Hot Docs Announces Seven New Board Members

Hot Docs is pleased to announce the appointment of seven new members to the Board of Directors, marking a growth in leadership ahead of this year’s Festival. Four new positions have been added to the existing board structure, with all seven total positions being filled by new appointees.

This expanded Hot Docs Board of Directors is made up of members spanning across the Canadian film and television landscape, with three members appointed by the Documentary Organization of Canada. These new members officially joined the board on March 5, 2026. They will elect a new chair as part of their inaugural meeting.

"In an increasingly complex world that prioritizes speed over context and sound bites over nuance, the documentary form is as relevant and necessary as ever," says Diana Sanchez, Executive Director, Hot Docs. "Hot Docs, like many not-for-profit arts organizations in Canada and around the world, must continually evolve to meet the needs of our community, including audiences, filmmakers, and documentary professionals, while also stabilizing our funding to ensure future growth and impact. Our new board understands both the challenges and the opportunities ahead and brings a wealth of expertise and energy to our mission. I’m thrilled to partner with them as we work to rebuild and strengthen Hot Docs’ role in the local arts community and the broader Canadian and international documentary ecosystem, and I’m deeply grateful for their commitment."

The seven new Hot Docs Board of Directors members are:

• Doug Allison, Chief Executive Officer, The Northpine Foundation

• Julie Bristow, Founder, CEO, Catalyst

• Merit Jensen Carr, Executive Producer/ President, Merit Motion Pictures

• Lea Marin, Director of Development (Drama), Scripted Department, CBC

• Habiba Nosheen, Co-Founder, Akelo Media

• Noah Segal, Co-President, Elevation Pictures

• Aaron Zeghers, Filmmaker/Educator and Founder, The Infinite Image

In addition to welcoming the new members to the Board of Directors, Hot Docs would like to thank outgoing board members Nicholas de Pencier, Kevin Wong and Lydia Luckevich for their exceptional guidance and dedication over the past several years. The three outgoing board members will continue to support the organization in an advisory capacity.

"I want to thank our outgoing board members, Nicholas, Kevin and Lydia, whose collective leadership has been instrumental in ensuring Hot Docs is here today," adds Diana Sanchez. "Hot Docs will forever be grateful to each of them for their unwavering support and belief in the organization and their substantial contributions."

Hot Docs' Board members provide strategic direction, governance, and oversight to advance the organization’s mission and ensure its long-term sustainability. They contribute expertise, act as ambassadors for the organization, and support fundraising and stakeholder engagement activities.