Category: Workshop

Join DOC Northwest for an evening of learning, networking, and community!

We’re kicking things off with a member-exclusive Masterclass with Sherrill Sirrs, CPA, CMA — “Ask Me Anything: Film Accounting.”

A promo code is required to access the Masterclass ticket. Scroll down on the DOC Member Benefits page and find the code under ‘Other Professional Benefits.’

Doors open at 4:00 PM, and the session begins at 4:30 PM. This interactive masterclass offers DOC Northwest members the rare opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of film finance with one of the industry’s most trusted experts. Expect to explore the ins and outs of film accounting, such as tax credit accounting (everyone’s favourite topic!) and come prepared with your burning questions.

Sherrill has generously offered to share her immense knowledge, insights, and a few behind-the-scenes stories from her decades in the business.

Thank you to Creative BC for contributing to this masterclass!

Spaces are limited, and advance registration is required.

For any questions or feedback, please email docnorthwest@docorg.ca

Save the date. Block your calendar. Book your travel.

This is a free event for creatives from underrepresented communities, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+ and/or a person with a disability.

DOC Institute’s EPIC Symposium and CBC and BIPOC TV & Film’s Creating Connections join forces to bring together the boldest creators, producers, and decision-makers in Canada’s film and media industry for three days of unstoppable energy, fresh ideas, and game-changing connections.

This is not just another industry event — it’s a gathering dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities, where a chanced connection could lead to opportunities and where big conversations turn into bold action.

• Inspiring Panelists: Barrier-breakers redefining what’s possible.
• Hard-hitting Panels: Tackling the urgent issues shaping our industry right now.
• CBC Roundtables: An informal meetup with decision makers across CBC Entertains.
• Producers’ Market: Creatives meet established production companies to discuss pitch ideas and to make key connections.
• High-impact Networking Mixer: Designed to connect you with the people who can help make your next move your biggest yet.

And we’re turning up the impact with dynamic programming from our powerhouse partners — Black Screen Office, OYA Black Arts Coalition, Racial Equity Media Collective, and the Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators — bringing you sessions that inspire, challenge, and spark conversations and action.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with the brightest minds in the industry.

This is where the movement meets momentum. The future is calling. Be in the room where change happens!

A three-part virtual workshop series on documentary filmmaking.

DOC Institute presents the Documentary Filmmaker Lab. Join us for a virtual 3-part workshop series led by award-winning documentary writer and director Rama Rau. This series will be relevant whether you’re new to doc filmmaking or already have some experience. The series will also be of interest to those who have previously participated in our Essentials Bootcamp series as we take you deeper into the nuances of documentary filmmaking.

The series is open to participants across Canada. Each session will have a Q&A period where you can ask your questions.

Session 1: From Idea to Story

📅 JUNE 11

🕐 1-4pm ET

Session 2: From Prep to Post Production

📅 JUNE 18

🕐 1-4pm ET

Session 3: Producers Panel

📅 JUNE 25,

🕐 1-4pm ET

Hear from creatives about how to work best with your music and post audio team to get the best project possible and avoid common mistakes.

The workshop will aim at giving doc makers insight into best practices and common pitfalls to avoid when dealing with music and post audio. There will be insight to dealing with Indigenous content.

Register Here

DOC Alberta invites you to Breaking It Down, a full-day workshop designed to dive deep into the intricacies of documentary filmmaking.

Join industry professionals, including producers, directors, and funders, for an immersive day of insights and connections!

Calgary: Sunday, February 2, 2025

Location: Platform Calgary, 407 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2K7

Program:

• 8:30am — Doors Open / Networking
• 9:30am— KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Nettie Wild, Filmmaker & 2023 Governor General’s Award for Media Arts!
• 11:15am — MEET A FUNDER: Selina Crammond, Production Executive at TELUS Originals
• 12:00pm — Sponsored Luncheon
• 1:00pm — “What Locals Do” Filmmaker Panel with Producer Laura O’Grady and Producer Adam Scorgie
• 2:45pm — MEET A BROADCASTER: Jim Krysko Content Development Specialist at Accessible Media Inc.(AMI)
• 3:30 pm — DOC Alberta Discussion and Networking
• 5:30pm — Wrap

– With support from the Alberta Film Commission and Calgary Economic Development

Ticket Pricing:

** Lunch Included**

• DOC Members: $45 (***CHECK EMAILS FOR YOUR DISCOUNT CODE***)
• Non-DOC Members: $60
• DOC Member Students: $20
• Non-Member Students: $35

Interested in becoming a member? Join DOC Alberta today and be part of the collective voice for Canadian documentary creators: docorg.ca/join-doc

Join us and make your voices heard!

