DOC Toronto Board Elections 2012
2012 BOARD POSITIONS ANNOUNCED!
Thanks DOC Toronto Members for voting--our highest voter turn out yet! And thanks to our nine candidates for stepping up to the plate to offer their time, energy and expertise to our chapter.
Congratulations to the following newly elected DOC Toronto Board Members:
Nick de Pencier
Charlotte Engel
Gita Hosek
Lalita Krishna
Dorlene Lin
Danijel Margetic
Michael McMahon
Rama Rau
For a full list of the 2012 board visit http://www.doctoronto.ca/toronto-board-staff.
NICK DE PENCIER, New Candidate
Nicholas de Pencier is a director, producer, and director of photography specializing in documentary for the past 20 years. He is President of Mercury Films (mercuryfilms.ca).
As both producer and DOP his credits include Let It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles (Genie & Banff Rockie nominations, International Emmy in 1999). Also The Holier It Gets, (Best Cultural and Best Independent at Hot Docs, 2000, Geminis for best writing, editing, and direction in a documentary series, nomination, Donald Brittain Award). In 2002 he produced and shot The True Meaning of Pictures (TIFF, Sundance, Best Arts Doc Gemini). This was followed in 2003 by Hockey Nomad (nominated for Banff Rockie, as well as three Geminis, won the Best Sports). He also co-directed, produced and photographed for TVOntario a series of 40 short profiles on artists who have received Ontario Arts Council grants over the past 40 years.
He produced Manufactured Landscapes, (Chum City Award - best Canadian feature TIFF 2006, Genie for best Doc, distributed in 15 countries). He also directed and partially shot Four Wings and a Prayer, (Grand Prix Pariscience, Banff Rockie best Wildlife and Natural History Program, Jules Verne Nature Award, Gemini nominations for Best Science, Cinematography and Direction, Emmy nomination for PBS NOVA version). He was producer and DOP on Act of God (opening night film, Hot Docs 2009). Among ongoing DOP work for docs and doc series on CBC, History, Discovery, National Geographic and many others, he has recently been shooting the documentary adaptation of Payback, Margaret Atwood's Massey Lecture on debt which will be released theatrically in Canada in March 2012 and producing and shooting a feature doc on water with Edward Burtynsky.
Election Statement
The current crisis in documentary funding is the biggest challenge to documentary film makers in a generation. We need do whatever we can to solve the disconnect between the audiences who demonstrate an ever-increasing appetite for docs, and the broadcasters and other disseminators who have abandoned them. The landscape is going to require re-invention in a way that will provide new outlets and pathways for documentary storytelling while ensuring that the next generation of doc-makers can have viable careers. This is going to take radical thinking, creativity, and persistence.
For years I have looked on with deep gratitude at the many dedicated people who make DOC such a vital and necessary entity. I pledged to myself that when my kids were older I would offer DOC whatever help I could give to repay all the benefit I have received from the organization's efforts. I have considerable experience with theatrical docs and all-rights distribution deals in Canada and internationally, and am a firm believer that even as we embrace, say, mobile content, we should be considering big screens, and all the sizes in between for our films. If there is no one medium that will emerge as a saviour, we need to embrace as many distribution portals as we can, in as many different places as we can, in order to make our projects viable. My hope is that my experience will be of value to the DOC board as we work to try and achieve this.
CHARLOTTE ENGEL, New Candidate
Charlotte Engel has worked in film and television for over 20 years. Starting out in production, she cut her teeth working on indie Canadian films like Highway 61, The Adjuster and moved onto blockbusters like The Scarlet Letter and Ginger Snaps. In 2001, she joined CHUM television and over saw the development and production of television series, one off documentaries and performing arts specials for many of the CHUM channels, such as Bravo!, Star, Sex TV, City TV and Fashion TV (Bathroom Divas, Strip Search, Cover Stories, and Lookalike). In 2007, CHUM was bought by CTV and Engel stayed on, commissioning and developing programming for Star, Bravo! and Book TV. Under the CTV banner, Bravo! was able to produce many high quality series and one off documentaries that have been sold world wide and have garnered many awards. In Sept. 2011, CTV was bought by Bell Media. In May 2011, Engel left Bell Media as they decided to concentrate more on drama. She set up Rock Yenta Productions Inc. and she currently has three documentaries in development. Engel sits on the Board of Directors of imagineNATIVE. She also mentors documentary filmmakers and participates on many documentary oriented panels throughout the year.
