Five-Day Intensive · September 2026
Some stories can only be found by leaving home.
September 14–21, 2026 · Rockport & Camden, Maine · Limited to 5 filmmakers
Every September, Camden, Maine becomes one of the most vital gathering places in documentary cinema. The Camden International Film Festival draws filmmakers, funders, broadcasters, and storytellers from around the world. This workshop puts you inside that world.
I invite you to join me for an intimate, intensive five-day workshop timed to coincide with CIFF. Together we will do the deepest work a filmmaker can do — shaping your story, finding its structure, and discovering the film only you can make.
This is not a lecture course. It is a living, breathing creative laboratory where your personal documentary project takes centre stage.
Each morning, our small group of five gathers together — sharing work, challenging assumptions, and building the kind of creative trust that only comes from working closely with fellow filmmakers on a shared journey.
Afternoons are yours: time to work independently on your project, and time to meet with me one-on-one to go deeper into your story. I will work closely with each of you — helping you find the artistic clarity that turns a good idea into a compelling film.
And when the day’s work is done, the festival begins. As a Full Access Pass holder, you will move freely through CIFF — watching films, attending filmmaker workshops, and joining the industry parties where the real conversations happen. You will witness firsthand how the documentary world thinks, pitches, and collaborates. It is an education no classroom can replicate.
Filmmakers at any stage of their journey are welcome. What matters is that you have a story you need to tell.
A clear vision and structure for your documentary
A stronger, more confident creative voice
A deep understanding of where your film fits in the nonfiction landscape
Meaningful connections to the documentary world
The momentum to finish what you start
One of the things that makes this workshop special — and unusually affordable — is where we stay. All five of us will share a beautiful house in the heart of Rockport, Maine, just minutes from the festival.
This is not a hotel or a dormitory. It is a home — the kind of place where the conversation continues over breakfast, where ideas get scribbled on napkins, and where the work of the day flows naturally into the life of the evening.
Continental breakfast is included each morning. The house sits within easy walking distance of some of Rockport’s finest restaurants, and the kitchen is fully equipped if you feel like cooking.
For comparison, room and board at Maine Media Workshops + College runs roughly $2,000 USD. Your lodging and breakfast here are included in your tuition — representing a substantial saving without sacrificing comfort or community.
I have been teaching documentary filmmaking at Maine Media Workshops + College since 2002 — and throughout that time, I have guided filmmakers at every stage of their journey toward the stories only they can tell.
This workshop is independent of Maine Media Workshops + College and offered at a fraction of the cost — keeping the same depth of instruction while making the experience genuinely accessible.
All rates include tuition, lodging, continental breakfast, and Full Access Pass to CIFF. Register early and you choose first — bedroom preference is assigned in order of registration.
Space is limited to five filmmakers. For more information or to register, reach out directly.