The Documentary Cohort supports emerging documentary filmmakers in developing ambitious, experimental, and socially engaged nonfiction projects, providing mentorship, peer collaboration, and industry visibility.
Want to learn more before applying? Join us for our upcoming virtual info session:
Friday, April 17 | 12:00 pm (PT)
Led by Ana Belén Asfura, Director, Institute for the Moving Image
Eligibility
- Filmmakers eligible from across Canada, with priority given to applicants from British Columbia and Western Canada.
- We welcome 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: Monday, May 4, 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.