DOC is inviting documentary makers across the country to participate in cross-country consultations. Next stop: Whistler, BC during the Whistler Film Festival!

We will be serving lunch and refreshments during the session. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know in the form below.

Please let us know if you require ASL interpretation to fully participate by November 25 by emailing operations@docorg.ca 

This session is open to all documentary-makers, and will be followed by a social with free food and refreshments 😊

DOC’s cross-country consultations are taking place in collaboration with all six DOC Chapters over the course of this Fall and Winter. These discussions will help guide DOC’s advocacy efforts in the coming years, covering key issues that matter most to our community.

Thank you to the Canada Media Fund for their generous support in making these vital grassroots conversations with our members possible!

Looking for accommodations in Whistler and/or transportation from Vancouver?

Whistler Village Inn and Suites is pleased to offer DOC Members a special rate of $159.00 plus taxes per night for bookings between December 4 and 8, 2024!

YVR Skylynx and Epic Rides are pleased to offer DOC Members a special discount when booking transportation between Vancouver and Whistler!

Check out the DOC Member Benefits page for more into!

Join us and make your voices heard!

DOC is inviting documentary makers across the country to participate in cross-country consultations and our first stop is in Winnipeg!

DOC is partnering with DOC MB and the Winnipeg Film Group to hold our Manitoba community consultations on Wednesday, October 16th at 4:00pm

ASL will be provided during the session

This session is open to all documentary-makers, and will be followed by a social with free food and refreshments 😊

DOC’s MB consultation in Winnipeg is key to our National initiative to hear directly from doc-makers in Manitoba about how the seismic shifts in our industry are impacting your ability to create and disseminate your stories. At this crucial moment, the CRTC is in the process of deciding how to implement the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11), which will shape how we work with streamers and broadcasters for the foreseeable future. Federal institutions are rethinking how they support development, production, distribution and discoverability of our content, and festivals and funders are having to rethink their models. There has never been a more crucial time to make your voices heard.

DOC’s cross-country consultations are taking place in collaboration with all six DOC Chapters over the course of this Fall and Winter. These discussions will help guide DOC’s advocacy efforts in the coming years, covering key issues that matter most to our community.

Thank you to the Canada Media Fund for their generous support in making these vital grassroots conversations with our members possible!

A 4-part online series on the essentials of documentary producing, led by Soko Negash

DOC Institute’s popular Essentials Bootcamp series is back! This 4-part virtual series will cover the documentary producing essentials that every early career producer needs to know.

Led by Toronto-based producer Soko Negash, these intensive, interactive sessions will include case studies, real-world insight from industry professionals, and sample documents from successfully funded films. This bootcamp series is an opportunity for you to:

• Learn the 101s of funding, approaching funders, and pitch packages.
• Find out how to navigate legal & business affairs of a doc project.
• Understand ethical concerns, copyright, and more.
• Learn how to find and collaborate with your crew.
• Navigate the world of budgets, financing plans, and production management.
• Ask your burning questions about working as a producer in the industry.

REGISTRATION

DOC members receive $60 off registration prices (not applicable to student prices). Check’s DOC Member Benefits page for the discount code, under “Production Benefits.” Please remember to apply the discount code before checkout. Instructions for using promo codes can be found here. Learn more about becoming a member here.

We are offering a special registration pricing for students currently enrolled in a recognized post-secondary institution. We reserve the right to ask for proof of enrollment.

The registration prices are for access to all four workshops. The workshops are designed as a series and individual workshop registration is not available. The workshops are scheduled for the Ontario time zone, but we welcome registrants from any location. Workshops will be recorded and be made available to registrants.

