TELL STORIES THAT DEFINE THE WORLD

Winnipeg Educational Dispatch — By Sarah Miller

Documentary director filming on location

Fig 1. Observational shoot in downtown Winnipeg during our Winter Field Lab.

Master the art of non-fiction cinema. Learn research, field interviewing, observational shooting, and narrative editing in Manitoba. Gain access to run-and-gun kits, professional field audio systems, and ethical licensing guidelines.

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THE MISSION OF NON-FICTION

Boreal Non-Fiction Film Institute is Canada's premier training center for non-fiction storytelling. Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we believe that documentary filmmaking is a powerful tool for social change and human connection. Our programs combine critical media studies with hands-on technical training.

You will learn how to gain trust with subjects, navigate ethical boundaries in the field, capture crisp audio in unpredictable environments, and edit hours of footage into a compelling, award-winning narrative structure.

Hands setting up focus puller on cinema camera

Fig 2. Tactile focus controls taught in Module II.

THE LEAD CHRONICLER

Sarah Miller, Lead Documentary Mentor.

Sarah Miller, Lead Instructor

Sarah is an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker. Her films have screened at Sundance, TIFF, and Hot Docs, focusing on indigenous rights, environmental conservation, and social justice. She has produced non-fiction content for CBC, PBS, and Netflix.

THE METHODOLOGY

Run-and-Gun Kits

Master lightweight, professional field production packages featuring Sony FX6 and Sennheiser microphones.

Audio Excellence

Learn to capture clean, professional audio in loud, windy, or unpredictable outdoor settings.

Ethical Journalism

Explore legal releases, copyright guidelines, ethical interview practices, and documentary law.

THE SYLLABUS

Module I: Research & Development

Write compelling documentary proposals, pitch to buyers, research subjects, and plan field shoots.

Module II: Field Audio & Camera

Master solo operator camera rigs, directional microphones, lavalier placement, and lighting on the move.

Module III: The Art of the Interview

Learn to conduct powerful on-camera interviews, create comfortable environments, and elicit authentic stories.

Module IV: Post-Production & Pitching

Master paper edits, transcription workflows, music licensing, sound design, and entering film festivals.

PHOTOJOURNALISM DISPATCHES

Dispatch A. Post-production lab in Winnipeg.

Dispatch B. Run-and-gun camera checking.

Dispatch C. Live production setup training.

TUITION RATES

Field Production Intensive

$950 CAD

3-day field camera and audio lab, ethics & release forms templates, and equipment rentals.

Enroll

Documentary Director Diploma

$3,900 CAD

Complete narrative development syllabus, Sony FX6 access, CBC/PBS pitch night entry.

Apply Now

Editing & Sound Masterclass

$1,450 CAD

Narrative story edit structures, dialogue cleaning & restoration, and music licensing blueprints.

Enroll

GRADUATE DISPATCHES

"This school taught me that a good story is built on trust. The interview psychology modules changed how I approach my subjects."

— Thomas Roy | Winnipeg, MB

"The field audio lessons saved my career. Capturing clean audio in Manitoba winds is tough, but Boreal gave me the exact tools."

— Mélanie Roy | Brandon, MB

FAQ

Do students work on group or individual films?

Students work on individual short documentary projects in their classes, but collaborate as crew members on each other's field shoots.

What editing software do you teach?

We teach Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve for post-production editing and color pipelines.