Six up-and-coming documentary filmmakers will be selected to join the DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program – a 10-month opportunity packed with hands-on workshops, industry mentorship, and access to Lunenburg Doc Fest’s Dock Market and the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival.

To qualify applicants must:

• Live in Atlantic Canada and have been a resident for at least one year from date of application

• Identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Colour

• Have demonstrated a strong interest in storytelling and/or filmmaking

• Be available to attend the three-week online DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program workshop series and mentorship program, LDF’s Dock Market (September 17-21, 2025), and Hot Docs (Late April-May, 2026)

• Apply with a documentary project in progress (at any stage of development)

Program Timeline:

• July 9, 2025:  Applications open

• July 11, 2025: Info Session (sign up here!)

• July 25, 2025: Applications close at midnight (AT)

• Early August, 2025: Selected applicants notified

• August to mid-September, 2025: Phase 1 of Workshop Series, including Pitching 101s

• September 17-21, 2025: 12th Lunenburg Doc Fest

• October 2025 to December 2026: Phase 2 of Workshop Series

• Januray to mid-April 2026: One-to-one mentorship with acclaimed Canadian documentarian

• Late April to early May, 2026: Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

Filmmakers who have produced or directed at least one feature or two short films that have been broadcast or premiered at a film festival are not eligible.

Free to apply and participate.

If you have any questions or difficulty applying, please email industry@lunenburgdocfest.com

By submitting your application below, you guarantee that your project is an original work and that there are no ownership or copyright disputes regarding this entry. You are authorized to submit this project and affirm that your submission will not violate any law or right of any person or entity.