The Opportunity
Hot Docs is seeking emerging to mid-career filmmakers to create short films for the fourth of Citizen Minutes. This is an opportunity for directors to have a fulsome experience with film production, exhibition, distribution, and impact.
We will be commissioning six films, approximately 6-10 minutes long, that explore themes like resilience, democracy, empathy, empowerment, and fairness, as the subjects work to improve their community’s social and cultural wellbeing. These stories should celebrate and inspire civic engagement—especially among young people.
We recognize that civic engagement does not always mean moving the dial on global issues in a monumental way. Hot Docs is therefore interested in applications that spotlight stories about ordinary citizens working to achieve incremental change in their own communities, on the local level.
The opportunity consists of:
- Funding and creative support for films;
- Training in an online documentary film intensive lab;
- Short film premiere at the 2027 Hot Docs Festival;
- Educational package and circulation in schools;
- Participation and training in an impact and engagement campaign.
Series 4 Timeline
January 21, 2026: Applications open
March 19, 2026: Application deadline
June 2026: Selected applicants notified of decision
July 2026: Week-long online production lab
September 2026: Production & principal photography
December 2026: Completion & delivery of final film
April 2027: World premiere at Hot Docs Festival
May - December 2027: National tour & impact screenings
Production Lab
Successful applicants will participate in an online filmmaker lab. A new addition to the Citizen Minutes program, the lab is designed to support career growth through a diverse curriculum and invaluable network-building opportunities. The robust curriculum will cover topics such as:
- Preparing for a shoot
- Budgeting for success
- Choosing your editor
- Contracts and crewing up your shoot
- Demystifying errors & omissions liability
- Considerations for post-production
- Audience impact and engagement
The successful applicants will direct their short films with the support of a seasoned creative and business producer (or producers) selected by Hot Docs.
Hot Docs is the commissioner of the films and will have the exclusive rights to the films for a set period. When that term is complete, Hot Docs will maintain a non-exclusive rights share with the creators.
World Premiere, National Tour & Impact Screenings
All Citizen Minutes films premiere at the 2027 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, premiering to the public and as part of Docs For Schools program, Hot Docs' educational program providing documentary content for students in grades 5-12. Filmmakers will receive an industry pass for the Festival.
After Hot Docs Festival, the films will later be distributed and exhibited across Canada, with select shorts also submitted to other festivals.
From March to December, Hot Docs will work with the filmmakers and impact producers to activate an impact and engagement strategy around the films, with the goal of using the films as tools for positive change in educational, community, and professional settings. The campaign will require filmmaker participation in select theatrical and institutional screenings of the film and community events.
The series 4 films will join the rest of the Citizen Minutes collection as a
core part of Docs For Schools year-round offerings. As such, we are particularly interested in stories that centre youth-led civic engagement.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be the (co)director(s) attached to the film project;
- Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
- Have at least one prior filmmaking credit (short films accepted).
There is a maximum of two projects per applicant.
The following are not eligible:
- Projects produced as course work for any school or institute;
- Projects that are part of an existing series;
- Fiction films;
- Completed films (we will consider projects with some development or production work already completed, provided all rights are available and can be assigned to Hot Docs).
Film projects must be completed by the end of December 2026.
Application Requirements
The online application must be submitted in English or French before the deadline. The program welcomes francophone applicants; however, please note that all program sessions will be conducted in English. There is no application fee. All materials received by Hot Docs are confidential. Please read the eligibility rules and guidelines before proceeding to the online application form.
As part of your application, you will be asked to consider the following:
- How does your story demonstrate civic engagement?
- Who are the intended audiences? Keep in mind the films will also be used for outreach to Canadian students.
- Do you have an established relationship with, and access to, the person or people featured in the story? What makes you the right filmmaker or filmmaking team to tell this story?
- The estimated project budget.
- The feasibility of the project within the allotted time frame.
Please review our evaluation criteria for further information.
Application Support
The Citizens Minutes application is considerate of technological, social, and accessibility barriers to the application process.
While the application questions are in English, the applicant may complete it in either English or French. The application process will be considerate of the applicant’s ability to communicate their submission; accommodations that can be made may include a video component.
Potential applicants who require assistance are encouraged to request accommodation at least two weeks before the deadline date by contacting [email protected].
Selection Process
Applications are open with a final deadline of March 19.
Apply Now
Applicants will be informed of the Selection Committee’s decision in June 2026.
Applications deemed complete and eligible will be submitted to a Selection Committee made up of and determined by representatives from Hot Docs and the creative producer(s).
The Collection
Since 2021, Citizen Minutes has produced 21 short films.
VieW completed films