Discover Top Non-Fiction Film Directors in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Andrew Cromey is a Toronto based narrative and documentary director / editor. He attended York University's Film program and graduated in 2006. Andrew has worked with a variety of clients including: CBC, CNN International, Bell Media, Universal Music, Island Records, OMNI Television and various other charities and foundations, where he has contributed as a Director, Assistant Director, Cinematographer, Picture Editor, Assistant editor and Motion Graphics Animator. He has travelled internationally on various projects across Canada, US, Europe and East Africa. Later in 2014, Andrew moved on to work as a freelance Producer for Universal Music Canada, where he produced the live online series 'uMusic Sessions' presented on Vivo (YouTube). The show featured select Canadian artist such as Lights, Dear Rouge, Mother Mother, Bishop Briggs and the Arkells. He moved to on being a contract director for Bell Media working on two shows: Off Mic (2016) and Lovers and Fighters (2017) as an online web series. His most recent documentary editorial works include Shook (2019), Way Forward (2020) and The Waiting Game (2020). Currently, Andrew has wrapped post-production on three recent productions: Qadr (2020), The Fourth Floor (2021) and Take My Hand To Heaven (2021). Andrew has been teaching for 10 years and currently is an associate member of the Canadian Cinema Editors.

• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer

Bryce Zimmerman is an award winning Canadian cinematographer and filmmaker working out of Toronto & Vancouver. Originally hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, he started taking photos on film at the age of 12. This led to a fascination with tableau photography storytelling and eventually narrative cinematography. Bryce works mainly in narrative, documentary, commercials, and has a special affinity for projects shot on film. Associate Member Canadian Society of Cinematographers Canadian & Irish (EU) Citizenship ACCOLADES: 2023 Berlin Commercial Shortlist - Best Cinematography in a Music Video 2022 Whistler Film Festival Borsos Nominee - Best Cinematography in a Borsos FIlm 2021 CSC Nominee - Robert Brooks Award for Documentary Cinematography 2021 LEO Nominee - Best Cinematography Short Documentary 2021 LEO Nominee - Best Short Drama 2021 LEO Winner - Best Music Video 2020 Berlin Commercial Shortlist - New Generation Award 2019 CSC Award - Docudrama Cinematography 2019 AMPIA Nomination - Best Documentary over 30 Minutes 2019 AMPIA Nomination - Best Commercial over 50k 2018 AMPIA Nomination - Best Commercial over 50k 2018 Anvil Awards Merit - Broadcast TV/Cinema

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director

Director / DP (mitchbowmile.com) Founder North Country Media House - video production(northcountrymediahouse.com) Mitch is an award-winning Director/DP with experience working on unscripted narratives for television, independent distribution, digital and commercial use. His clients have ranged from media distributors such as Global Heroes to environmental non-profits including the Greenbelt Foundation and Wilderness Committee. Mitch's work heavily emphasizes in-depth storytelling and journalistic practices, themes that stem from his origins as a Toronto Metropolitan University journalism graduate and his years of industry experience as a feature writer and reporter for SwimSwam News/Magazine. Transitioning his storytelling style to a visual medium, Mitch has brought the same journalistic integrity from his writing and applied a critical eye for detailed visuals and sharing emotion on-screen to connect audiences with important causes. In addition to filmmaking, Mitch's passion for nature and exploration have allowed him to develop outdoor skills applicable to the harshest terrain on our planet including mountaineering, crevasse rescue, winter travel, wilderness first aid, whitewater paddling and navigation which make him an asset to productions looking to tell authentic stories in hard to reach places. Mitch is eager to work on projects that cover themes of nature, natural history, wildlife, adventure, travel and science, however looks forward to sharing stories from every niche that he can. Mitch has very basic working proficiency in both French and Spanish.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Drone Operator
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - News
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Copywriter
• Sound Mixer
• Gaffer
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Sound Designer

I've filmed in 125 countries. From 2013-2018, I traveled to all 54 African countries. I directed/produced the 45-minute pilot documentary episode of the "The Unseen Africa" TV show. I've created many trailers and company profiles on my YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/ftapon) with one million views. *****MY GEAR***** MAIN CAMERA: Sony a7S III LENSES: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Lens and Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens. MICS: Wireless lav mics, wired lavs, and a Rode NTG-3 shotgun mic. LIGHTS: Several portable battery-powered professional lights that offer different color temperatures. SLIDER: Portable manual slider. B-CAMERA: I have a smartphone that shoots surprisingly good 4K video. TRAVEL: I have 3 passports, so I can go anywhere. CONCLUSION: If you're looking for a flexible filmmaker, contact me.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Field Producer
• TV News Producer
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Copywriter
• Copy Editor
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - News
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Sound Designer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Corporate Videographer
• Audio Storyteller
• Landscape Photographer

Owen Leitch specializes in the development of video formats and brands geared towards millennial and Gen Z audiences. He has nearly two decades of broadcast journalism experience in Canada and abroad, including CBC News, CBC Television and Al Jazeera English. Owen has produced live news events, weekly current affairs shows, documentaries and factual entertainment. His latest project, Technality, is a video-first brand focused on all things future, tech and humanity.

