Doc Circuit Montreal announces its 2018 program 

Montreal, Tuesday, October 16, 2018 - The 14th edition of Doc Circuit Montreal (DCM) takes place from November 10 to 14. This year, DCM focuses on key issues in the documentary industry, particularly the professionalization and durability of producers’ and content creators’ careers through diversified funding, content platforms and formats. The forum will welcome more than 400 local and international delegates for some 30 activities touching on those topics. International co-production will be another major theme this year. 

Through activities related to international festivals and markets, contract and tax credit clinics, international co-production as well as inspired and inspiring talks, documentary professionals will have the opportunity to acquire new knowledge, make new connections and find new collaborators. 

In addition, local and international guest experts and buyers will provide insight on storytelling, new forms and new platforms, and on the funding of online content, series and virtual reality (VR) projects. 

DOC CIRCUIT MONTREAL HIGHLIGHTS 

Opening session : In conversation: Catherine Tait and Monique Simard | November 12 

In July 2018, Catherine Tait began a five-year term as the president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada. This experienced entrepreneur, producer, cultural attaché and former policy chief at Telefilm has worked in the film industry for more than 30 years. She joins Monique Simard, past president and CEO of SODEC, executive director of the NFB’s French-language program and producer, for a conversation about the state of CBC and her vision for the future. These two exceptional women, both among our industry’s leading experts, will launch Doc Circuit Montreal with an insightful discussion. 

VR:RV from Virtual to Reality | November 12 

Trajectories and Pierce the Darkness are VR projects developed over the course of a year as part of the Canada-Germany VR:RV exchange program. The teams behind the projects will give a presentation for a panel of industry experts. Topics will include funding, co-production, technology, writing and distribution. An initiative of the Goethe-Institut and MUTEK. 

Industry markets | November 12 

DCM brings filmmakers closer to programmers from the most prominent Canadian and international documentary markets of all types – funding, professional, co-production and pitch. Because they offer networking opportunities with partners who can enhance a project, these markets are essential gatherings for filmmakers. This panel’s participants, including representatives of the Marché du film de Cannes, 

FIDMarseille, DOK.fest Munich, Hot Docs and more, will discuss their activities and the growth opportunities available to documentary professionals. 

Cuban Hat Pitch | November 12 

The Cuban Hat Pitch is back for an eighth year. This time, six projects have been carefully chosen from the submissions and will be presented to the public at the Cuban Hat Pitch session. The famously lively event will culminate with the awarding of more than $50,000 in cash and services. The Cuban Hat Pitch, organized in collaboration with the Makila coop, demonstrates the community’s support for promising documentary projects. 

The BALADO ICI RADIO-CANADA PREMIÈRE Podcast Pitch | November 14 

This pitch session, for podcast creators and producers, will give selected participants the chance to present their podcast project to a jury of professionals and the DCM audience. Projects will be eligible to win the ICI RADIO-CANADA PREMIÈRE award, valued at $15,000 in the form of two months of development for producing their podcast with the team from ICI PREMIÈRE, which will also stream the finished product. 

Focus on co-production 

International co-production is now an essential option for documentary creators. Agreements between Telefilm and some 60 countries, the 2017 Eurimages agreements and the openness of documentary creators to international markets demonstrate the high level of interest in collaborating both financially and culturally with the entire world. Opportunities to meet and learn from international producers and decision makers are found throughout the three days of Doc Circuit Montreal, with activities designed to promote networking, collaboration and co-production. 

1. QC+BY DOC CO PROD | November 12 to 14 

 

Doc Circuit Montreal is pleased to announce a two-year agreement with DOK.forum Munich (Bavaria, Germany) that will support three producers from each of Quebec and Bavaria as they develop and finance their linear and digital documentary projects in Canada-Germany co-productions. The producers will visit DCM and DOK.forum over two years, and will be guided in their work by co-production experts and mentors. 

2. Co-production breakfast | November 13 

 

Over breakfast, the international producers attending DCM will meet local production companies for the purpose of forging new ties and launching new collaborations. Participants will be seated at tables for 8 to 10 people; each table will have Canadian and international producers and a moderator. 

3. Co-producing with Canada | November 14 

 

In this practical open workshop, international co-production experts will explore every facet of this collaboration type, including funding, administration and culture, with the aim of producing a checklist of essential tips and tricks for successfully assembling a first international co-production. 

R&D session: VFC Biomediæ | November 14 

Neuroscience is starting to transform the way films are produced, distributed and promoted. Now in prototyping, VFC Biomediæ is one of the first audience monitoring and analysis initiatives to benefit from recent affordable, user-friendly advances in neurotechnology. Producers, exhibitors and international agents are invited to a demonstration and feedback session for the new platform, entirely designed in Montreal. Produced by LMDP Co. with the financial support of SODEC, in collaboration with Doc Circuit Montreal. 

DCM WORKSHOPS 

Funds Roundtables | November 12 

These roundtables with 8 to 10 filmmakers and representatives of funding bodies will give documentary professionals the chance to ask funders detailed questions. During the three 30-minute sessions, participants will meet representatives of a variety of funds. Unlike a pitch session, this activity will allow participants to gain a better understanding of the types of projects that can be funded and sponsored within the criteria set by the different organizations. 

