The Yamagata Documentary Dojo is a 30-day residency program for Asian filmmakers in a hot spring spa resort in the mountains of Yamagata, Japan. The retreat allows teams of filmmakers with documentary film projects the opportunity to work intensely on their rough cuts, deepen creative ambitions, and to network with Japanese and other international filmmakers. The residency is organized in cooperation with the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.  

The workshop consists of masterclasses, group discussions, and mentoring. The filmmakers will be focusing on their film projects and will be asked to take part in public film screenings and other activities with local people. The organizers propose that residents make a video portrait (of 1-3 minutes) of a Yamagata person they met during their stay, to share as a gift to the community. At the end of their stay, the residents will be required to take part in end-of-residency presentations in Yamagata and Tokyo.