• Reporter / Journalist
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• TV News Producer
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Executive Producer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Content Strategist
• Senior Editor

I'm a Director/Producer/Shooter/Editor with 12 years of experience in the independent film world of Toronto. I'm a hands on creative with all the technical knowledge I need to get the job done; I'm trained in camera operation, sound recording, and NLE video editing, and own all the equipment needed for a production from A to Z.

• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Company
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director

Cristian Gomes is a Canadian documentary director, producer, cinematographer and editor. He has achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production from York University, Canada's oldest film school. Most recently, he has produced and directed The Last Guide, commissioned by CBC/Radio-Canada and Little Dot Studios which amassed 1M+ views.

• Documentary DP
• Production Company
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Field Producer
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Commercial DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Sound Mixer
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• HD Live Operator
• Production Coordinator / Crewing

I am a director/producer/editor based between Toronto and London. With almost a decade of experience in creating branded video content and music videos, Alexander’s work ranges from editing, producing and directing spanning a wide range of industries. Including working on videos for companies such as Net-A-Porter, Vice, Chanel, Le Chateau, Target, McDonald's and Ford.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Production Company
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Sound Designer
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Fixer
• Production Assistant
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Full-Service Live Production
• Creative Director

Morning Light Media - run by Alex Stephenson - is a Toronto-based production company specializing in corporate branding, music videos, and short films. Clients include: Mercedes, RBC, LCBO, Canada Goose, Coca-Cola, TIFF, Nobis, Mill Street Brewing, Right to Play, Jack Links, CBC, York University, Canada Basketball, and many others.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Full-Service Live Production
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Podcast Producer
• Copywriter
• Production Company
• Post-Production Manager
• Colorist
• Creative Director
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Sound Designer
• Fixer

After receiving his MFA from the University of Southern California, he went on to win a Gold at Cannes for his work on "Endangered Syndrome," a Cannes Gold and Clio Grand Prix for "Project Understood," and a Clio Bronze for his BMO spot featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo. His thesis film, “Between the Harvest,” screened at more than 20 film festivals worldwide, including Oscar Qualifiers The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Flickerfest (Australia), and the Uppsala Short Film Festival (Sweden). And his feature documentary, Who is Arthur Chu?, executive produced by three-time Academy Award winner Mark Jonathan Harris, premiered at Slamdance in 2017, followed by Hot Docs in Canada. Now based (mostly) in Toronto, he is currently an associate member of the Society of Camera Operators and the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, and works on many shows and films aside from his commercial work.

• Documentary DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• Production Company
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Assistant
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Corporate Videographer
• Reporter / Journalist

Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, and Photographer. Connor has served as the Head of Photography at Herb where he oversaw the art direction and photography operations and strategy for images published to an audience of 16 million people. Connor created, directed and produced several of Herb’s most successful videos which garnered millions of views and hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue. Connor was a Director, Cinematographer, and Editor of The Exit, a documentary on the use of cannabis as a potential solution to the opioid crisis. Connor was the co-director and Director of Photography of several short documentaries, including a short film called Game Changers, which profiled Al Harrington, who played 16 seasons in the NBA. Connor also co-directed a mini-documentary called "Of The Earth", which focused on the treatment of indigenous people on Tyendinaga Mohawk territory following the passage of Bill C-46. Previous to Herb, Connor was an Art Director and Senior Photo-Editor of The Plaid Zebra, an unconventional lifestyle publication that served 4 million monthly readers at its peak. Check out my Instagram page: @ConnorFyfe

• Documentary DP
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Portrait Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Drone Operator
• Creative Director
• Post-Production Manager
• Video Editor - News
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Series Producer / Show Runner
• Production Coordinator / Crewing

In a world of abundance, my years of experience in the industry allow me to create content that stands out. I began as a Director/Producer committed to understanding the message, emotion, and strategy applied to the creative. Applying the truth of documentary with the polish of cinema. As the content landscape evolved, so has my perspective. Today, I possess an extensive understanding of all creative disciplines with a T-shaped focus on film and motion. I lead new business pitches while crafting a compelling story and advocate for every campaign including a multi-channel approach. I understand how all the pieces fit together and can lead conversations around what content will drive a bigger impact on a client’s business. I enjoy contributing to the strategic development of an assignment and leading a group of cross-disciplinary teams. My experience spans a wide foundation of integrated campaigns, social content programmes and B2B-focused films. At the heart of my approach is curiosity paired with a commitment to creating something new every time. I specialize in getting to the emotional core of campaigns through telling stories with striking visuals, and dynamic images – ultimately creating a visceral audience experience.

