Montreal, Friday, October 31, 2025 – Forum RIDM is pleased to unveil the lineup for its 21st edition, presented by the Canada Media Fund (CMF), which will take place from November 21 to 26, 2025. A flagship event for the documentary community, the Forum remains true to its mission of supporting documentary creators by offering them concrete tools for the development of their projects through workshops, discussions and networking activities, while facilitating the financing and distribution of their works through pitch sessions and the presence of guests from both Canada and abroad.
For 21 years, Forum RIDM has served as a privileged space for meetings and exchanges, bringing together each year over 500 documentary industry professionals from around twenty countries. Its rich and diverse programming includes several initiatives and not-to-be-missed events including Doc Lab Montréal (November 21 to 23) and its pitch sessions (November 24-25), Rough Cut Pitch (November 24-25), One-on-One Pitches (November 26), expert roundtables (November 24-25) and several talks on current issues in the field of documentary cinema.
This new edition will kick off with the Opening Breakfast (November 24) presented by the Bell Fund, a first opportunity to bring the community together and spark conversations. In the evening, the Opening Happy Hour, co-presented by DOC Québec, will offer a valuable opportunity to meet local and international guests and initiate enriching exchanges in a friendly atmosphere. Discussions will continue the following day with a second Networking Happy Hour (November 25), providing an ideal setting for new collaborations.
DOC LAB MONTRÉAL | From November 21 to 23
A key initiative of Forum RIDM, Doc Lab Montréal supports the development of bold documentary projects led by filmmakers and producers from Quebec, Canada, and abroad. Over three days, mentors from diverse professional backgrounds guide participants who benefit from personalized support aimed at refining their artistic approach, strengthening their production strategies and fostering the emergence of high-potential creative documentaries. This intensive program ends with a pitch session in front of a panel of renowned industry professionals, offering visibility, constructive feedback, and opportunities for support through awards presented by Rogers, Eurodoc, Main Film, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), CineGround, SLA Location, Bam Music, Royal Photo, Lussier & Khouzam, Vidéographe, and T&S Coop.
This year, the cohort brings together creators from Canada - selected following a national call for projects and through collaborations with Wapikoni, the Conseil des arts de Montréal and RACCORD - as well as international participants: Wales, Brazil, Catalonia, Taiwan and Wallonia-Brussels. The presence of international teams is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of Quebec and the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, while the participation of Canadian teams benefits from the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
The 2025 cohort projects:
FEATURE FILMS
Enquanto te escrevo a paisagem muda directed by Anna Lu Machado and Artur Sgambatti Monteiro, and produced by Thaís Vidal (Brazil)
Et pourtant les visages directed by Miléna Trivier, and produced by Maxime Coton (Wallonia-Brussels)
Fragmentos de una tormenta directed by Sebastián Mantilla, and produced by Lucija Stojevic (Catalonia)
Hollow Ship, Drifting Through the Void! directed by Tzu-An WU, and produced by Johan Chang (Taiwan)
Portrait of the Country as a Young Dog directed by Ben Reed, and produced by Katie Lambert and Siôn Marshall-Waters (Wales)
NATIONAL FEATURE FILMS
Dinosaures directed by Emilie Baillargeon, and produced by Geneviève Gosselin-G. (Canada)
Hanté·es : un film de fantômes sur les ruptures familiales directed by Laurence Olivier, and produced by Audrey-Ann Dupuis-Pierre (Canada)
HouseLight directed by Zahra Ahooei (Canada)
La Jungle directed by Jamie Ross, and produced by Bob Moore (Canada)
