Indigenous Screen Office and Paramount Launch New Rewrite Lab to Advance Indigenous Screen Stories

Press Release

Toronto (Tkaronto), June 15, 2026 – The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) is pleased to launch its first-ever professional development program dedicated to Indigenous screenwriters, in partnership with Paramount. The ISO x Paramount Rewrite Lab is an advanced script development initiative designed to support four Indigenous writers who have completed the development phase of a project and are ready to undertake an intensive rewrite process.

“The ISO is proud to partner with Paramount on this important initiative for Indigenous screenwriters,” said Melanie Hadley, Vice-President, Industry Partnerships and Growth at the Indigenous Screen Office. “The Rewrite Lab will provide participants with the time, mentorship, and strategic support needed to strengthen their stories, sharpen their craft, and advance projects toward production. By investing in writers at this pivotal stage, we are helping to build a stronger ecosystem of Indigenous-led content for audiences in Canada and around the world.”

“We’re honoured to partner with the Indigenous Screen Office on this initiative and to continue supporting Indigenous creators and storytellers across Canada,” said Katrina Kowalski, SVP, Content, Paramount Canada. “Our hope is that the ISO x Paramount Rewrite Lab will provide writers with meaningful opportunities to strengthen their projects and further develop their stories that reflect the richness and diversity of Indigenous perspectives.”

The program will support participants with completed scripts or strong project outlines through a structured curriculum that includes story editing, mentorship, peer learning, and guidance from experienced industry advisors. The Rewrite Lab is intended to strengthen projects at a critical stage between development and production, helping writers refine their stories and prepare them for the global marketplace.

The ISO x Paramount Rewrite Lab aims to strengthen Indigenous-led screen stories through advanced script development, foster a collaborative cohort experience that encourages creative growth and resilience, provide access to high-level industry expertise and mentorship, and increase project readiness for production and financing opportunities.

Applications for the ISO x Paramount Rewrite Lab will open in July 2026. The program will run from December 2026 through March 20, 2027.

Additional information, including eligibility criteria and application guidelines, will be available on the Indigenous Screen Office website on July 14, 2026.

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For more information:
Indigenous Screen Office
Jean-François D. O’Bomsawin
Director of Communications & Francophone Initiatives, ISO
jfobomsawin@iso-bea.ca

Paramount Streaming (Canada)
Laura Heath Potter
Senior Director of Communications and Publicity
Laura.HeathPotter@paramount.com

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