Prepare to pitch for development funds and a development deal for your feature, TV Hour or documentary series project. Sell your project idea at prestigious industry markets like Hot Docs International Documentary Festival and beyond! Six emerging and/or mid-career high-potential filmmakers will be selected for a rigorous and intimate market-preparation course where they’ll hone their project concepts, pitches, development packages, and fine-tune their verbal pitches.

Whether you're emerging or a mid-career filmmaker, you will be helped to prepare your project pitch for development funds by meeting key industry mentors at each session such as broadcasters, distributors, and story and trailer editing consultants. You will be supported to workshop your concept, package and pitch and be ready to bring it to the industry decision-makers and festival markets.

These sessions will be run online via Zoom for the 2026 edition to ensure we include filmmakers from all across BC, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

While the program is open to all races and ethnicities, we encourage individuals self-identifying as Black, Indigenous, a person of colour, and/or LGBTQ+ to apply to the Breakthrough Program. This helps to increase participation for emerging film creators from underrepresented communities. Our selection process will be solely based on the strength of the application.

Awards & Prizes

Selected filmmakers will receive exclusive access to:

1. Bi-weekly sessions with acclaimed documentary filmmakers and project-specific feedback from funders, broadcasters, distributors, and experienced filmmakers. Workshops will help participants refine their trailers and develop their pitch materials with story editors, producers, and pitch experts.

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

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

4. Support to attend festivals and markets (industry sessions, networking with key professionals, setting up meetings to sell their projects, and connecting/collaborating with peers).

Rules & Terms

The following information is required to apply:

1. One to two pages presenting the main project you intend to workshop during the program. If available, please include a sizzle, trailer, visual elements, or website links.

2. Optional (up to one page): If you have a second or third project in development, you may describe them, though this is not mandatory.

3. One-page summary of your industry and work experience, your educational background, and past professional development or mentorship programs. You may alternatively submit a CV plus a filmography, including festivals, broadcast/streaming credits, if any. This section should convey your relevant experience, so please share your accomplishments.

4. Up to half a page explaining why you would benefit from the Breakthrough Program and what you hope to learn and develop. Why is this program timely for your career as a producer or director working on your next project? Tell us how you intend to interact with other participants to build community and how you have built community in your career thus far.

To apply, candidates must:

1. Be a resident of BC, the Yukon, or the Northwest Territories for a minimum of one year.

2. Be documentary filmmakers with at least one producing or directing credit, or possess a comparable level of industry success and experience in the arts.

3. Have a project in development (a feature, TV hour, or series).

4. Be able to attend all Breakthrough Program sessions from January to April (mostly weekends or after 5 p.m. on weekdays). Sessions are two to three hours long.

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Please note: Non-members are required to pay a registration fee of $30 + tax and no cost if you are a DOC Northwest member. We reserve the right to verify your residence and membership status on the DOC membership list. Questions? Contact us by email at docnorthwest@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 docnorthwest@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 short up to one min long clips, images, and/or sound from your project for promotional purposes in all the world, all media, in perpetuity.

Should the project go into production and get completed, “DOC Breakthrough Program” will be credited in the “Thank you” credits.

7 Reviews
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  • Vesta Giles

    I loved this program and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to learn with these experts and my cohort!

    May 2025
    Helpful
  • Chad Galloway

    One of the most positive professional experiences I've had the privilege of experiencing. The support and structure from the Doc NW team, the critical feedback from the industry professionals we met with and the amazing cohort of fellow filmmakers (and now friends) all combined together for an amazing Hot Docs pitching experience. I really can't speak highly enough about this incredible program.

    May 2025
    Helpful
  • Ryan Mah

    WOW, what can I say. This program connected our cohort with so many industry professionals that reviewed and refined our projects. I've done a few incubation programs, this one is by far the best!

    May 2024
    Helpful
  • 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
    Helpful
  • 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
    Helpful