The Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) is the largest professional non-profit association of independent filmmakers in Canada, with more than 850 members across the country and over 200 members in the BC Chapter. Since 1983, DOC (formerly called the CIFC/Canadian Independent Film Caucus) - has been the champion of independent documentary film and television in Canada. Our past accomplishments include:
Founding of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, now the premier documentary festival in North America
Founding of POV, the premiere Canadian journal about documentaries and independent films made in Canada and abroad, and the only one of its kind in the country
Founding by DOC BC of DOC TALK -- An annual event highlighting the western Canadian documentary production community to broadcasters from around the world, and promoting Western Canada as a "centre for excellence" in leading-edge documentary production
DOC-Discussion Listserv -- An exclusive, active, online community (available to DOC members only). Join us to discuss the latest news, find a crew, keep up on events, and search job postings!
Exclusive insurance program (available to DOC members only) -- This program is designed for Canadian documentary producers and provides a variety of insurance coverage at an advantageous cost.
DOCspace – DOC members enjoy preferred access to DOCspace, a searchable database and library for documentaries, and soon to be an online distribution network.
Research initiatives -- DOC compiles and publishes Getting Real: An Economic Profile of the Canadian Documentary Production Industry, currently scheduled for a fourth edition.
Raising the profile of independent documentary production in Ottawa through successful advocacy actions that include:
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Telefilm funding for independent documentaries
- The creation of an independent documentary envelope with the
Canadian Television Fund
- The creation of the CIFVF (
Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund). (After 18 years of successfully supporting 900 independent Canadian productions with $17.9 million in funding, the CIFVF has recently been eliminated by the Harper government. We are once again working hard to reinstate this important source of financing for Canadian documentaries.)
Raising the profile of independent documentary production with private and public broadcasters.
DOC continues to build on these past successes in order to meet the current challenges facing the Canadian independent documentary community. As a strong and effective advocate for independent documentary filmmaking in Canada, DOC is more essential now than ever.