Prepare to pitch for development funds and a development deal for your project. Sell your project idea at prestigious festival markets like Hot Docs International Documentary Festival and beyond! Six emerging and high-potential filmmakers will be selected for a rigorous and intimate market-preparation course where they’ll hone their project pitches and materials to prepare for festivals and markets like the Deal Maker program at Hot Docs.

Emerging filmmakers will learn to pitch for development funds by meeting key industry mentors at each session such as broadcasters, distributors, and story and trailer editing consultants. They will be supported to workshop their pitch and encouraged to apply to festival markets like Hot Docs International Documentary Festival and beyond!

These sessions will be run online via Zoom for the 2024 edition to ensure we include filmmakers from all across BC, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

Selected filmmakers will get exclusive access to:

Bi-weekly sessions with acclaimed documentary filmmakers and project-specific feedback from funders, broadcasters, distributors, and peers, for four months leading up to Hot Docs. As well as workshops, where participants will hone their trailers and work on their pitch materials with story editors, producers, and pitch specialists.

1. Free one-year DOC BCYTNT membership with all its benefits, including free access to other DOC BCYTNT events.

2. The Breakthrough Alumni Network, a private group where alumni share opportunities and information.

3. Some financial support for the Hot Docs Film Festival (attend industry sessions, network with key industry professionals, set up meetings to sell their projects, and connect and collaborate with peers.)

The following information is required to apply:

1. In one to two pages, give us a summary of your industry and work experience, your educational background and past professional development, or mentorship programs. Please note that many past applicants choose to submit a CV plus a filmography, festivals your work has been shown at, and broadcast/streaming credits if any. This section should be used to convey your relevant experience to the jury, so please share your accomplishments with us!

2. In no more than one page, tell us why you would benefit from the Breakthrough Program and what you hope to achieve by attending a pitch session such as the Hot Docs Festival and Forum, or equivalent. Why would this program be timely for your career as a producer or director intending to produce your next project? Tell us about how you intend to interact with the other participants in the program to build community and how you have built a community in your career thus far.

3. In no more than one page, tell us briefly about the main project you are intending to workshop during this program. If available, please include sizzle, trailer, visual elements/references and/or websites you have.

4. In no more than one page, if you have a second or third project in development, you may tell us about them. We encourage you to include links to any trailers, visual elements/references and/or websites you have. However, this is not mandatory.

To apply candidates must:

1. Be be residents of BC, Yukon, or Northwest Territories who has resided in the there for a minimum of one year.

2. Be documentary filmmakers who have at least one producing or directing credit; or who have a comparable level of industry success and experience in the arts.

3. Have a slate of projects in development (at least one can be a feature, a TV Hour, a short, or series).

4. Be able to attend the following: the Breakthrough Program (January – April); the majority of the Hot Docs Festival and all training during the program.

Please note: Non-members are required to pay a registration fee of $30 + tax and no cost if you are a DOC BCYTNT member. Please note, we reserve the right to verify your residence and membership status on the DOC membership list. Questions? Contact us by email at docbcytnt@docorg.ca.

To submit follow the link, register, and submit via FilmFreeway. *If you have any trouble with the FilmFreeway platform or need to send us more information, please email docbcytnt@docorg.ca.

By submitting this entry, you guarantee that the submission is original work and that there are no ownership or copyright disputes regarding this entry. You are authorized to submit this project and affirm that your submission will not violate any law or right of any person or entity.

You indemnify and hold the Documentary Organization of Canada, its directors, producers, staff, volunteers, and affiliated entities harmless and will defend them against any damage to or loss of the film, any claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses, including attorney’s fees, arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties based on your work submitted to the Documentary Organization of Canada.

You understand that failure to comply with the Documentary Organization of Canada guidelines will disqualify your entry and result in forfeiture of the submission fee. Should your project not have at least one producer, writer, or director who is a BC, Yukon or Northwest Territories resident, your submission will be disqualified and you will NOT be refunded your entry fee. By submitting your film to the Documentary Organization of Canada, you agree that DOC has the non-exclusive right to use clips, images, and/or sound from your project for promotional purposes in all the world, all media, in perpetuity.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jon Chiang

    What an absolute delight to be part of the Breakthrough program! I gained such valuable insights and feedback on my project and refining my pitch process. Most importantly, I made friends with a wonderful cohort and met top level Canadian decision-makers. I would highly recommend anyone considering this program to apply!!

    May 2023
  • Tamara Jones

    The Breakthrough Program encouraged development deadlines to keep you engaged and on track. The focus was on pitching to story editors, broadcasters and distributors. For a introverted person like me, that was what I needed. The professional connections that I presented to and had access to help put me forward as a filmmaker. I loved being taken seriously by the facilitators with my skills and efforts. The mentors and facilitators were experienced and encouraging. I loved being with like-minded creators. I now consider my cohorts as not just peers, but as friends.

    May 2023
  • Jamuna Galay-Tamang

    Really beautiful experience & opportunity to meet people in the industry in a low-stakes way. I found that as an emerging filmmaker, it was a great way to learn the language of pitching & the art of describing my work in a clear and compelling way. Everyone on the team was thoughtfully engaged with the process & Brishkay Ahmed is totally invested in the success of all the mentees. Highly recommend.

    April 2022
  • Theresa Warbus

    Absolute amazing program with amazing people who care about their participants! Highly recommend.

    May 2021