Election Statement
As a broadcaster for CHUM/CTV/BellMedia in the past, I have always supported of local filmmakers and producers. I strongly believe in assisting and educating filmmakers so that they are able to navigate the film and television industry. As I venture into this new land of being an independent producer and filmmaker, I wish to keep up this contribution. I feel being part of the DOC BOD will enable me in keeping up this tradition. In return, I am sure I will learn from the wonderful DOC filmmakers and DOC BOD members.
GITA HOSEK, Returning Candidate
Gita Hosek has been around the film, television and radio business all of her life. After completing her M.F.A from the Academy of Film & Television Art (Documentary Film Unit) in her native Czechoslovakia, she began working for the Czechoslovakian National Television. She left Czechoslovakia and lived with her family in Austria before coming to Canada in 1988. It took her several years to improve her language skills and re-establish herself in the field she had worked in, loved and knew – documentary filmmaking. It was not an easy process but her perseverance and focus brought her to where she wanted to be.
Her first long-term contract was with the current affairs department of TVO. She later opened her own production company (together with her husband George, a DOP). Gita produced and directed several documentaries and series’ that were broadcast on CBC, TVO, Vision TV, Life Network and OLN. Her passion lies in telling human stories of hope that involves spirituality and art. For several years now Gita has been producing exclusively for Salt+Light Television. Some of the latest productions include: the feature length documentary This Side of Eden - a poetic, compelling and richly intimate portrait of the Benedictine Monks living at Westminster Abbey in Mission, B.C.and Panes of Glory, a 4 part series revealing insights surrounding the beautiful stained glass windows of St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario.
Coming to a new country and starting over can be very challenging, and finding a support system is crucial. Gita found this support from her fellow documentary filmmakers, when she joined DOC. For many years now Gita has been an active member of the leadership organization of DOC. She has served as the Toronto rep on the National Board for several years. Currently, Gita is the Treasurer of the Toronto board of DOC.
Election statement
It is my hope that many of the members of DOC feel the same way as I do about the fact that the existence of an organization like DOC is very important – specifically for our professional growth, for networking and for our overall support. This becomes even more significant in trying times such as we are in now.
The art of independent filmmaking in Canada needs a strong support system. Professional development, networking events, new programs for members, and advocacy for documentary filmmakers of all levels is what the DOC mandates. I have been personally benefiting from this for many years now and want to continue to be part of.
We all have an important task: to promote DOC to everyone in our industry. A growing membership is very important for the future of DOC.
As the treasurer of the DOC Toronto board, I oversee budgeting, planning, spending and the accounting process. It is an essential element of the overall health and success of our organization. If elected, I will continuously strive to do my best at what I have been doing for several years now. I also plan to train a potential successor to take over the treasurer position in the future.
LALITA KRISHNA, Returning Candidate
Lalita Krishna is an award winning filmmaker and transmedia producer. Her work has been broadcast on all major networks and featured at film festivals around the world. Lalita documentaries are successful both in the Canadian and international educational market. Currently, she is executing multiple transmedia productions in partnership with award winning game producers, designers and developers. Lalita is a featured speaker at prestigious conferences and professional development events. She also chaired the steering committee of docSHIFT - a two year initiative to develop the core capacity of producers to create interactive documentaries using a variety of delivery platforms. Lalita has been awarded the Dream-Catcher Award for using her craft to better humanity and is the recipient of the 2010 Reel World Trailblazer award.
Election Statement
Lalita has been an active Member of DOC Toronto for the past 10 years. As Co- chair of the Toronto chapter, she works closely with the Board members to create a vision and long term goals for the chapter. Her commitment and experience in Transmedia documentary production has helped steer the flagship docSHIFT program for two years culminating in the very successful docSHIFT Summit.
In the past four years Lalita’s goal has been to build a relationship with funders and potential partners to ensure financial stability for the chapter.
Lalita is committed to raising the image and visibility of DOC Toronto and continutes to expand the membership pool through inclusive programs that appeal to the diverse interests of the members.
DORLENE LIN, Returning Candidate
Dorlene Lin is the co-owner of the production company OneStone Entertainment Inc., which she runs with her co-producer, Naela Choudhary. From 2004 to 2008, Dorlene produced 3 seasons ( 39 episodes) of I Do…Let’s Eat!, 13 part, half-hour documentary series about the weddings and banquets of different cultures. I Do…Let’s Eat! is broadcast in Canada on Food Network Canada, and SLICE, and has sold to over 125 countries worldwide. The series was nominated for a 2006 Gemini Award for Best Lifestyle program. In September 2002, OneStone Entertainment delivered it’s first independent film, an Al Waxman Calling Card documentary entitled Chinese Daughters, broadcast on TVOntario’s The View From Here, in February 2003. Chinese Daughters received the Best Documentary Short Award at The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival 2003. It was nominated for the Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary at the 2003 Gemini Awards and a Golden Sheaf Award at the 2003 Yorkton Short Film Festival.