Le silence de Mostafa directed by Kenza Derkaoui, and produced by Stefan Supplice (Canada)
Mais voyons papa! directed by Grace Divya Singh, and produced by Mylène Augustin and Marie Ka (Canada)
Outsourcing Prisons directed by Jenny Cartwright, and produced by David Cherniak (Canada)
NATIONAL MEDIUM-LENGTH FILMS
Entre la ville et le Nitaskinan directed by Marie-Kristine Petiquay (Canada)
Justin — Coûte que coûte directed by Nathalie Lopez-Gutierrez (Canada)
Lodge 147 directed by Morgan Tams (Canada)
Pelleter des nuages : IA et responsabilités directed by Malcom Odd (Canada)
Une marque sur le front ou la main droite directed by Bleue Pronovost-Teyssier (Canada)
NATIONAL SHORT FILMS
All the Ways We Return directed by Johanna Silver (Canada)
Bica directed by Irina Tempea (Canada)
Demain depuis Diane directed by Ariel St-Louis Lamoureux (Canada)
Disco of the Dead directed by Gabriel Walta Busulwa (Canada, Uganda)
Fleur de Narcisse directed by Dédé Chen (Canada)
INDUSTRY MARKET - From November 24 to 26
DOC LAB MONTRÉAL PITCH | November 24 and 25
Pitch Doc Lab Montréal - Horizons
Unveiling of the six selected feature length documentary projects. Captivating stories plunge us into the heart of unique journeys that place humanity at the core of their concerns: Et pourtant les visages (Miléna Trivier), Fragmentos de una tormenta (Sebastián Mantilla), HouseLight (Zahra Ahooei), La Jungle (Jamie Ross), Le Silence de Mostafa (Kenza Derkaoui), and Outsourcing Prisons (Jenny Cartwright).
Pitch Doc Lab Montréal - Against the Grain
Presentation of six selected feature film projects. Bold works challenge the conventions of documentary cinema and rethink our perceptions of the world: Dinosaures (Emilie Baillargeon), Enquanto te escrevo a paisagem muda (Anna Lu Machado and Artur Sgambatti Monteiro), Hanté·es : un film de fantômes sur les ruptures familiales (Laurence Olivier), Hollow Ship, Drifting Through the Void! (Tzu-An WU), Mais voyons papa! (Grace Divya Singh), and Portrait of the Country as a Young Dog (Ben Reed).
Pitch Doc Lab Montréal - Short & Sweet
Presentation of 10 short and medium-length film projects from Quebec and across Canada selected for Doc Lab Montréal, a format that serves as a vital training ground for emerging voices in the documentary industry: All the Ways We Return (Johanna Silver), Bica (Irina Tempea), Demain depuis Diane (Ariel St-Louis Lamoureux), Entre la ville et le Nitaskinan (Marie-Kristine Petiquay), Fleur de Narcisse (Dédé Chen), Justin — Coûte que coûte (Nathalie Lopez-Gutierrez), Lodge 147 (Morgan Tams), Pelleter des nuages : IA et responsabilités (Malcom Odd), Disco of the Dead (Gabriel Walta Busulwa), and Une marque sur le front ou la main droite (Bleue Pronovost-Teyssier).
ROUGH CUT PITCH | 24 et 25 novembre
The Rough Cut Pitch offers a unique showcase for auteur documentary projects in the editing or post-production phase, seeking to develop their international distribution and marketing strategies. Participants will present their projects in a pitch session to renowned industry professionals. This year’s projects hail from Italy, Réunion Island (France) and Madagascar, as well as Taiwan. Prizes will be awarded to winning participants courtesy of Grandé Studios and Vital Distribution. The presence of international teams is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Consulat général de France à Québec and the Taipei Cultural Center in New York.
Rough Cut Pitch - Against the Grain
A glimpse into four bold projects in the editing or post-production stage. These works push the boundaries of documentary cinema through their unique visions and strong formal approaches: Cosa rimane quando il mare si muove (Gaetano Crivaro), Dear Ancestor (Lova Nantenaina), L’aventurine (Carlos Ferrand), and Our Father (Robby Reis).
Rough Cut Pitch - Horizons
In this second session, four social impact projects in post-production explore crucial issues with empathy and insight: Da Ra Song (Yi Hui Su), In the Sweet Arms (Julian Flavin), Les ombres lumineuses (Nicolas Dufour-Laperrière), and The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony (Habiba Nosheen).
