Applications close September 16, 2024 — 11:59 pm PT
The WFF Doc Lab is an intense project development and industry immersion experience delivered online and in-person for up to six BC-Based Canadian filmmakers with creative documentaries in any stage of development. One-off documentaries or limited series are eligible. Participation in the program is by application and juried selection.
Designed to provide an inclusive environment for project development and career acceleration, the program includes dynamic workshops, attendance at the Whistler Film Festival + Content Summit and a mentorship experience for documentary filmmakers that nurtures collaboration between creators, funders and audiences through networking opportunities, one-on-one meetings, and professional development sessions.
PHASE 1 begins online with two half-days in November (TBD), followed by attendance in person at the Whistler Film Festival + Summit for a 3-day intensive doc immersion experience. Participants will engage and learn from internationally acclaimed documentary filmmakers and industry experts, while receiving individual and project-specific feedback. They will also have access to WFF’s Content Summit sessions, networking events and film screenings. This Lab focuses on pitching, marketing and distribution and includes scheduled meetings with attending industry decision-makers and advisors.
PHASE 2 will be a FINAL online check-in session January 2025 to discuss project development and suggestions to move projects into their next stage.
GOALS
- Develop an understanding of the foundations of documentary storytelling
- Learn how films get made in the documentary industry
- Gain insight into how you could develop your documentary idea into a short, medium, or feature length film by finding and attaching the right partners and learning from them as your project develops
- Be able to conceptualize documentaries both as an important art form, but also as a business in which one has to be competitive