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The Essentials Bootcamp series is made possible through the support of Ontario Creates.

Our Meet the Funder series is back! Join us virtually on July 23 (1pm ET) for a conversation with Heather Williamson (Senior Development and Production Executive, Original Programming, Factual & Reality, Bell Media) about funding opportunities at Bell Media. The session will be moderated by Aeyliya Husain.

The session is free for DOC members and non-members. 

TO KILL A TIGER, directed by 2022 DOC Vanguard Award recipient Nisha Pahuja, has been nominated for an Academy Award!

JoinDOC Institute for a conversation with the team behind the film’s Oscar campaign: Nisha Pahuja (Writer, Director, Producer), Geeta Sondhi (Executive Producer, Impact Producer), Archana Misra Jain (Film Campaign Strategist, Product of Culture), and Annalisa Shoemaker (Theatrical Distributor). The conversation is moderated by Ina Fichman (Producer, Fire of Love, 2022 Oscar Nominee)

In To Kill a Tiger, Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, India, takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his 13-year-old daughter, the survivor of sexual assault. In India, where a rape is reported every 20 minutes and conviction rates are less than 30 percent, Ranjit’s decision to support his daughter is virtually unheard of, and his journey unprecedented.

The Documentary Organization of Canada welcomes all to this no-charge event to help us celebrate our 40th Anniversary as an organization and the massive impact we have had in the documentary community for decades.

This “All Are Welcome” event will feature food, beverages, music, and plenty of networking time with a small interlude for a speaking panel with industry experts (speakers to be announced), moderated by DOC Alberta Board Chair, Kelly Wolfert. The panel will reflect on how far DOC has come in 40 years, its impact in the community, and how, as the major voice for documentary across Canada, we are the organization best able to assist those starting out in the documentary industry.

After the panel, we will all be able to connect again and network. This event is perfect for experienced creators and DOC members to celebrate our successes over the past 40 years but it is an amazing opportunity for film/tv students, independent creators, emerging filmmakers, and scripted crew and technicians alike to meet and create lasting relationships.

DOC Members will receive 1 complimentary drink ticket with registration.

If you are interested in becoming a DOC Member head to docorg.ca/join-doc. DOC is currently offering a free two year membership to all new members that identify as BIPOC.

The CRTC is moving forward with its work to modernize Canada’s broadcasting sector. Now that the hearings have concluded, there are several next steps before the CRTC decides how much streamers need to contribute to the Canadian content system, and where that money should go. DOC has advocated for specific funding for feature documentaries, among other advocacy issues important to our community.

We invite all members to join Monique Lafontaine Communications lawyer and media executive, and DOC’s ED Sarah Spring on February 6th at 3pm ET for an open session to talk through the CRTC’s process and what this means for documentary creators.

Please note that there is no registration link. Zoom link will be opened when the session starts. You can add the event to your calendar, which has the zoom link, so that you don’t forget!

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DOC members now have access to a 30% discount with Kinema! Check out the DOC Member Benefits page for the discount code.

Kinema is a social cinema platform for filmmakers and community builders.

Join us for “Coffee with… Kinema!” on January 16th at 3pm ET to hear all about how Kinema supports you in curating and showcasing films, both online and in person, fostering community and generating income.

Please note that there is no registration link. Zoom link will be opened when the session starts. You can add the event to your calendar, which has the zoom link, so that you don’t forget!

About Kinema

Movies are better when we watch them together. We help anyone curate and show films — online or in person — to build community and make cash.

We do this by offering a platform for filmmakers to manage their non-theatrical exhibition (aka screening tours) both online and offline, and through developing partnerships with creative cinema spaces, organizations and community leaders to host their own screening events.
We call it human-centered distribution. It starts with an individual and extends to their community. An influencer with a following, a pastor with a church, or an activist with a mission, all can leverage the magic of moviegoing within their spaces — online and off — to build community and connection.

By showing films through Kinema you’re bringing art to creative & communal spaces, and supporting new and independent filmmakers.

Launch your own movie house today to support the filmmaking you want to see.