• Creative Director
• Video Editor - News
• Production Company
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Field Producer
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Non-Fiction Film Director

Karan Deep Singh is an Emmy-nominated journalist, filmmaker, editor and photographer. He has most recently been focusing on long-form storytelling at The New York Times. Karan has worked for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal as a staffer telling stories in visuals and words for nearly a decade. He covered terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, the crackdown in Kashmir, labor shortage in Japan, and Myanmar’s military campaign that drove more than a million Rohingya refugees to neighboring Bangladesh. Karan was part of the Journal team that was named a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting for coverage of Amazon, the e-commerce retailer, and its unsafe global supply chain. He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2020 for a short documentary film he produced, filmed and directed. In 2022, he won a South Asian Journalists Association Award for a visual and investigative series about India’s devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. He also won a Human Rights Press Award in 2021 for an investigation into an anti-Muslim campaign in India’s northeast. Before joining The Times in 2019, Karan spent five years at The Wall Street Journal as a Reporter and Video Journalist reporting from five countries in Asia. He started his career at The Hindustan Times, one of India’s largest English newspapers.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Reporter / Journalist
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Drone Operator
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Sound Designer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Colorist
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Video Editor - News
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Copywriter
• Fixer
• Commercial DP
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Production Assistant
• Senior Editor
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Event Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Executive Producer
• Content Strategist
• TV News Producer
• Corporate Videographer
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Series Producer / Show Runner
• Digital Content Creator
• Audio Storyteller
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• On-Camera Talent
• Copy Editor

I worked in advertising before becoming a visual artist, first as an account executive then as an art director. After moving to a tropical island (true story), I took a little detour and went to culinary school, working in professional kitchens along the way. Eventually, I hung up my apron and started shooting and writing about food. My passion for photography, motion and writing became culinary storytelling, and my tools for self-expression. As I continue to evolve and broaden my scope as a storyteller, I lean on each discipline—art direction, culinary arts, photography, writing—to help guide my work and my vision. Bold ideas thrill me as do colour and print, drama and whimsy. I'm equally passionate about the potential of a strong, stand-alone image as I am about the creative components in a captivating film. I'm based in Toronto + Los Angeles and create everywhere. Let's make some killer work together.

• Product Photographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Copywriter
• Art Director
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Digital Content Creator

I'm a 3-time Cannes and Clio grand prix winning Director/DP/Videographer (one person band type that rides a line between filmmaker and journalist). I like marshmallow fluff and social activism (in no particular order). I tell stories of change: change in a character, change in a story, social change, and monetary change. Stories that burn and burn with the passion of love, and prairie rose during a wild fire. I follow a mix of Lars Von Trier documentary school of thought (verite) alongside the French style of Chris Marker (social commentary). I love fair intelligent documentary filmmaking that can pass as both journalism and art (i.e. Tony Kaye's Lake of Fire). I wish all the news was more like the reporting you would see in Costa Rica...long drawn out sequences without narration while allowing the audience to really listen to the people speak, instead of the media. I have learned under the likes of Mark Harris (3 time academy award winner) and Amanda Pope while studying documentary filmmaking at USC. But most importantly, I just love telling human stories, giving voice to the people...letting them tell their stories much like a This American Life episode.

• Documentary DP
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Commercial DP

I’ve been an artist since before I can remember. It all started with drawing. At 12 years old I was doing stop motion and Claymation and by the time I was 14 I had shot my first short film. Fast forward to my 24th birthday, when I decided to go get my master’s degree from my dream school (USC’s School of Cinematic Arts). By then I had finished a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual arts, played bass for a band in front of hundreds of people, had songs played at and been interviewed on national radio, had three music videos I directed on MTV Latin America’s top 10 (with one # 1), and had shot and edited a live rock concert that would go on to feature as part of MTV’s world stage series, and be sold in record stores. That still wasn't enough. So, I left my band and my burgeoning career as an up and coming music video director in Colombia to pursue my dream of being a film director. Thus, I moved to Los Angeles, where I got my MFA, and then stayed 6 years total until late 2015. During this time, I worked as an independent director, doing short form content for artists and clients. I Co-wrote, produced, co-directed and edited my first feature length film, and I worked as a cinematographer on another feature, meanwhile working in developing film and TV projects for one of my USC mentors, as well as for myself. In late 2018, my wife and I moved to Vancouver Canada, looking for a new start. In my time there, I taught film directing at Vancouver Film School, was a Creative Director at Appreciated Media, and then for the past two years Creative Vice President and Producer at Crank Media, a company where I got to assemble from the ground and lead a talented creative team, as well as pursue the production of various long and short form projects, including developing long form projects, shooting a TV pilot, all kinds of content for social media, photographing our music label’s artists, shooting their videos, and I even got to supervise the creation on 3D metaverse style world prototypes. I moved to Toronto in late 2022, and decided to start working for myself again.

