The Documentary Cohort supports emerging documentary filmmakers in developing ambitious, experimental, and socially engaged nonfiction projects, providing mentorship, peer collaboration, and industry visibility.
Eligibility
- Filmmakers eligible from across Canada, with priority given to applicants from British Columbia and Western Canada.
- Open to creators who self-identify as part of equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled, and other underrepresented groups.
- Must have previous experience in documentary filmmaking (shorts, features, or significant works-in-progress).
- No prior project is required to participate; applicants may join to develop skills, explore ideas, or collaborate on peer projects.
- Applicants applying with a project should have a feature-length documentary in development that demonstrates artistic ambition, experimentation, or innovation.
- Applicants should be committed to advancing their career in documentary filmmaking and willing to participate fully in all program intensives.
Regulations
- Participants will engage in three one-week intensives over three months (two online and one in-person).
- Each participant will either focus on a personal project (five participants) or collaborate on peers’ projects (ten participants).
- Between intensives, homework and exercises will be assigned to help participants develop projects, creative practice, and professional skills.
- Participants must attend all intensives, complete assigned mentorship sessions, and actively contribute to peer projects.
- Participants retain full creative ownership of their work; feedback and mentorship are advisory.
- Participants are required to present their work at the in-person pitch event, showcasing five projects to industry mentors and partners.
Deliverables
- Participants acknowledge the Institute for the Moving Image, presented by VIFF, verbally when possible and in end credits of supported projects.
- Participants provide reporting at program close.
- Participants should be willing to give back to the Institute community by participating in talks, labs, or peer-to-peer mentorship.
- If submitting a project with a producer attached, participants must provide a current producer’s agreement or memorandum of understanding.
Key Dates
Application Information
- Application Open: Monday, March 16, 2026, 12:00 pm PT
- Application Deadline: Sunday, April 19, 2026, 11:59 pm PT
Cohort Sessions
- Cohort Dates — #1 Intensive: July 20 – July 24, 2026
- Cohort Dates — #2 Intensive: August 24 – August 28, 2026
- Cohort Dates — #3 Intensive: September 30 – October 2, 2026
Apply Now
We strongly encourage you to formulate your responses in a separate document as you will not be able to save your work here or edit it once submitted.
Note: The cohort selects 15 participants, with five project-focused participants and ten collaborative participants. A project is not required to apply.