The Indigenous Cinema Alliance is stepping into 2026 with a renewed sense of purpose. Its global network is growing stronger, and this coming year brings returning partners and new members from Aotearoa. There is also a shift in market strategy and a fellowship cohort reflecting the depth and reach of Indigenous storytelling worldwide.
The Māoriland Film Festival rejoins the Alliance after six years, reasserting its influence as a leading, creative festival for Māori storytellers and a global touchstone, affirming that stories thrive in community.
Joining the ICA for the first time, Ngā Aho Whakaari / Māori in Screen elevates representation by championing Māori creatives and strengthening the Alliance’s leadership and cultural integrity.
They join returning members, each a leader in Indigenous cinema: imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival drives innovative programming; the International Sámi Film Institute advances Sámi storytelling; 4th World Media, MULLU, Winda Film Festival, Film.gl, and Pacific Islanders in Communications each foster distinctive regional voices and industry collaboration.
Each holds a piece of the global landscape. Together, they form the kind of network Indigenous filmmakers have fought to build for generations.
A Strategic Shift Toward TIFF: The Market
After ten years at the European Film Market, the ICA will now focus its main 2026 efforts on the inaugural TIFF: The Market, held during the Toronto International Film Festival. This move responds to industry changes, as Indigenous creators seek and establish marketplaces that recognize their sovereignty over storytelling, intellectual property, and cultural expression. By shifting to TIFF: The Market, the ICA aims to meet these needs more directly.
The Alliance’s relationship with EFM continues through the co-production and distribution pathways ICA members have established. This expansion broadens our reach rather than redirecting it.
The ICA will also attend the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market for the first time. In an industry that often sidelines short-form creators, Clermont-Ferrand offers a rare opportunity. It gives access to Indigenous producers working in formats that often carry our first films, experiments, and earliest sparks of story.
The 2026 Fellowship Cohort
The ICA’s ninth fellowship cohort gathers filmmakers and industry leaders shaping the next wave of Indigenous cinema across regions and mediums.
All share a commitment to telling stories with honesty. They value accountability and cultural grounding.
The 2026 Fellows include:
- Brooke Collard (Ballardong Whadjuk Noongar)
- Jacqueline Olivé (Tongan)
- Johannes Vang (Sámi)
- Katsitsionni Fox (Mohawk Nation from Akwesasne)
- Libby Hakaraia (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kapu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira)
- Marc Fussing Rosbach (Inuk)
- Princess Daazhraii Johnson (Neets’aii Gwich’in)
- Sadetło Scott (Tłı̨chǫ Dene)
- Sara Beate Eira (Sámi)
Each Fellow will engage with ICA programs at Clermont-Ferrand, EFM, or TIFF: The Market. Placement is based on what their projects need to move forward. More Fellows will be announced before TIFF.
Funding and Partnerships
The Canada Media Fund, the Indigenous Screen Office, and Telefilm Canada continue as core ICA supporters. Their partnerships strengthen the pathways Indigenous creators use to reach international markets. These supports do not compromise the cultural, legal, or community responsibilities tied to their stories.
Voices From Across the Alliance
David Morrison of imagineNATIVE reminds us why this work matters: “Indigenous storytelling does not wait on the sidelines. By convening at both feature and short-form markets, and by strengthening our network with returning and new members from Aotearoa, we are expanding opportunities for Indigenous producers and ensuring that our stories are seen, valued, and traded on equitable terms.”
Kay Ellmers of Ngā Aho Whakaari speaks to the cultural grounding of this moment:
“Ngā Aho Whakaari is honoured to join the Indigenous Cinema Alliance. At this pivotal time, Indigenous storytellers are taking centre stage to reshape narratives, reclaim language and culture, and challenge colonial frameworks. We look forward to contributing to this collective, sharing expertise and learning with others who share our vision for a vibrant Indigenous screen future.”
Frida Muenala of MULLU underscores what is at stake in Abya Yala:
“In Ecuador, Indigenous peoples face resource extraction, violence, and disregard for their collective decision-making and visions of wellbeing. Yet we keep creating, filming, and defending our way of life.”
About the Indigenous Cinema Alliance
The ICA strengthens global Indigenous cinema. It builds professional spaces grounded in culture and supports all phases of Indigenous storytelling: development, co-production, distribution, and international sales. Its work ensures Indigenous creators have the support and autonomy to bring projects to the world with integrity.
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