The Organization

The Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) is the collective voice of Canada’s independent documentary creators. DOC began in 1983 as the Canadian Independent Film Caucus (CIFC) to represent the interests of Canada’s growing community of indie doc filmmakers. Today DOC has over 1100 members across six chapters from coast to coast.

DOC’s National office leads on research and advocacy work that strengthens the ecosystem for documentary production while DOC chapters provide local programming and community support. DOC’s mandate as a member-driven organization is to advocate for an equitable, sustainable environment for documentary production and to strengthen the sector within the broader cultural industry.

In June 2021, DOC’s National Board of Directors passed a motion to centre equity within all of DOC’s work, including at the level of the Executive Director, Board, Chapters and Committees and to work towards the well-being of all our members, and to advocate for the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action.

MILESTONES

1983

The CIFC (Canadian Independent Film Caucus) was founded in Toronto in 1983 and advocated successfully for the creation of the CFDC’s (now Telefilm) documentary broadcast envelope.

1990

The CIFC launched POV Magazine, Canada’s premiere and longest running magazine covering documentary culture.

1992

The CIFC was instrumental in bringing new documentary strands to public airwaves, including CBC’s Witness and The Passionate Eye.

1994

The CIFC founded Hot Docs – now North America’s biggest documentary-focused film festival.

2003

The CIFC was renamed DOC.

2004

DOC Quebec co-founded the RIDM Forum, the industry component of North America’s largest francophone documentary festival.

2010

DOC successfully advocated for the creation of the Canada Media Fund’s English POV Program.

2013

The Ontario Chapter launched the DOC Institute, a dedicated hub providing professional development activities for non-fiction professionals.

2019

DOC launched a two-year free membership program for Indigenous filmmakers, encouraging greater representation and equity in Canada’s film industry.

2020

DOC launched Documentary Production in the Era of COVID-19: Best Practice by and for Documentary Filmmakers.

2021

DOC launched a two-year free membership program for filmmakers who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of Colour, encouraging greater representation and equity in Canada’s film industry.

2023

DOC celebrated it’s 40th anniversary! In honour of this significant moment, DOC and its chapters throughout Canada organized a series of events.

In 2023, DOC marked its 40th anniversary with a series of events across Canada, commemorating this milestone. To dive into the celebrations and learn more on all the events, CLICK HERE for more details.

MANDATE

The Documentary Organization of Canada/Documentaristes du Canada (DOC) is the collective voice of independent documentary creators across Canada. It is a member driven organization dedicated to promoting, supporting and developing the art form of documentary filmmaking. As a national non-profit association it advocates on behalf of its members to foster an equitable environment conducive to documentary production and strives to strengthen the sector within the broader media production industry.

MISSION

The Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) advocates for independent
documentary creators and advances a just, sustainable, and thriving documentary
ecosystem across Canada.

DOC is committed to:

  • Defending independence and freedom of expression
  • Advancing equity and narrative sovereignty
  • Building sustainable livelihoods for Canadian documentary creators
  • Championing documentary as a civic and democratic practice
  • Strengthening documentary culture while fostering community among creators in Canada and with stakeholders worldwide

VISION

DOC envisions a Canada where documentary is widely recognized as an essential part of the country’s social fabric, fostering deeper understanding, activating public discourse, and inspiring meaningful social change. In this thriving ecosystem, a diverse community of independent documentary creators works within an equitable landscape supported by sustainable financing, robust distribution networks, and a culture that celebrates plurality of voices, creative experimentation, and deeply ethical, collaborative practices.

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES

  • Respect for Creators and the Documentary Form

    We value documentary creators, their craft, and the artistic, cultural and civic importance of the genre.
  • Transparency & Accountability to Members

    We operate openly, communicate clearly, and remain accountable to our members in our decisions and actions.
  • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization & Indigenization

    We work to build a documentary ecosystem that reflects a just society, actioning equity, practicing inclusion, supporting decolonization and indigenization, and valuing diverse cultural expressions and leadership across all chapters.
  • Creativity, Collaboration & Artistic Innovation

    We champion experimentation, creative risk-taking, and collaborative practice, celebrating the many forms that documentary can take.
  • Narrative Sovereignty & Ethical Storytelling

    We uphold the right of communities and creators to tell their own stories, grounded in ethical, reciprocal, and respectful practices.
  • Independence, Freedom of Expression & Anti-Censorship

    We defend creative and political autonomy for documentary makers, and protect freedom of expression—especially for works that address difficult or contested subjects.
  • Documentary as Civic and Democratic Practice

    We believe documentary is vital to democratic discourse, challenging conventions, revealing truths, deepening understanding, and inspiring personal and political transformation.
  • Fair Work & Sustainable Livelihoods

    We advocate for conditions that ensure Canadian documentary creators can earn a sustainable living wage and build viable, long-term careers.
  • Human Authorship & Creative Integrity

    We affirm the importance of human-led storytelling and the integrity, intention, and accountability that human authorship brings to documentary work.
  • Accessibility, Community-Building & Member Leadership

    We prioritize community-building by fostering accessible and welcoming structures that enable meaningful participation, connection, and ongoing support throughout members’ careers. As a decentralized organization, we support regionally rooted, member-led initiatives and collaborative approaches that reflect the diverse needs and strengths of communities across Canada.