Canadian filmmakers and documentary fans find an online home with TVO's Doc Studio, launching October 19

• Visit docstudio.tvo.org for full-length documentaries, forums, and filmmaker resources
• Alan Zweig film festival on TVO, a retrospective of Doc Studio's first filmmaker-in-residence
• Doc Studio Contest offers filmmakers opportunity to have their short film air on TVO

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Canada's documentary filmmakers and fans will find an invaluable online resource on October 19 with the launch of TVO's Doc Studio. As the proud supporter of established and emerging documentary filmmakers, TVO offers this new online initiative as a platform to showcase documentary filmmakers and their work, as well as to act as a learning community that supports POV (point-of-view) filmmaking.

"Doc Studio is about exploring the work and process of Canada's documentary filmmakers, providing insight into how they think, what motivates them, and how they apply their craft," says Jane Jankovic, TVO's Commissioning Editor of Canadian Documentaries. "It's not an endorsement of any particular style or approach. It's more about sharing how various filmmakers work and why they do it. It's also outreach to those communities that don't have film festivals, workshops and master classes to inspire the next generation of filmmakers."

Visitors to docstudio.tvo.org will find full-length videos of documentaries by some of Canada's best auteur filmmakers, interviews by directors and the industry's top names, and will be able to participate in forums with other filmmakers to exchange ideas on their craft.

Alan Zweig Film Festival and Filmmakers in Residence

Every year, Doc Studio will announce a filmmaker-in-residence whose body of work will be showcased and who will collaborate with Doc Studio to offer advice and original content. Doc Studio's first filmmaker-in-residence is Alan Zweig and TVO will celebrate the launch of the site with an on-air festival of Alan's films. The festival includes Zweig's introspective, mirror trilogy Vinyl (October 19 at 9 pm), I, Curmudgeon (October 20 at 9 pm), and Lovable (October 26 at 9 pm), along with Zweig's Genie Award-winning Best Feature Length documentary A Hard Name (October 27 at 9 pm), all of which were commissioned by TVO and made their world broadcast premieres on TVO.

Alan's films will also be available online at Doc Studio, where Alan will provide video follow-ups of some of his most memorable interview subjects, behind-the-scenes insights from his films, and serialized filmmaking tips from Alan and his editor, Chris Donaldson.

Doc Studio Contest - October 27 to February 27

Do you have a story to tell and are looking for a place to showcase it? Beginning October 27, 2011 and running to February 27, 2012 Doc Studio will launch its first annual Doc Studio Contest. Accomplished and aspiring documentary filmmakers in Ontario are invited to submit a short film for a chance to have their work air on TVO next spring.

Films submitted should be no longer than five minutes in running time and follow an interview-based format, as inspired by the style of Doc Studio's filmmaker-in-residence, Alan Zweig. Films will be available in the Doc Studio gallery and a panel of experts including Alan Zweig will select the top five entries. The public will determine the winner through an online vote.

For more information on how to enter the Doc Studio Contest and for complete rules and regulations visit docstudio.tvo.org.

TVO Doc Facts
More than 50% of TVO's primetime schedule is devoted to documentaries. That is 1,430 hours of documentaries per year including commissions and acquisitions.

TVO commissions between 8-10 new point-of-view documentary films every year, more than any other Canadian broadcaster, focusing on point-of-view films that resonate with Canadians and spark interesting discussions and debate.

TVO has featured world premieres of TVO-commissioned documentaries such as Alan King's Empz 4 Life and Dying at Grace, Jennifer Baichwal's Manufactured Landscapes and The Holier It Gets, Jamie Kastner's Recessionize! For Fun and Profit and Kike Like Me, and Jennifer Abbott and Mark Achbar's The Corporation.

Quotes

Jane Jankovic, TVO's Commissioning Editor of Canadian Documentaries
"Doc Studio is about exploring the work and process of Canada's documentary filmmakers, providing insight into how they think, what motivates them, and how they apply their craft. It's not an endorsement of any particular style or approach. It's more about sharing how various filmmakers work and why they do it. It's also outreach to those communities that don't have film festivals, workshops and master classes to inspire the next generation of filmmakers."

Jennifer Baichwal (Director) & Nick de Pencier (Producer, Cinematographer)
TVO plays a crucial role in Ontario and Canada as both supporter and source of independent documentary. Without that support, it is unlikely that our films - The True Meaning of Pictures, The Holier It Gets and Manufactured Landscapes in particular - would have been made in Canada. We have a vibrant documentary community with an international reputation, and must provide both resources to those who are just beginning and more access for viewers who want to see the great work produced here. TVO Doc Studio sounds like it can do both.

Robert Lang (Producer - Raw Opium: Pain, Pleasure, Profits)
"With broadcasters everywhere pushing reality or scripted factual programming, it's great to see TVO maintain its strong support for Canadian social/political documentaries - these films open doors, spark debate and inspire intelligent discussion among TV viewers. Without TVO's longstanding commitment to documentaries, many Canadian filmmakers would never have been able to make the insightful, provocative films that have drawn attention and praise worldwide."

About TVO
TVO is Ontario's public educational media organization and a trusted source of interactive educational content that informs, inspires and stimulates curiosity and thought. TVO's vision is to empower people to be engaged citizens of Ontario through educational media. TVO is funded primarily by the Province of Ontario and supported by sponsors and thousands of donors. For more information, visit tvo.org.

Where to Find TVO

SOURCE TVO

Image with caption: "Doc Studio (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111019_C4784_PHOTO_EN_5069.jpg

Image with caption: "Alan Zweig (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111019_C4784_PHOTO_EN_5070.jpg

Image with caption: "Grinders (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111019_C4784_PHOTO_EN_5071.jpg

Video with caption: "Video: Doc Studio Promo". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_swDZP8Auhg

Video with caption: "Video: Doc Studio Contest - Alan Zweig's Criteria". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiTXwBhMSWE

Video with caption: "Video: Alan Zweig Interviewing Tip". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ1Pfx5TwzA

Video with caption: "Video: Grinders". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NZOzphwiyQ