Election Statement
It has been my pleasure to serve on the DOC Toronto board for the past 2 years. In that time, I have had the opportunity to learn from my colleagues and experience, for the first time, the inner workings of a board. As a producer, one of my primary roles is to manage people and resources. I feel that I can bring these skills to the position of Secretary on the DOC Toronto Executive, and would be very privileged to do so.
DANIJEL MARGETIC, Returning Candidate
Over the last seven years Danijel has produced, written and directed more than 50 projects of various genres and lengths, which have earned him multiple awards, including the Norman Jewison Filmmaker Award. In 2005, following his graduation from Ryerson, he formed Balkan Films, a documentary production company. His debut full-length documentary Brotherhood and Unity was broadcast on OMNI in 2007, while his follow-up project, entitled Heaven or Not was selected for the NFB-TVO Calling Card program and premiered on TVO in Spring of 2008. His most recent short, In the Light, premiered this year at Inside Out Film Festival and is still enjoying a successful international festival run. Since 2008 he has concentrated on creating web-based educational documentary media.
Election Statement
Since joining the board I have been active in areas of policy and advocacy, having represented DOC before the CRTC, House of Commons and in consultations with CMPA and other industry organizations on the Terms of Trade negotiations. In the last few years my involvement in the policy and advocacy side has abated due to commitment to my production work but I continue to be actively involved in assisting with technical aspects of DOC Toronto's events. If I am granted the privilege of another term on the board I would like to contribute the knowledge I've garnered over the last few years of working with the K-12 sector on producing educational media and to help Canadian documentaries find their ways to Canadian classrooms.
MICHAEL McMAHON, Returning Candidate
Over the last twenty-two years Michael has produced some of Canada’s most daring and critically acclaimed documentary features and television series.Recent feature documentaries include Waterlife, A Hard Name and Beauty Day. Recent television productions include The National Parks Project for Discovery World HD, and Canadian Made for History Television.
Recent awards include the Special Jury Prize at Hot Docs, 2009 (Waterlife); a Genie Award for Best Feature Length Documentary, 2010 (A Hard Name); a Webby Award for Best Individual Documentary, 2010 (Waterlife Interactive); the SXSW Web Award for Activism, 2010 (Waterlife Interactive); an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Nature Programming (Four Wings and a Prayer); The Toyota Earth Grand Prize, 2010 (Waterlife) at the Tokyo International Film Festival; and a Gemini for Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series, 2011 (The National Parks Project).
Michael is the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Hot Docs, North America's largest documentary film festival; he is the Co-Chair of the Toronto Chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada, an industry group representing 700 documentary filmmakers across Canada, and he sits on the Industry Advisory Committee of the Toronto International Film Festival Group.
Election Statement
My purpose in serving on the DOC Toronto board has always been to advance the documentary genre, and to create opportunities for documentary filmmakers. I have been actively involved in DOC at both the regional and national levels for many years, and I look forward to continuing to serve the community for two more years.
Rama Rau is a writer-director who trained in films on one of the largest film sets in Mumbai, India. Now based in Toronto, Canada, her passion is to make films that are cross-cultural and examine "the extraordinariness of ordinary lives". Rama is just back from the World Premiere of her first feature documentary, The Market (2010) at IDFA Amsterdam, where it screened to a full house. The Market is a never-before journey into the dangerous underworld of illegal international organ trade and was filmed across Canada and India over three intense years.
Her films include My Life With Me (2010), A Day in the Life of Vij's (2009); Losing My Religion (2008 - Reel World Film Festival, Toronto) and Fingers of Fire (2006 -premiered at New York International Film Festival). Rama is currently busy developing an interactive game and a companion film, 'Slum of Millionaires (2011)' exploring the lives of actual millionaires who live in the Dharavi slums of Mumbai, India - the location of the Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire. Rama has won the Tom Shoebridge Screenwriting Award, received the 'Filmmaker of the Year' award by the Toronto Business Forum and has been named a Quebecor Fellow of DOC, Toronto. She serves on various arts council juries as well as on the DOC Toronto Board. (Documentary Organization of Canada)
Election Statement
As Board member for the past 4 years of DOC Toronto, I'd like to continue to volunteer on the Board, bringing in a lot of enthusiasm and energy into various efforts like training workshops, mentorship programs and master classes. If re-elected, these will continue to be my priorities and I'm happy to be part of such a great team.
Click here to view the current 2011 board list.
