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.

PAST DOC VANGUARD AWARD WINNERS

2024: Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin
2023: Noura Kervorkian
2022: Nisha Pahuja
2021: Tamara Mariam Dawit
2020: Lisa Jackson
2019: Millefiore Clarkes
2018: Amar Wala
2017: Victoria Lean
2016: Alethea Arnaquq-Baril
2015: Chelsea McMullen
2014: Brett Story

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.

PAST DOC LUMINARY AWARD WINNERS

2024: Ed Barreveld
2023: Janice Dawe
2022: Anita Lee
2021: Sylvia D. Hamilton
2020: Alanis Obomsawin
2019: Anne Pick
2018: Zoe Dirse
2017: Daniel Cross
2016: Chris McDonald
2015: Marc Glassman
2014: Elizabeth Klink

Jules Arita Koostachin — Vanguard Award (2024)

Cristian Gomes — Breakthrough Award (2024)

Tobi Abdul - Breakthrough Award Winner (2023)

Alejandro Valbuena - Breakthrough Award Winner (2023)

Anita Lee - Luminary Award Winner (2022)

Nisha Pahuja - Vanguard Award Winner (2022)

Noa Im — Breakthrough Award Winner (2022)

Mariam Zaidi — Breakthrough Award Winner (2022)

Sylvia D. Hamilton — Luminary Award Winner (2021)

Tamara Mariam Dawit — Vanguard Award Winner (2021)

Erin Byrnes — Breakthrough Award Winner (2021)

Maria Markina — Breakthrough Award Winner (2021)

Alanis Obomsawin — Luminary Award Winner (2020)

Shazia Javed — Breakthrough Award Winner (2020)

Aïcha Diop — Breakthrough Award Winner (2020)

Lisa Jackson — Vanguard Award Winner (2020)

Polina Teif — Breakthrough Award Winner (2019)

Lulu Wei — Breakthrough Award Winner (2019)

Qais Pasha — Breakthrough Award Winner (2019)

Millefiore Clarkes & Anne Pick — Vanguard Award Winner (2019) & Luminary Award Winner (2019)

Amar Wala — Vanguard Award Winner (2018)

Zoe Dirse — Luminary Award Winner (2018)

Victoria Lean — Vanguard Award Winner (2017)

Daniel Cross — Luminary Award Winner (2017)

Chris McDonald — Luminary Award Winner (2016)

Alethea Arnaquq-Baril — Vanguard Award Winner (2016)

Chelsea McMullen — Vanguard Award Winner (2015)

Marc Glassman — Luminary Award Winner (2015)

Brett Story — Vanguard Award Winner (2014)

Elizabeth Klink — Luminary Award Winner (2014)

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

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

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