From the Personal to the Collective: Filmmaking as Reflection | November 22
This round table brings together filmmakers whose work explores how cinema can move from the intimate to the collective. Participants will explore cinema’s power to transform the deeply personal into a shared experience, while engaging with the tensions of social boundaries, cultural memory, and the evolving politics of identity and representation. With Basma al-Sharif (director, Morning Circle), Lee Anne Schmitt (director, Evidence), Mustafa Uzuner (director, Soul of the Foot) and hosted by Oscar Ruiz Navia (director, Tigers Can Be Seen in the Rain).
Presented with the support of the Goethe-Institut Montreal.
Breakfast with Peter Mettler | November 23
A discussion with Peter Mettler on his new project, While the Green Grass Grows: A Diary in Seven Parts. The acclaimed filmmaker will share his insights into the making of this ambitious and immersive cinematic journey.
Presented with the support of the Consulate General of Switzerland in Montreal.
Opening Breakfast: People First, in Front of and Behind the Camera | November 24
Documentaries are known for putting people at the heart of their stories, but what about those who create them? Behind the camera, professionals face very real challenges: performance pressure, balancing personal and professional lives, occasionally toxic work environments, economic instability, etc. This discussion proposes a collective reflection on the need to build a more caring, inclusive, and sustainable work culture in our industry, where caring for one another becomes as fundamental as telling stories.
Presented by Bell Fund.
To Circulate Is to Exist: The Stakes of Documentary Reach | November 24
Between festivals, TV broadcasters, digital platforms, and alternative circuits, the landscape of documentary distribution is in constant flux. This evolution brings a host of challenges: audience fragmentation, market saturation, platform consolidation, and fragile business models. This round table will take stock of the current state of distribution, examining the strategies being implemented, the hurdles faced, and the power dynamics that shape both the visibility of films and their accessibility to audiences. With Luke Brawley (founder, INDOX), Lidia Damatto (founding partner, More Than Films), Anja Dziersk (festival manager, Rise And Shine), Benjamin Hogue (executive director, Les Films du 3 Mars), and hosted by Roxanne Sayegh (executive director, Cinéma Cinéma).
Doc Hour - Short-Form Documentary: Creation, Funding, and Distribution Challenges | November 24
Short documentaries hold a unique place within the cinematic landscape: a space for creative freedom, a formal testing ground, and a launchpad for new voices. At the same time, it’s a format made vulnerable by limited funding opportunities and often marginal modes of distribution. How can we approach short-form documentary creation on both artistic and production levels? What are the concrete challenges of funding and dissemination? What strategies are filmmakers and producers inventing to bring their short films to life and into the world? This discussion brings together creators from diverse backgrounds to explore the specificities, obstacles, and potential of the short documentary format. With Nicolas Lachapelle (director, Le punk de Natashquan), Line Sander Egede (producer, TAK Films), Sarah Seené (director, Orbites), Tam Dan Vu (artistic director, Travelling Distribution), and hosted by Claudie Lévesque (coordinator, DOC Québec).
Presented by DOC Québec.
Management and Entrepreneurship at the Heart of Creation | November 25
This discussion explores the dynamics at the intersection of artistic creation, project management, and entrepreneurial thinking in the film industry — particularly through the role of the producer. What new balances are emerging between creativity and strategic leadership in a constantly evolving sector? And how can producers fully embrace their role as creative entrepreneurs while building sustainable models? With Daniela Mujica (producer, Productions Ocho), Sylvain Corbeil (producer, Metafilms), and hosted by Karine Dubois (producer, Picbois Productions).
Presented by the Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM).
Creating, Distributing, Connecting: Challenges and Levers for the Documentary Ecosystem | November 25
As part of this discussion, the Observatoire du documentaire will present the findings of its 2025 Forum OBSDOC report. This document stems from a day of collective dialogue that brought together key players from the documentary sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding creating, distribution, and audience engagement in Quebec. With Amélie Lambert Bouchard (director, L'Observatoire du documentaire), and Marie-Michèle Cyr (researcher and author of the report Créer, diffuser, rejoindre : Défis et leviers pour l’écosystème documentaire).
Presented by Observatoire du documentaire.
