DOC Institute’s Breakthrough 20 Year Research Report

DOC Institute, an initiative of the Ontario chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada, created the first iteration of its Breakthrough mentorship program in 2005. The program was designed to assist emerging filmmakers forge meaningful connections and skills in the documentary industry. Two decades later, the program has seen over 120 participants. In 2023, the institute performed a comprehensive review of their programming to both quantify the impact the program has had, and also learn tangible lessons which can be applied to other creative sector professional development training programs. Additionally, the data gathered provides a snapshot of those working in the documentary world.