Instagram Twitter Linkedin Facebook

DOC INSTITUTE AWARDS

The DOC Institute Awards include the Vanguard and Luminary Awards which are presented at the annual DOC Institute Honours Gala event in December.
Our Breakthrough Development Award is presented to two Breakthrough Lab participants each spring.

DOC Vanguard Award
The DOC Vanguard Award is given to an emerging or mid-career professional filmmaker, who demonstrates a keen artistic sensibility and forward-thinking approach to the craft, with the potential to lead the next generation of doc-makers.

DOC Vanguard Award 2025
Nicole Bazuin
KNOW MORE
Rogers-DOC Luminary Award
The Rogers-DOC Luminary Award recognizes a person working in documentaries or is associated with the documentary industry. This person not only excels in their position but also is actively involved in supporting Canada’s robust documentary community. The Rogers-DOC Luminary Award is given to an individual who embodies the creative spirit of the Canadian documentary tradition and displays generosity by supporting the next generation of doc-makers through mentorship, working behind the scenes to ensure that the genre remains strong for generations to come.
DOC-Rogers Luminary Award
Justine Pimlott
KNOW MORE
Elizabeth Klink — Luminary Award Winner (2014)
Elizabeth Klink — Luminary Award Winner (2014)
Brett Story — Vanguard Award Winner (2014)
Brett Story — Vanguard Award Winner (2014)
Marc Glassman — Luminary Award Winner (2015)
Marc Glassman — Luminary Award Winner (2015)
Chelsea McMullen — Vanguard Award Winner (2015)
Chelsea McMullen — Vanguard Award Winner (2015)
Alethea Arnaquq-Baril — Vanguard Award Winner (2016)
Alethea Arnaquq-Baril — Vanguard Award Winner (2016)
Chris McDonald — Luminary Award Winner (2016)
Chris McDonald — Luminary Award Winner (2016)
Daniel Cross — Luminary Award Winner (2017)
Daniel Cross — Luminary Award Winner (2017)
Victoria Lean — Vanguard Award Winner (2017)
Victoria Lean — Vanguard Award Winner (2017)
Zoe Dirse — Luminary Award Winner (2018)
Zoe Dirse — Luminary Award Winner (2018)
Amar Wala — Vanguard Award Winner (2018)
Amar Wala — Vanguard Award Winner (2018)
Millefiore Clarkes & Anne Pick — Vanguard Award Winner (2019) & Luminary Award Winner (2019)
Millefiore Clarkes & Anne Pick — Vanguard Award Winner (2019) & Luminary Award Winner (2019)
Qais Pasha — Breakthrough Award Winner (2019)
Qais Pasha — Breakthrough Award Winner (2019)
Lulu Wei — Breakthrough Award Winner (2019)
Lulu Wei — Breakthrough Award Winner (2019)
Polina Teif — Breakthrough Award Winner (2019)
Polina Teif — Breakthrough Award Winner (2019)
Lisa Jackson — Vanguard Award Winner (2020)
Lisa Jackson — Vanguard Award Winner (2020)
Aïcha Diop — Breakthrough Award Winner (2020)
Aïcha Diop — Breakthrough Award Winner (2020)
Shazia Javed — Breakthrough Award Winner (2020)
Shazia Javed — Breakthrough Award Winner (2020)
Alanis Obomsawin — Luminary Award Winner (2020)
Alanis Obomsawin — Luminary Award Winner (2020)
Maria Markina — Breakthrough Award Winner (2021)
Maria Markina — Breakthrough Award Winner (2021)
Erin Byrnes — Breakthrough Award Winner (2021)
Erin Byrnes — Breakthrough Award Winner (2021)
Tamara Mariam Dawit — Vanguard Award Winner (2021)
Tamara Mariam Dawit — Vanguard Award Winner (2021)
Sylvia D. Hamilton — Luminary Award Winner (2021)
Sylvia D. Hamilton — Luminary Award Winner (2021)
Mariam Zaidi — Breakthrough Award Winner (2022)
Mariam Zaidi — Breakthrough Award Winner (2022)
Noa Im — Breakthrough Award Winner (2022)
Noa Im — Breakthrough Award Winner (2022)
Nisha Pahuja - Vanguard Award Winner (2022)
Nisha Pahuja - Vanguard Award Winner (2022)
Anita Lee - Luminary Award Winner (2022)
Anita Lee - Luminary Award Winner (2022)
Alejandro Valbuena - Breakthrough Award Winner (2023)
Alejandro Valbuena - Breakthrough Award Winner (2023)
Tobi Abdul - Breakthrough Award Winner (2023)
Tobi Abdul - Breakthrough Award Winner (2023)
Noura Kevorkian (Vanguard Award (2023)
Noura Kevorkian (Vanguard Award (2023)
Janice Dawe — Luminary Award (2023)
Janice Dawe — Luminary Award (2023)
Cristian Gomes — Breakthrough Award (2024)
Cristian Gomes — Breakthrough Award (2024)
Ian Bawa — Breakthrough Award (2024)
Ian Bawa — Breakthrough Award (2024)
Ty Tufts — Breakthrough Award Winner (2025)
Ty Tufts — Breakthrough Award Winner (2025)
Karen Chapman — Breakthrough Award Winner (2025)
Karen Chapman — Breakthrough Award Winner (2025)
The DOC Institute
Breakthrough Award
The annual DOC Institute Breakthrough Award is presented to two Breakthrough Lab participants. Selected by a jury of industry experts, each filmmaker receives a $20,000 cash prize from the Rogers Group of Funds, a development deal from the CBC, and mentorship and professional development support from the DOC Institute.
PAST BREAKTHROUGH AWARD WINNERS
  • 2025: Karen Chapman, Ty Tufts
  • 2024: Cristian Gomes, Ian Bawa
  • 2023: Tobi Abdul, Alejandro Valbuena
  • 2022: Noa Im, Mariam Zaidi
  • 2021: Maria Markina, Erin Byrnes
  • 2020: Shazia Javed, Aïcha Diop
  • 2019: Polina Teif, Lulu Wei, Qais Pasha