Between Story and Action: Contemporary Activist Documentary | November 25
Activist documentaries do more than bear witness — they denounce, mobilize, and call for action. In a world in crisis, they stand as powerful tools for counter-narratives and transformation. This discussion invites a reflection on how today’s filmmakers are reinventing narrative forms to weave together storytelling, activism, and social change. With Courtney Montour (director, The Knowing), Ayana O’Shun (director, The Myth of the Black Woman), Svetla Turnin (executive director, Cinema Politica), and hosted by Jocelyne Clarke (director and producer, Les Productions Pleiades).
Presented by the Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ).
Deconstructing Biases in Film Criticism | November 26
Film criticism plays a key role in the recognition of cinematic works — but it is not immune to conscious or unconscious biases that shape which films are seen, valued, and discussed. Marking the centenary of FIPRESCI, this discussion will examine the blind spots of film criticism, open a dialogue on its mechanisms of exclusion and legitimization, and explore what’s needed to build a more inclusive, diverse, and self-aware critical culture. With Paola Casella (vice president, FIPRESCI), Mathieu Li-Goyette (editor-in-chief, Panorama-cinéma and executive director, Semaine de la critique de Montréal), Inge Coolsaet (co-founder and co-editor of the film magazine Fantômas), Olivier Du Ruisseau (film and visual arts critic, Le Devoir), and hosted by Mehdi Balamissa (filmmaker and founder, Film Fest Report).
Memory in the Age of Digital Storytelling | November 26
Digital storytelling has become a compelling tool for preserving both individual and collective memory. Through technologies like 3D modeling, photogrammetry, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, fragments of the past can be reanimated in vivid and accessible ways, evoking emotion and empathy, especially among younger generations. But what critical questions, limitations, and biases arise from these methods as they seek to safeguard memory for the future? With Emeline Courcier (director, Burn from Absence), Mélanie O’Bomsawin (video editor and new media artist), Vali Fugulin (director, Traces : le processeur de peine), Ugo Arsac (director, Energeia), and hosted by Myriam Achard (head of new media partnerships and public relations, PHI)
Presented with the support of the Consulat général de France à Québec and of L’Institut français, as part of Novembre Numérique.
Sounds and Images: Boundaries and Intersections in Documentary Filmmaking - with O Grivo | November 26 (free entrance)
In this cinema lesson, part of the O Grivo Retrospective: Crafting Sonic Landscapes, musicians Nelson Soares and Marcos Moreira immerse us in the soundtracks of works from different eras, connected by a visceral dialogue between visual and audio narration. The space where image and sound meet and interact is ideal for exploring their translation through concepts such as texture, spatial organization, superimposition, perspective, density, speed, repetition and fragmentation. The duo offers a glimpse into the many facets of contemporary and experimental creation in today’s documentary cinema, while addressing some of the aesthetic principles that guide it.
Volume 3: Women’s Documentary Stories | November 23
A public pitch presented by the NAWAL Association as part of the 3rd edition of VOLUME. Five short and medium-length documentaries by emerging Canadian filmmakers from North Africa and West Asia will be showcased, followed by networking and meetings with industry professionals.
International Co-production Matchmaking | November 24 (by invitation only)
This activity aims to connect producers from the international delegations attending the 2025 RIDM Forum with local producers, in order to foster networking and encourage international co-production of documentary projects.
Expert roundtables | November 24 and 25 (registration required)
Designed to encourage exchange and foster professional growth, these sessions offer privileged access to recognized industry experts. The perfect opportunity to learn more about their areas of expertise, editorial approaches, and professional practices — by asking questions directly at the source.
