DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program
Online Workshop Series
ReelForward DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program
ReelForward DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program
ReelForward DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program
Explore our year 3 curriclum
JUL 9, 2024
Crafting Authentic Stories with John Seongho Choi
Kicking off our 2024 Breakthrough workshop series, John Seongho Choi dives deep into how racialized identity influences various aspects of documentary filmmaking and the significance of making films within and for your community.
JUL 16, 2024
The Art of the Interview, Ethics, Privacy, and Responsibility with Aisha Jamal
In this workshop, Aisha walks us through the strengths and weaknesses of different documentary interview styles, ethical considerations in documentaries, responsibilities of the documentary filmmaker, plus useful tips and tricks for interviewing.
JUL 23, 2024
Securing Financing and Building Relationships with Rua Wani
In the third session of our 2024 Breakthrough workshop series, Rua Wani guides us through defining your film’s unique voice, conducting SWOT analyses on documentary projects, and identifying target audiences and market opportunities. Rua also shares key strategies for building engaging communities around your work.
Jul 30, 2024
Producing, Business Affairs, and Legal Matters with Sidney Chiu
Our fourth workshop covers the three core pillars of documentary filmmaking. Sidney gives us an overview of film development (copywriting, IPs, incorporations, and financing), film production (contracts, funders, crew, stock footage licensing, E&O insurance, accounting, and interim financing), as well as film distribution and exploration (festivals, broadcasters, distributors/ sales agents, and deliverables).
Aug 13, 2024
Festival Strategy for Filmmakers with Kirk Cooper
In this session, Kirk guides us through how to navigate the exciting world of film festivals and film markets. The work towards the success of your film starts even before you complete your film. But, how do you create a successful festival strategy? What do you need to know about sales agents and distribution deals? What deliverables do you need to create to support a festival presentation? This workshop discusses the key points to help you shape your own festival strategy.
Aug 20, 2024
Pitching 101 with Alison Duke
Aug 27, 2024
Mock Pitch Consultations with Omar Majeed
Leading our second pitch workshop is award-winning director, editor and producer Omar Majeed. Participants engaged in 5-minute presentations followed by 5 minutes of targeted feedback. This session was structured to closely resemble the dynamics of a real pitch contest, giving participants a practical opportunity to refine their pitching skills in a supportive, yet realistic environment. The hands-on approach allowed participants to experience the pressure and pacing of an actual pitch, helping them to better prepare for future opportunities ahead of LDF 2024.
Sept 25, 2024
Crew Connections with Stephanie Joline
In our last workshop, Stephanie Joline leads us through the process of finding and building your dream documentary team. Your crew is the backbone of your film, and assembling the right group of collaborators is essential to your project's success. But where do you start? How do you identify the right people who share your vision? This workshop covers the critical steps in crew selection and offers tips on fostering strong, creative connections that will elevate your documentary from start to finish.
Jul 16, 2024
The Art of the Interview,
Ethics, Privacy, and
Responsibility with Aisha Jamal
JUL 16, 2024
The Art of the Interview,
Ethics, Privacy, and Responsibility with Aisha Jamal
In this workshop, Aisha walks us through the strengths and weaknesses of different documentary interview styles, ethical considerations in documentaries, responsibilities of the documentary filmmaker, plus useful tips and tricks for interviewing.
jul 23, 2024
Securing Financing and Building Relationships with Rua Wani
JUL 23, 2024
Securing Financing and Building Relationships with Rua Wani
In the third session of our 2024 Breakthrough workshop series, Rua Wani guides us through defining your film’s unique voice, conducting SWOT analyses on documentary projects, and identifying target audiences and market opportunities. Rua also shares key strategies for building engaging communities around your work.
jul 30, 2024
Producing, Business Affairs, and Legal Matters with Sidney Chiu
JUL 30, 2024
Producing, Business Affairs, and Legal Matters with Sidney Chiu
Our fourth workshop covers the three core pillars of documentary filmmaking. Sidney gives us an overview of film development (copywriting, IPs, incorporations, and financing), film production (contracts, funders, crew, stock footage licensing, E&O insurance, accounting, and interim financing), as well as film distribution and exploration (festivals, broadcasters, distributors/ sales agents, and deliverables).
Aug 13, 2024
Festival Strategy for Filmmakers with Kirk Cooper
Aug 13, 2024
Festival Strategy for Filmmakers with Kirk Cooper
In this session, Kirk guides us through how to navigate the exciting world of film festivals and film markets. The work towards the success of your film starts even before you complete your film. But, how do you create a successful festival strategy? What do you need to know about sales agents and distribution deals? What deliverables do you need to create to support a festival presentation? This workshop discusses the key points to help you shape your own festival strategy.
Aug 20, 2024
Pitching 101 with Alison Duke
Aug 20, 2024
Pitching 101 with Alison Duke
In our first pitch-focused workship, Alison Duke (Oya Media), the winner of the 2024 CMF-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize, offers participants through the essential elements of a compelling pitch, focusing on what makes a pitch stand out in a competitive landscape. Crafting a strong pitch is crucial for securing funding, collaborators, and distribution for your project. This session covers the fundamentals of a winning pitch and provides personalized, 1-on-1 feedback to help participants refine and perfect their presentations.
Aug 27, 2024
Mock Pitch Consultations with Omar Majeed
Aug 27, 2024
Mock Pitch Consultations with Omar Majeed
Leading our second pitch workshop is award-winning director, editor and producer Omar Majeed. Participants engaged in 5-minute presentations followed by 5 minutes of targeted feedback. This session was structured to closely resemble the dynamics of a real pitch contest, giving participants a practical opportunity to refine their pitching skills in a supportive, yet realistic environment. The hands-on approach allowed participants to experience the pressure and pacing of an actual pitch, helping them to better prepare for future opportunities ahead of LDF 2024.
Sept 25, 2024
Crew Connections with Stephanie Joline
SEPT 25, 2024
Crew Connections with Stephanie Joline
In our last workshop, Stephanie Joline leads us through the process of finding and building your dream documentary team. Your crew is the backbone of your film, and assembling the right group of collaborators is essential to your project's success. But where do you start? How do you identify the right people who share your vision? This workshop covers the critical steps in crew selection and offers tips on fostering strong, creative connections that will elevate your documentary from start to finish.