In honor of this significant moment, DOC and its chapters throughout Canada will be organizing a series of events.
Here are some notable highlights:
DOC National:
DOC National was pleased to partner with the Toronto International Film Festival for a celebration during the festival!
Overlooking King Street and the Toronto skyline at sunset, the 40th-anniversary celebration took place in the heart of the festival on the Rooftop of the TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12th.
Thank you to all the DOC members and DOC partners who joined us, to commemorate DOC’s rich history and bright future.
DOC extends our heartfelt gratitude to the evening’s sponsors for their generous support:
DOC Atlantic
Spotlight Conversation & Mixer at Lunenburg Doc Fest!
On September 24th, Joined by Atlantic region documentary creators, DOC Atlantic engaged in a conversation that explored changes in the documentary ecosystem over the past four decades as we envisioned the future. This was followed by oysters and wine to celebrate DOC’s 40th anniversary!
Panelists at the event: Sylvia D. Hamilton, Saif Chowdhury, Teresa MacInnes’, and John Walker. The panel was moderated by Mille Clarkes.
DOC Atlantic extends our heartfelt gratitude to the evening’s sponsors for their generous support:
DOC Quebec
DOC’s 40th Anniversary At RIDM: The Challenges Of Documentary Film, Past And Present
The DOC Hour at the RIDM provided an opportunity for an intergenerational conversation on the topic of transformations in the Canadian and Quebec documentary world since DOC was founded in 1983. We looked back over four decades of DOC’s tireless efforts to preserve the vitality, funding, and accessibility of documentaries in our society.
We marked this anniversary by reflecting on our history and looking to the future. We saluted the growing diversity of our community, took stock of our challenges, and celebrated our successes.
The panel began with an overview of the “Getting Real” report on the decline in funding for documentary production in Canada.
DOC Alberta
In Alberta, DOC Alberta hosted an inclusive event, including a panel discussion reflecting on DOC’s 40-year journey and its impact on the documentary community. These events highlighted DOC’s rich history and contributions to the documentary industry.
This “All Are Welcome” event featured food, beverages, music, and plenty of networking time with a small interlude for a speaking panel made up of veteran producer and director, Connie Edwards (also former DOC National Board Chair) and emerging documentary writer and director Omar Mouallem, moderated by DOC Alberta Board Chair, Kelly Wolfert.
DOC Ontario
In Ontario, DOC Institute celebrated 40 years of DOC alongside their10th Annual DOC Institute Honours Celebration. The event featured complimentary hors d’ouerves, a silent auction, a live DJ set, and some impromptu karaoke.
DOC Institute also presented the Rogers-DOC Luminary Award and the DOC Vanguard Award during the evening. The recipients of the awards were industry veteran Janice Dawe and acclaimed filmmaker Noura Kevorkian, respectively. DOC Institute hosted Janice Dawe and Noura Kevorkian for a conversation about their filmmaking careers.