Matchmaking Between Doc Lab Montréal Filmmakers and Producers (registration required) | November 25
One-on-One meetings connecting producers and Doc Lab Montréal filmmakers with shorts, mediums or feature films projects. This event provides a valuable opportunity to discuss potential collaborations. The filmmakers from Doc Lab Montréal who will participate in this networking activity are Johanna Silver (All the Ways We Return), Irina Tempea (Bica), Ariel St-Louis Lamoureux (Demain depuis Diane), Marie-Kristine Petiquay (Entre la ville et le Nitaskinan), Dédé Chen (Fleur de Narcisse), Nathalie Lopez-Gutierrez (Justin — Coûte que coûte), Morgan Tams (Lodge 147), Malcom Odd (Pelleter des nuages : IA et responsabilités), Gabriel Walta Busulwa (Disco of the Dead), and Bleue Pronovost-Teyssier (Une marque sur le front ou la main droite).
One-on-One Pitches | November 26
The One-on-One Pitches offers meetings in “speed dating” format between project holders (producers, filmmakers and distributors), and industry representatives (public and private broadcasters, distributors and sales agents, festival programmers, and representatives of institutions and other funding bodies). A unique opportunity to form new partnerships and expand the reach of new projects.
The award ceremony celebrating the projects from Doc Lab Montréal and the Rough Cut Pitch will take place on November 26 at the Cinémathèque québécoise’s Salle Norman-McLaren, as part of the Forum RIDM Closing Cocktail, marking one last opportunity for networking with professionals from local and international documentary communities.
PRICES
Passes for Forum RIDM activities can be purchased via the Forum’s website and will continue to be available until the end of the industry market.
RIDM + Forum Pass: $280
RIDM + Forum + One-on-One Pitches Pass: $445
Student Forum Pass: $40
2025 EDITION FORUM PARTNERS
The 21st edition of Forum RIDM is made possible thanks to the support of our partners and collaborators. Forum RIDM particularly wishes to thank the Gouvernement du Québec, the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications (MCC), the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie, Emploi-Québec, Telefilm Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, as well as its Presenting Partner, the Canada Media Fund (CMF).
Forum RIDM also thanks its Main Partners for their support, including Tamron, Rogers and the Bell Fund as well as Associate Partners including the Consulat général de France à Québec, the Consulate General of Brazil in Montreal, the Italian Cultural Institute of Montreal, NAWAL, Grandé Studios, CineGround, RACCORD, the APFC, DOC Québec, Eurodoc, Main Film, Royal Photo, SLA Location, the National Film Board of Canada (ONF/NFB), Vital Distribution, Bam Music, Lussier & Khouzam, T&S Coop, Vidéographe, Wapikoni and the Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ).
Forum RIDM acknowledges the invaluable support of its collaborating and catering partners, as well as the partners of the Bourses TaCIC - Tremplin Territoires (TaCIC, franC doc, 411 Films, Microclimat Films, Bande Sonimage, SPIRA, Paraloeil and Social T) and Peter-Wintonick Grant (EyeSteelFilm, Intuitive Pictures, Cinema Politica, John Walker Productions, Kensington Communications, Storyline Entertainment, Invisible Hand, Colonelle Films, Bunbury Films, Canada Wild, Parabola Films).
Forum RIDM exists year-round, thanks to collaborations with festivals and cultural organizations around the world, which enable us to support the career development of Quebec professionals. Thanks to numerous bilateral agreements, over the past year, Quebec and Canadian professionals have had the opportunity to travel to Nuevas Miradas (Cuba), Cannes Docs (France), DOK.fest München (Germany), Sheffield DocFest (United Kingdom) and DocsMX (Mexico). These activities are made possible thanks to the financial support of the Gouvernement du Québec and Telefilm Canada.
About Forum RIDM
Forum RIDM aims to stimulate the production and distribution of independent documentaries, both nationally and internationally, by promoting the exchange of information and meetings between the various professionals in the documentary industry. Roundtables, conferences and workshops on major current issues will bring together over 500 filmmakers and representatives of various production, broadcasting and distribution companies over five days.
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances, and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voices, and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors.
Forum RIDM’s 21st edition, presented by the Canada Media Fund (CMF),
will take place from November 21 to 26, 2025.
at the Cinémathèque québécoise, National Film Board of Canada and UQAM - Coeur des sciences, Salle Polyvalente (SH-4800), Pavillon Sherbrooke
Information: ridm.ca/en/forum-ridm / forum@ridm.ca
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