TRAIL IS A SMALL-TENT CREATIVE STUDIO SPECIALIZING IN SOCIALLY BENEFICIAL DOCUMENTARY AND VALUE-DRIVEN BRANDED CONTENT
TRAIL was formed as a means of navigation through complicated landscapes. Clear passage for the like-minded. People passionate about storytelling in all its forms, collaborating in ways which offer tangible, real-world benefit.
Founded in 2018, Trail is an independent production company based in Vancouver, BC with a commitment to creating socially beneficial documentary films. Trail has a mandate to focus on telling underrepresented stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of Canadian communities. The work is rooted in authenticity, collaboration, and a belief in the power of real stories to drive understanding and change. In addition to original productions, Trail Films actively supports emerging filmmakers through mentorship, on-set opportunities, and collaborative partnerships that foster new voices in the documentary field.
The work has taken us into the Canadian arctic, the Mayan mountains of Chiapas, Mexico and the backstreets of Kampala, Uganda; crafting authentic, cinematic portraits of people and their communities.
At its core, Trail is Chad Galloway, an award-winning filmmaker, and a dog and a cat. In its final form, Trail is a collective of incredibly talented creative professionals leveraging years of craft to help tell your story … and a dog and a cat.
Chad Galloway is a documentary director and editor based in Vancouver, Canada, exploring themes of cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and human resilience.
As the founder of Trail Films Inc., his work spans broadcast, independent and commercial productions with a focus on social advocacy. His work has been featured on CBC Gem, Knowledge Network, Crave, TSN, Telus Originals, and APTN, while his collaborations with A&W Canada, SITKA, Adidas, Microsoft, UBC, and Vancouver Art Gallery reflect an ability to balance artistry with strategic storytelling.
Chad’s early career as a series editor and writer for Heartbeat of the Earth, a nationally broadcast docu-series focused on Indigenous communities, helped solidify his passion for documentary filmmaking. His recent work has won several best film, cinematography and audience choice awards. Sadika’s Garden, which tells the story of a family escaping the Syrian civil war with the help of an unlikely group of allies, was originally seeded through a small Telus Storyhive grant and was eventually licensed for broadcast by both CBC Gem and Knowledge Network. KǪ̀K’ETÌ: Walking with Caribou, produced in partnership with the Tłı̨chǫ Government and aired nationally on APTN, follows a group of elders and youth as they search the tundra for the disappearing Bathurst caribou and with it, their way of life. Grass Farmers, explores the potential of regenerative agriculture in maintaining the delicate balance of Canada’s rural ecosystems.
A multi-faceted filmmaker, with a deep background in cinematography and post-production, Chad brings a unique blend of technical expertise and narrative depth to his work, ensuring that every story told can be an effective tool for connection and real-world impact.
Whether he’s behind the camera, in the editing suite, or collaborating with a team to bring a vision to life, the goal remains the same: to tell real stories, beautifully.
