DOCS-IN-PROGRESS 2025
CANADIAN SHOWCASE at CANNES DOCS as part of the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film

Telefilm Canada and Forum RIDM are pleased to announce Canada’s sixth participation in Docs-in-Progress.

Cannes Docs, the documentary section of the Cannes Film Festival's Marché du Film, presents an annual initiative called Docs-In-Progress, aimed at presenting feature-length documentary projects at an advanced stage of editing to international decision makers. As part of an agreement between Telefilm Canada and the Marché du Film, a Showcase Canada, featuring four documentaries in post-production, will be presented this year. Forum RIDM will be responsible for coordinating this initiative, selecting the projects and providing preparatory support to the teams.

This call for projects is aimed at documentary producers and filmmakers seeking an international premiere, sales agents and, more generally, significant international exposure.

IMPORTANT DATES

Launch of the call for projects: February 13^th, 2025

Deadline for applications: March 7^th, 2025

Preparatory workshop dates: April 2025 (dates TBD)

Docs-In-Progress dates: May 15-20 2025

⭢ FORM

OBJECTIVES

• To prepare Canadian producers and filmmakers to break into the European and international markets;
• To promote Canadian documentary talent internationally;
• To offer an immersive experience at the Marché du Film;
• To develop international distribution and marketing strategies;
• To establish relationships between Canadian producers and international buyers, distributors and programmers at the Marché du Film.
  
  

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
offered to the candidates selected for Docs-In-Progress’ Showcase Canada at the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film

• Being one of the 4 projects representing Canada at Docs-In-Progress Showcase at Cannes Docs (pitch session before an audience of buyers, distributors, festival programmers and international sales agents in the Cannes Docs section);
• The Showcase will be followed by a lunch reception, providing an opportunity for informal networking with the professionals attending the session.
• Privileged access to the various Cannes Docs activities, including speed-meetings and group consultations with a wide selection of industry professionals, conferences, roundtables, presentations, networking activities, as well as the Doc Day Lunch and Doc Day Mixer, which brings together the entire doc community in Cannes (Tuesday, May 20).
• A preparatory group session including pitch preparation and tips on how to best navigate the film market / Docs-In-Progress;
• A personalized one-on-one session to help you prepare your pitch.
• Accreditations to the Marché du Film for two team members (producer + director).
  
  

REQUIRED PROFILE
Who can participate?

• All Canadian documentary producers and filmmakers (permanent residency or citizenship is required)
• Having a feature-length documentary project (75 minutes or more) in the advanced editing stage;
• Having a 10-minute continuous excerpt to present; 
• Having the ability to give a five-minute presentation in English;
• Availability for online work sessions in April 2025 (dates TBD);
• Availability for Cannes’ Marché du film and Docs-In-Progress between May 15 and 20, 2025.

How to submit an application ?
Elements to be provided in the online call for projects form:
Attachments must be in PDF format.

- Up-to-date resumes of the producer AND filmmaker;

- A short project proposal including synopsis, the filmmaker’s note of intent, a summary of the budget and financial structure of the project, a production schedule, and a paragraph on what you hope to find at the Marché du film (funding, partners, distribution, festivals, etc.) (maximum 4 pages);

- A 10-minute continuous excerpt from the project.


Please send the documents no later than March 7, 2025 via the online form
Please note that no critical feedback will be given to non-selected applications.