly in the north,” said Kerry Swanson, CEO of the ISO. “We are incredibly proud to be able to help build much-needed production infrastructure in Nunavut that will create industry opportunities for generations to come.”

“We are so grateful to the ISO for supporting our vision for a space in Iqaluit. This studio will enable our production community to create content on a scale that has never been possible before,” said Alethea Arnaquq-Baril & Stacey Aglok MacDonald, co-CEOs of Red Marrow Media. “It is so important to us to be able to create content in our own homelands, which allows us to bring our community into our show, both onscreen and off. A studio like this would have been game changing for us at the start of our careers, and we hope its existence now will help spark the careers of many more Inuit creatives to come.”

In the last five years, the ISO has been a pioneering organization in the screen, arts and culture sectors, delivering over $24.6m directly to over 320 First Nations, Inuit and Métis recipients across Canada. Over 88% of ISO’s total budget has been delivered directly to applicants and projects over the last two years, with all funding delivered in both official languages. The organization’s work in advocacy, funding policy, program design and delivery, eligibility, narrative sovereignty and protocols have been replicated and advanced across the industry, where ISO is widely acknowledged as a leading organization.

The ISO is the first organization of its kind in Canada and abroad – an independent Indigenous-led and run funding organization that supports screen-based content owned and controlled by Indigenous storytellers on all platforms. ISO’s mandate is in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ratified by Canada, which positions storytelling and self-representation in media as a fundamental right. With 67% of funding in 2022 going to projects with Indigenous languages, the ISO further supports the government’s Indigenous Languages Act and language rights affirmed by this government and by UNDRIP.

About ISO

The ISO is the first organization of its kind in Canada and abroad – an independent Indigenous-led and run funding organization that supports screen-based content owned and controlled by Indigenous storytellers on all platforms. ISO’s mandate is in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ratified by Canada, which positions storytelling and self-representation in media as a fundamental right. With 67% of funding in 2022 going to projects with Indigenous languages, the ISO further supports the government’s Indigenous Languages Act and language rights affirmed by this government and by UNDRIP.