Production clinics | November 12 

Two practical clinics will be held in parallel with the round tables. In the first clinic, participants will meet a specialized attorney who can answer their production-related legal questions. In the second, a producer will give a detailed explanation of the calculations and administrative details of the Quebec and federal production tax credits. 

Doc Launch - Producer-Driven Marketing and Distribution | November 14 

The distribution of a feature documentary requires a carefully plotted strategy to generate maximum impact – whether in financial, cultural or social terms. This workshop will look at documentaries successfully marketed directly by their creators, rather than through traditional distributors. 

THE ONE-ON-ONE PITCHES | November 13 

The One-on-One is a full day of 15-minute meetings between documentary producers and directors and local and international decision makers. It is a unique opportunity for creators and decision makers to build new alliances and incubate new projects. In 2018, DCM will welcome more than 75 decision makers from six countries, including around 20 who will be attending for the first time. 

This year’s first-time guest decision makers include: 

Marché du film de Cannes/ FIPADOC (France) | Discovery Channel Canada | Dogwoof (UK) | FIDMarseille (France) | Marché Frontières (Canada) | Centre de création Périphérie (France) | Points North Institute (USA) | Seville International/Entertainment One (Canada) | Singular DTV (USA) | The Guardian (UK) | Tribeca Film Institute (USA) | Women Make Movies (USA) 

The distributors include: 

Les Films du 3 Mars (Quebec) | Filmoption International (Canada) | Films Transit International (Canada) | Kino Smith / Blue Ice Docs (Canada) | Diffusion Multi-Monde (Canada) | Taskovski Films (UK) | Travelling (Quebec) | Vice Media (Canada) 

The following broadcasters are returning: 

APTN (Canada) | ARTE GEIE (France) | CBC (Canada) | Canal D (Quebec) | Documentary Channel (Canada) | France Télévisions (France) | Knowledge Network (Canada) | Radio-Canada (Canada) | Télé-Québec (Quebec) | TV5/Unis (Canada) 

Numerous festival programmers will also be available for meetings, and several will participate in the À la rencontre des festivals event on Thursday, November 12. Programmers from the following events will attend DCM: 

Atlanta Film Festival (USA) | BAFICI (Argentina) | Camden International Film Festival (USA) | CPH:DOX (Denmark) | DOK.fest Munich (Germany) | Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival (Canada) | TRUE/FALSE (USA) | Visions du Réel (Switzerland) | VR World Forum (Switzerland) 

The complete list of decision makers is available online: 

ridm.ca/en/doc-circuit-montreal-2018/decision-makers-2018 

TALENT LAB 2018 | November 10 to 12 

DCM’s 5th annual Talent Lab will bring together 20 up-and-coming and mid-career Canadian creators for three days of specialized talks and exploratory workshops with select artists and experts. Participants will also be eligible for: 

• • one customized mentorship program for 6 participants 
• • the Canal D grant, in the form of a $10,000 development contract, for a Canadian French-language project 
• • the Peter Wintonick travel grant for participants from outside Quebec, thanks to the generous support of members of the Canadian documentary community 
• • the NFB’s French-language documentary studio will support a francophone project directed by one or more filmmakers based in Quebec in the form of development, selected from among the Talent Lab 2018 cohort, valued at $9,000 

 

ACCREDITATION 

Passes for the Doc Circuit Montreal talks and One-on-One are on sale until November 1 on the RIDM website: ridm.ca/en/doc-circuit-montreal-2018/dcm-accreditations-and-venues 

All activities (with certain exceptions) will take place at RIDM headquarters at the Cinémathèque québécoise (335 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East) and at the Centre Pierre-Péladeau (300 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East). Day passes (DCM à la carte) are available online and on-site. 

About Doc Circuit Montreal 

Each year, Doc Circuit Montreal organizes an intensive program of business meetings, talks, pitches and professional development workshops for documentary-industry professionals. 

The 14th edition of Doc Circuit Montreal (DCM) is made possible by the support of our institutional and primary partners: the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, SODEC, Telefilm Canada, the Bell Fund, the Rogers Documentary Fund, Canal D, the Canada Media Fund, the Canada Council for the Arts, DOC Québec, PRIM, the National Film Board of Canada; our associate partners, ACCT, AMI.Télé, SOCAN, APFC, AQPM; and collaborators Makila, Main Film, FCTMN, ARRQ, FRIC, Parabola Films, Kensington Communications, EYESTEELFILM, Bunbury Films, John Walker Productions, Invisible Hand Productions Inc., Intuitive Pictures, Colonelle Films, Cinema Politica, CTVM, DISPATCH, BDO, Zone Festival. 

The 14th annual DCM will take place from November 10 to 14, 2018 

at RIDM headquarters (335 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East) 

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For further information, please contact: 

Caroline Rompré | pixelleX communications | 514-778-9294 | caroline@pixellex.ca