Boards & Staff

Hot Docs Board of Directors

• 
  Nicholas de Pencier

  Co-Chair Mercury Films
  

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  Nicholas de Pencier

  Mercury Films
• 
  Kevin Wong

  Co-Chair Nulogy Corporation
  

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  Kevin Wong

  Nulogy Corporation
• 
  Lydia Luckevich

  Pemberley Investments, Ltd.
  

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  Lydia Luckevich

  Pemberley Investments, Ltd.

Hot Docs Staff: Executive Team

• 
  Diana Sanchez

  Executive Director
  

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  Diana Sanchez

  Diana Sanchez has over 25 years of experience in the international and Canadian film industry. She has held key positions at major festivals, including TIFF, where she served as Senior Director of Film and International Programmer, as well as the Miami, Rotterdam, and Los Angeles Latino (LALIFF) film festivals.
  
  As a Founder of the International Film Festival of Panama, Diana identified the need for a festival dedicated to Central American and Caribbean films, making IFF Panama a launchpad for the region, described by Variety as “one of the world’s most quickly consolidating festivals.”
  
  A lifelong learner and educator, Diana holds an MA in Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto. She recently led the first season of U of T’s ‘Pop-Up’ Cinematheque, developing a partnership between the Media Commons Archives and the Cinema Studies Institute to highlight the Archives’ collection and provide access for students and diverse audiences to participate in campus programming.
• 
  Heidi Tao Yang

  Managing Director
  

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  Heidi Tao Yang

  As the Managing Director of Hot Docs, Heidi translates the organization’s vision into operational roles, optimizing festival and program standards, helping to expand Hot Docs’ brand nationally and internationally, and fostering stakeholder engagement. In her previous role as Director of Funds & Labs, Heidi oversaw the disbursement of over $4M in funding to filmmakers of diverse backgrounds. She has executive produced 15 short films for Hot Docs and has supervised just under 100 hours of unscripted television. Before her recent appointment, Heidi directed funds and lab programs that included the design of the inaugural Hot Docs Incubator, a Netflix-supported program for documentary filmmakers seeking growth and showcasing creative and market potential. If there is a spare moment, she tries to fit in reading, and taking a semi-strenuous hike.

Hot Docs Staff: Programming

• 
  Heather Haynes

  Director of Programming
  

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  Heather Haynes

  Heather is the Director of Programming at Hot Docs, with nearly two decades of experience, including roles as Senior International Programmer and Associate Director of Festival Programming. She has extensive experience in Latin America and collaborates internationally with filmmakers on work-in-progress sessions and juries. Heather has recommended for Chicken & Egg Pictures' (Egg)celerator Labs, programmed for the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, imagineNATIVE and AluCine. She has produced three award-winning documentaries and the performance art film ISHI, based on James Luna’s work. She has a strong background in producing innovative projects in visual/performance arts, film, and theatre, with a focus on human rights and cultural issues. She founded Toronto Free Gallery and Culture Storm, both dedicated to social and political engagement, and was the former publisher of Fuse Magazine. In 2018, she became a founding collective member and producer for Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto.
• 
  Kristin Boivin

  Senior Programming Manger Festival
  

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  Kristin Boivin

  Festival

Hot Docs Staff: Cinema Programming

• Desiree D’Lima

  Cinema Programming Manager Hot Docs Cinema

• Michelle Boon

  Community Engagement and Special Events Hot Docs Cinema Programmer

Hot Docs Staff: Development & Sponsorship

• Jackie Garrow

  Director Philanthropy and Impact

• Adam Kirkham

  Director Strategic Partnerships

• Julia Palatino

  Senior Manager Strategic Partnerships

• Megan MacLaurin

  Manager Public Sector and Foundations

• Caterina Capizzano

  Partnerships Coordinator

• Erika Serodio

  Senior Coordinator, Philanthropy

• Dara Poizner

  Development Coordinator

Hot Docs Staff: Industry

• Elizabeth Radshaw

  Industry Programs Director

• María José Arauz

  Industry Programs Manager

• Kerry-Ann James

  Industry Coordinator

Hot Docs Staff: Administration

• Amanda Coolman

  Finance Director

• Taylor Sentineal

  HR Manager

• Elena Romanova

  HR Consultant

• Doaa Zakir

  Executive Operations Coordinator

Hot Docs Staff: Communications

• Kaitlin Knyf

  Interim Communications Director

• Masaki Kondo

  Interim Sr. Marketing Manager

• Bill Alexander

  Media Relations Manager

• Michael Bodalski

  Web & Online Manager

• Zabadee Lee

  Database Administrator

• Alex MacGillivray

  Senior Communications Coordinator Hot Docs Cinema

• Emily Johansen

  Cinema Social Media Coordinator

Hot Docs Staff: Production

• Crystal MacDonell

  Director of Production

• Michael Robinson

  Senior Technical Manager

• Alicia Corbiere-McNutt

  Rental Events Manager, Hot Docs Cinema

• Kathleen McCarthy

  Technical Coordinator

• Rob McPherson

  Lead Projectionist

Hot Docs Staff: Operations

• Giulia Mandel

  Director of Operations

• Sacha Kingston-Wayne

  Operations Coordinator

• Prescott Morin

  Audience Services Manager

• Bronwen Eadie

  Delegate Services Manager

Hot Docs Staff: Volunteers