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Delegates a Hot Docs Forum cocktail
Photo by Joseph Michael Howarth

A five-year initiative investing in core funding and professional development programs for Canadian filmmakers, generously supported by Netflix.

In recognition of the systemic barriers that continue to exist within the documentary film industry, the Hot Docs Canadian Storytellers Project will create opportunities that support a diversity of perspectives, foster new voices, and make the industry stronger and more sustainable.

By enhancing existing year-round programs, the Project will provide opportunities for documentary storytellers who are Indigenous, Francophone, Deaf and/or have a disability, racialized and/or persons of colour.

Hot Docs is grateful to Netflix for their generosity and investing in Canadian storytellers from coast to coast to coast.

Back to Professional Development

CrossCurrents Canada Doc Fund
Central to the Project is the establishment of the CrossCurrents Canada Doc Fund, which will financially support 25-40 independent documentary projects from emerging filmmakers over the next five years with grants ranging from $10,000-$50,000 CAD. Both short and feature-length projects will be supported with development, production or post-production funding. The Fund fosters storytelling from within communities whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented or marginalized.

Doc Ignite
The Project will also enhance the Doc Ignite labs, bringing them to groups, regions and communities that have limited access to filmmaking training opportunities. The labs provide filmmakers across Canada with professional development curriculums on such topics as audience engagement, marketing and distribution.

Doc Accelerator
The Project provided 10 fellowships annually to participate in the Doc Accelerator program at the Hot Docs Festival. Following the Festival, fellows are matched with an established documentary production company in their region for a paid professional development work placement.

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