Documentary & Journalism Course, School & Program - InFocus Film School
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Documentary Filmmakers ADVANCED DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM ACCELERATE YOUR CAREER IN FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT GET MORE INFO The demand for documentary films and series is skyrocketing. Incubate your story ideas into marketable projects with the support of some of Vancouver's top documentary filmmakers.

ADVANCED DOCUMENTARY COURSE CONTENT

Become a skilled documentarian with the one-year Advanced Documentary Program. Refine your storytelling skills through the development of multiple projects, all the while perfecting your business, presentation, and sales acumen. After three terms you will have extensive skills, experience and knowledge, and a slate of marketable projects including:

  • Short-form documentary (10 minutes)
  • Documentary series (including demo and pitch package)
  • Lifestyle series (including sizzle reel and pitch package)
  • Long-form documentary film or a series pilot (30-60 minutes)

Hone your creative talent and master your pitching skills to produce a short-form documentary, as well as market-ready concepts for a documentary series and a lifestyle series. One of these projects will be expanded into your graduation project, a long-form documentary or a series pilot, that you will pitch, shoot and edit.

Pitching is a core element of the program. You will be pitching each project to panels of high-level producers and production studios reps. Gain the experience and skills necessary for getting your ideas commissioned, funded, and produced. Network with Canada’s top documentary professionals and learn how to access distribution channels to successfully deliver your projects to an audience.

OUR STUDENTS WIN AWARDS

InFocus alumni win awards, receive grants, and often make the selection of prestigious festivals right out of school. In addition, the producers and industry mentors you work with will be your best references after graduation and will help connect you to broadcasters, buyers, and commissioners, greatly accelerating your career in film, television, and streaming.

CREDENTIAL

Diploma in Advanced Documentary Filmmaking

ADVANCED DOCUMENTARTY CAREER PATHS

Immediate employment opportunities for graduates may include:

  • Documentary Director
  • Documentary Writer
  • Documentary or Factual TV Producer
  • Lifestyle TV Writer
  • Investigative Journalist
  • ENG Camera Operator
  • Many more!
READ FULL COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

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    TERM 1 PROJECT: THE BIOGRAPHY

    ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

    To be accepted into the Documentary Program students must:

    • Possess a post-secondary education or a body of work in film, writing, documentary or factual television, journalism, or a related field
    • Have a portfolio of creative work
    • Meet other InFocus Film School admission terms including language proficiency and age requirements.

    START DATES

    Fall 2021: September 27, 2021 – September 23, 2022 CLASS FULL | Apply for the waitlist

    Fall 2022: September 26, 2022 – September 22, 2023

    PROGRAM COSTS

    Please select your start date to view tuition.

    DEVELOP MARKETABLE DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

     
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    1. SHORT-FORM DOC

    Create a character-driven short doc that utilizes both cinema verite and traditional formats. This film could be a one-off project or have the potential to be expanded into a TV-hour or feature-length film.

    2. DOCUMENTARY SERIES

    Conceptualize a documentary series and build a pitch package with a synopsis, subject bios, and marketing and distribution plan. Shoot a proof of concept demo showcasing your visual style, key subjects and the viability of your series.

    3. LIFESTYLE SERIES

    Lifestyle series are some of the most popular and valuable projects in the documentary realm. Develop a marketable reality series, then create a pitch package and sizzle reel ready to take out into the industry.

    4. GRADUATION PROJECT

    Choose one of your previous projects and pitch it to a panel of entertainment producers. They’ll provide feedback on the viability and appeal before you move into production. With your classmates as your crew, you’ll shoot a long-form doc film or a pilot for a TV series that will serve as the launchpad for your career.

    READ COURSE OUTLINES

    READ COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

    LEARN FROM INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

    JULIA IVANOVA

    Julia is an award-winning Vancouver documentary filmmaker. Her Genie Award-nominated film, Family Portrait in Black and White, won Best Canadian Feature at Hot Docs and made the official selection at Sundance. Her documentaries have shown on CBC, Global TV, Knowledge Network, PBS and Discovery.

    JULIA IVANOVA

    Julia is an award-winning Vancouver documentary filmmaker. Her Genie Award-nominated film, Family Portrait in Black and White, won Best Canadian Feature at Hot Docs and made the official selection at Sundance. Her documentaries have shown on CBC, Global TV, Knowledge Network, PBS and Discovery.

    RAFI SPIVAK

    Rafi Spivak is an award-winning film editor and post-production specialist. His work has been presented at TIFF and HotDocs and has been shown CBC, PBS, National Geographic, Discovery, History and more.

    RAFI SPIVAK

    Rafi Spivak is an award-winning film editor and post-production specialist. His work has been presented at TIFF and HotDocs and has been shown CBC, PBS, National Geographic, Discovery, History and more.

    MARY FRYMIRE

    Mary is a Director member of the DGC and Writer member of the WGC with work that has aired on CBC, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, and many more. In 2018 Mary won a Leo for Best Director and was nominated for Best Director and Best Producer again in 2019.

    DIEGO LARA

    Diego Lara is an award-winning Latino director and post production supervisor based in Vancouver well known for his syndicated shows Faces of the Future/A Cara do Futuro, Pieces of Brazil/Meu Pedaço de Brasil, the animated show Animazoo, the outstanding surf documentary Restrito and the multi-award-winning short Three Golden Teeth.

    READ THEIR PROFILES

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    PROGRAM ADVISORY BOARD OF TOP DOC FILMMAKERS

    NIMISHA MUKERJI

    An award-winning producer, director, and writer, Nimisha’s debut feature 65_REDROSES won multiple awards and has helped raise over $3 million for cystic fibrosis research. She has written and produced work for HBO, PBS, CBC, Knowledge, Super Channel, ARTE and SWR.

    NIMISHA MUKERJI

    An award-winning producer, director, and writer, Nimisha’s debut feature 65_REDROSES won multiple awards and has helped raise over $3 million for cystic fibrosis research. She has written and produced work for HBO, PBS, CBC, Knowledge, Super Channel, ARTE and SWR.

    JOHN RITCHIE

    John Ritchie has overseen the creation of more than 500 hours of scripted and factual television series as Chief Creative Officer and Partner at Force Four Entertainment. John’s credits include Executive Producer of Seed (CW and CityTV), The Color of Love (Lifetime, CTV), and co-producer of the Peabody and Gemini Award-winning mini-series Human Cargo.

    JOHN RITCHIE

    John Ritchie has overseen the creation of more than 500 hours of scripted and factual television series as Chief Creative Officer and Partner at Force Four Entertainment. John’s credits include Executive Producer of Seed (CW and CityTV), The Color of Love (Lifetime, CTV), and co-producer of the Peabody and Gemini Award-winning mini-series Human Cargo.

    JULIA IVANOVA

    Julia is an award-winning Vancouver documentary filmmaker. Her Genie Award-nominated film, Family Portrait in Black and White, won Best Canadian Feature at Hot Docs and made the official selection at Sundance. Her documentaries have shown on CBC, Global TV, Knowledge Network, PBS and Discovery.

    LYNN BOOTH

    As founder & CEO of Make Believe Media, Lynn’s extensive credit list includes VICE Documentary’s ‘The Devil You Know’, Very Bad Men, True Pulp Murder, Portraits from the Frontier, Paris Stories, No Fun City, The Secret Life of Owls, For the Love of Elephants and many more.

    READ THEIR PROFILES

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