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The Indigenous Digital Filmmaking programs at CapU offer high quality creative and technical training for Indigenous students interested in film and TV production.

Career opportunities in Indigenous film and TV production are growing. Our students come from all around the country to learn from experienced Indigenous instructors.

You'll study everything from scriptwriting to shooting and post-production — and leave ready to start work.

To earn your diploma, you'll need to complete both years of this program. Diploma students can apply to the third year of the Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts degree at CapU.

Graduates have gone on to crew across all production departments or work on their own productions.

IIDF Community Safety Protocols (pdf).

CapU Indigenous Digital Filmmaking instructor Gregory Coyes.

Learn from Indigenous filmmakers

You’ll gain an understanding of critical elements of the production process, including promoting cultures and languages, storytelling for fact-based productions and scriptwriting.

Career paths

  • Camera operator
  • Documentary filmmaker
  • Editor
  • Production manager
  • Screenwriter

Gain vital filmmaking skills

As part of your training, you'll become adept at camera operation, lighting and sound, screenwriting, documentary filmmaking, production and post-production.

Additionally, you'll also refine your skills and knowledge of digital editing, technical directing, production design, narrative production and Indigenous cinema.

Related links

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Contact us

For more information about the Indigenous Digital Filmmaking programs at CapU, contact us today.

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Information sessions

Plan ahead with this calendar of important program information sessions and open houses.

Upcoming info sessions

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Are you ready to bring it?

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Intakes

Important dates

Applications open

Oct 3, 2023 – Sep 3, 2024

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Jul 2, 2024

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Aug 19, 2024

NOTE: Important dates may change.

How to Apply

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay an application fee of $50, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs. 
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If you are currently in Grade 12, you must request that the Ministry of Education submit your transcript directly to Capilano University.
  • Documents must be in the original language of issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.
Apply on EPBC

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

For students who have previously attended post-secondary, even though you submitted a digital copy of your transcripts on EducationPlannerBC, you must submit official university or college transcripts for transfer credit.

Please send all official documents to:

Registrar's Office
Birch Building, Room BR230
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, BC
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and the signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing university or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Once you've been accepted into a program, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
  • If you wish to receive transfer credits, please submit official university/college/International Baccalaureate (IB)/Advanced Placements (AP) transcripts either electronically or by mail:

     

    Registrar's Office
    Birch Building, Room BR230
    2055 Purcell Way
    North Vancouver, BC
    V7J 3H5

New Students

Most CapU programs need proof that you:

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay a non-refundable application fee of C$135, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs.
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If your original transcripts and supporting documents are not written in English, please submit a translated copy.
Apply on EPBC

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.
Funding for International Students

You've already sent digital copies of your transcripts to EducationPlannerBC as part of your CapU application, but we also need physical copies of your official high school, college or university transcripts.

If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

Please send your official documents to:

Capilano University
Centre for International Experience, Room LB127
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, B.C.
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

Students must submit official high school and university or college transcripts for admission.

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing high school, university, or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

If you are accepted into a program, you will receive a letter of offer in your myCapU email inbox.

  • You will need to confirm your acceptance into the program by paying a tuition deposit outlined in your letter of offer.
  • This deposit will go towards your first-semester tuition once you are registered for courses at CapU.

After paying your tuition deposit, you will receive a letter of acceptance in your myCapU inbox. This may be used to apply for, or renew, a study permit.

  • Depending on your citizenship, you may also need to apply for an entry visa.
Permits & Visas

Once you've been accepted into a program and have applied for your study permit, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted international students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
Info for Admitted International Students

Apply Now

Are you ready to rise to the challenge?

Apply now to CapU

Transfer Students

Find out how you can transfer your credits from another post-secondary institution to CapU.

Applying as a Transfer Student

Returning Students

If you're returning to CapU to complete your program or to apply into a new program, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Contact Registrar's Office

Switching Programs

If you want to change your program of study, you need to submit a new application to CapU.

Re-apply to CapU

Tuition and Fees

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $10,430 $1,740 $12,170
Year 2 $9,984 $1,746 $11,730
Total $20,414 $3,486 $23,900
Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $25,935 $1,740 $27,675
Year 2 $25,739 $1,746 $27,485
Total $51,674 $3,486 $55,160

Tuition & Fees Estimator

Get a detailed breakdown of the tuition and fees for your program.

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Entrance Awards

All new CapU students can fund their education with entrance awards.

See if I qualify

Term Awards

Continuing your studies at CapU? You may be eligible for awards, too.

Take me to the awards

Required Courses

First Term

Total credits: 15.00

Required:
IDF 103Production Design I1.50 credits
IDF 119Professional Development I1.50 credits
IDF 120Indigenous Cinema Studies3.00 credits
IDF 126Introduction to Screenwriting3.00 credits
IDF 127Introductory Documentary3.00 credits
IDF 139Technical Foundations3.00 credits

 

Second Term

Total credits: 16.00

Required:
CMNS 131Business Writing for Documentary3.00 credits
IDF 109Production Planning2.00 credits
IDF 110Production Project #12.00 credits
IDF 119Professional Development Icont’d
IDF 128Production Management3.00 credits
IDF 137Narrative Production3.00 credits
IDF 142Technical Directing3.00 credits

 

Third Term

Total credits: 15.00

Required:
IDF 207Technical Motion Picture Arts5.00 credits
IDF 208Line Producing and Production Management3.00 credits
IDF 209Advanced Digital Editing3.00 credits
IDF 233Screenwriting3.00 credits
IDF 243Production Development1.00 credits

 

Fourth Term

Total credits: 16.50

Required:
ENGL 100University Writing Strategies3.00 credits
IDF 213Production Design II1.00 credits
IDF 217Sound Design for Film and Video1.50 credits
IDF 235Indigenous World Cinema3.00 credits
IDF 239Advanced Technical Foundations1.50 credits
IDF 240Advanced Technical Directing1.50 credits
IDF 250Advanced Production Project5.00 credits

Total program credits: 62.50

Learning outcomes

  • Prove their creative and analytical storytelling ability by producing a treatment, outline and script for two short productions as well as an executed research plan for a fact based story.
  • Prove their leadership and management skills by developing and producing two final video productions complete with a production package for each and with the support of a crew made up of their peers.
  • Demonstrate introductory technical production skills in camera, lighting, sound, editing, sound tracks, graphics, credits and effects.
  • Develop and organize personal and professional components of their portfolio as well as present three different story ideas in classroom presentations and develop information for festival submissions and proposals.
  • Apply Aboriginal and professional practices and protocols during their productions.

How to Declare

For the official publication of programs, course descriptions and admission requirements please view the Capilano University Calendar.

Have a question?

Get in touch with us!

About this program

School of Motion Picture Arts
604 990 7868
Bosa Centre for Film and Animation
film@capilanou.ca

About this program

Indigenous Digital Filmmaking Program
604-990-7904
Bosa Centre for Film and Animation
idf@capilanou.ca

General inquiries

Student Information Services
Library Building, room LB152

604-984-4900
604-984-1798 (fax)
registration@capilanou.ca