Workshop Registration

Directing Documentary Film: 3 Sessions

This lecture-based course provides a basic overview from the documentary director’s point of view, guiding participants through the entire process of documentary filmmaking from development to delivery. Additionally, a few practical exercises will be incorporated to provide hands-on application of selected material. Participants are given time to discuss proposals, scripts and basic elements of documentary expression, such as interviewing, mise-en-scène, shooting on the fly, and planning for anticipated locations. The course will conclude with a brief overview of the various sources of funding for low-budget documentary in Canada. 

The Introduction to Independent Filmmaking and Camera Theory workshops are recommended as prerequisites. This workshop is recommended as a companion to the Documentary Film Writing, The Art of the Interview, Documentary Film Editing and Producing Documentary Film workshops.​

part 1: Mon 27 October 2025, 6 - 10 pm   
part 2: Tue 28 October 2025, 6 - 10 pm   
part 3: Thu 30 October 2025, 6 - 10 pm   
(Registration deadline is Mon 27 October 5:00 pm)

Instructor: Maureen Judge

Maureen Judge is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker whose documentary work has been described as “...astonishingly intimate and emotional...” Her films include My Millennial Life, winner of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Documentary Program. The online platform for My Millennial Life was selected for inclusion in the prestigious IDFA Doclab Forum’s cross platform projects. She also directed and produced 17 And Life Doesn’t Wait, stories of three teen girls in their final year of high school. 

Previous work includes: CSA winner (formerly a Genie) Unveiled; The Mother Daughter Relationship, the acclaimed television series, Family Secrets; and FLicKeR, winner of the Special Jury Prize, Canadian Feature Documentary, Hot Docs. 

Maureen earned an M.A. in Cinema Studies, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. She currently teaches part-time in the BFTV Program at Sheridan and is a past Board Member of W.I.F.T – Toronto, past Executive Board Member DOC - Toronto, and former Chair of LIFT. 



Location: 1137 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario M6H 2A3
Category: Directing
Maximum Capacity: 12
12 hours of instruction in 3 parts$200 /member$225 /nonmember