• Creative Director
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Full-Service Live Production
• HD Live Operator
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Field Producer
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Corporate Videographer
• Documentary DP
• Production Coordinator / Crewing
• Gaffer
• Colorist
• Senior Editor
• Commercial DP
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Executive Producer
• Storyboard Artist
• Art Director
• Post-Production Manager
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Sound Mixer
• Sound Designer
• Copywriter

Herrie ten Cate is an experienced documentary film-maker, writer and journalist. He has travelled to remote corners of the world - everywhere from the Greenland Icecap to the Australian outback and from South Africa to Northern Russia. Managing teams in challenging conditions is all part of the job. For the last few years, he’s directed shows for the Discovery Channel series Mighty Ships. Everything from North Sea oil rigs to warships in the Arabian Sea. Herrie is a passionate about all things political and keeps a close watch on what’s happening locally and around the world. His many years of experience as a CBC Radio and Television news and current affairs producer have helped him hone his editorial, story-telling and leadership skills. For a number of years, he produced the CBC NewsWorld program Politics. He can be dropped anywhere in the world and he’ll get the job done. His “soft” people skills have proven invaluable in difficult situations. Flying is his passion. He’s an accomplished pilot with over 1400 flying hours. He’s also past President and Director of Aircraft Maintenance at SOSA - Canada’s largest gliding club. In his personal time, he has rebuilt and flown his WW2 glider, conquered Mount Kilimanjaro and learned to scuba dive. His present project is restoring an 1880s farm house in Prince Edward County.

• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Fixer
• Field Producer
• Production Assistant

Randy Woolgar is a veteran creative with a solid reputation for producing fresh, high quality digital content for top Canadian brands. He's a nimble and collaborative production professional - from location director and award-winning DP, to versatile creative director. Randy currently leads a busy a Toronto-based creative services firm specializing in video-based branded content. The firm's current client roster includes BMO, RBC, Norwood, Loblaw, KPMG and other top Canadian brands. Randy works closely with client-side communications teams and their agencies of record to develop and execute innovative and effective brand communications. He regularly leads client ideation sessions, prepares and delivers pitch decks and creative presentations. Randy has a knack for transforming creative vision into a clear set of deliverables and hand-picking the right production team to do the job. He orchestrates and manages interdisciplinary teams from kick-off meeting to delivery, and works collaboratively to ensure the final product meets exacting client expectations. If you’re looking for a versatile director with “on the fly” creative abilities and chameleon-like production expertise, let’s talk.

• Creative Director
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Documentary DP
• Field Producer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Senior Editor

Jack is an award-winning cinematographer and emerging director living in Toronto. His images have screened at major film festivals including TIFF, Sundance, Hot Docs, SXSW, and Big Sky. His credits as cinematographer include 'When Two Worlds Collide' (Best Debut Feature, Sundance 2016); 'Take a Walk on the Wild Side' (2018, Canadian Screen Award for Best Short Documentary); and 'Prince’s Tale' (Hot Docs Best Canadian Short, Audience Favorite Award 2018). Jack is passionate about unique approaches to storytelling and unconventional characters that connect with the natural world. He has a BFA in Film Production from York University (2015). The short documentary 'Nuisance Bear' is his directorial debut.

• Documentary DP
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Fixer

I am a communications professional, broadcast journalist and writer with over thirteen years of experience in Print, Electronic and Digital media. I am currently working as a Digital media Manager for a Toronto based retail company. Creating photo and video content, writing copy and posting on digital platforms are a part of my job. I previously worked as a Senior Director/Producer for Pakistan Television Network and produced over 1000 live shows, special transmissions and recorded programs. I am also experienced in making ad campaigns, corporate videos, documentaries and short reports on various social and political issues.

• Non-Fiction Film Director
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Field Producer
• Product Photographer
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Audio Storyteller
• Reporter / Journalist
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Social Media Producer
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Corporate Videographer
• Post-Production Manager
• Video Editor - Commercial