Youth Documentary Impact Producers Program

The Program is an opportunity for participants to pick the brains of experienced impact producers, filmmakers and film curators and learn more about working with film teams to extend the reach of their documentaries to maximize opportunities to engage communities, educate decision makers and provoke change.  You'll get knowledge and insight from the Hot Docs communication and marketing teams too and hear from guest speakers from across the documentary filmmaking sector.

Altogether, this training gives insight and practical information on how to imagine, plan and produce impact campaigns, with the end goal of producing an event to showcase a documentary of meaning to you, and to a community and audience you care about.

But wait—what even is an "Impact Producer?"  It's okay if you don't know, and quite honestly that's what the program is meant to explain. In short, impact producing is a social justice centered practice created strategically with care, collaboration and organization in order to spark social change through ethical storytelling.  For this program, you don't need to have existing film training, a degree or be attached to any organization or institution already. We will not request a CV or letter of recommendation. If you're a caring, collaborative person, keen to make a difference in the world through film, you qualify!

KEY DATES

• Applications Open: Tuesday, June 27, 2023
• Application Deadline: Monday, July 17, 2023
• Online Interviews: Week of July 24, 2023
• In-Person Sessions: Two weekends between August-October, dates TBC
• Online Sessions: Twice monthly, evenings, September – November, dates TBC

• You must be willing and available to take part in all the Youth Documentary Impact Producer Program sessions and attend the event(s) you develop as part of the program.
• During the program there will be assignments you will be expected to complete as part of the development of your proposed event.
• Six participants will be selected to take part in the Youth Documentary Impact Producers Program, after the interviews have taken place.
• Interviews will be scheduled the week of July 24, and we will let applicants know if they have been selected for the program by August 1, 2023.
• There are a limited number of travel bursaries for attending program elements and events. If you progress to the interview stage, this can be discussed at that time.
• All applicants must be Ontario residents.
• All applicants must be between 16-25 years of age.
• You are expected to be involved at all stages of production for your event; the program is to develop your conceptual and practical skills alike.
• Each participant will receive payment for event planning time, and will have access to funds to cover the costs of events.
• Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
• We will contact all applicants to let you know if you have been selected for an interview or not, but because of the high volume of applicants, we cannot offer feedback for unsuccessful applications.