Aspiring documentary filmmakers again have an opportunity to participate in the National Film Board’s Momentum program. The program, now in its fourth year, provides emerging filmmakers with the creative and technical tools to craft quality, low-budget, short docs under the guidance of industry professionals.

‘The workshop is essentially a documentary boot camp to prepare for a week of intensive documentary making,’ explains Silva Basmajian, executive producer of the NFB’s Ontario Centre. ‘Not only does Momentum provide emerging filmmakers with the credits that they need, but they will have a product to show for it at the end.’

The program is supported by the CBC, which will broadcast the documentaries. After completing a one-week workshop, 100 participants will present proposals for a short film to a committee of NFB and CBC execs.

‘Strong proposals are needed because only one French and four English candidates are selected to produce and direct their eight- to 10-minute short film,’ Basmajian says.

The seminars feature a variety of topics to guide filmmakers in the art of producing innovative social-issue documentaries. They include research, storytelling, production management, cinematography, editing and proposal writing.

Industry professionals are brought in to assist filmmakers in the conceptualization from film idea to completion and marketing. Past mentors have included filmmakers David ‘Sudz’ Sutherland (Love, Sex and Eating the Bones) and Oscar-nominated director Hubert Davis (Hardwood).

Basmajian says the program has enjoyed ‘enormous success’ and has generated much interest. ‘Last year we had waiting lists of people wanting to participate in the seminars and over 70 proposals for the four English short films,’ she recalls.

Participants need only one professional documentary credit to apply for the workshop that starts Jan. 16. The deadline for applications is Dec. 12.

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