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The board of Hot Docs, North America’s leading documentary festival, has appointed Diana Sanchez as the organization’s executive director. Hot Docs will present its 32nd edition from April 24 to May 4, in theaters across Toronto.
Sanchez will oversee the strategic direction and management of the festival, the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, and the year-round programs and activities.
Sanchez, who starts March 31, succeeds interim executive director Janice Dawe.
Sanchez served as senior director of film and international programmer at the Toronto Film Festival and also worked at the Miami Film Festival, Rotterdam Film Festival and the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. She was a founder of the International Film Festival of Panama.
Sanchez holds an MA in Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto and has lectured extensively. Most recently, she led the first season of the University of Toronto’s ‘Pop-Up’ Cinematheque, developing a partnership between the Media Commons Archives and the Cinema Studies Institute to showcase the archives’ collection and offer access to students and audiences for campus programming.
Hot Docs’ board co-chair Nicholas de Pencier said: “We are confident that her leadership will usher in an exciting new era for the organization. Diana brings passion, vast experience in the industry, and an unwavering commitment to the power that film has to bring people together and effect positive change.”
He added: “We look forward to her vital contribution in reshaping Hot Docs’ future, strengthening our festival and cinema, and continuing to champion filmmakers in Canada and beyond. Her vision will help Hot Docs amplify diverse voices, connect audiences with vital stories, and foster meaningful dialogue that sparks empathy and understanding.”
Sanchez responded: “Storytelling has the power to rediscover, reimagine, and bring fresh perspectives to the world around us. In that same spirit, Hot Docs is stepping into an exciting new chapter—one of growth, transformation and renewed vision. As documentary cinema continues to evolve, I’m eager to champion bold voices, embrace fresh ideas and foster meaningful connections—both within our local community and across the global documentary landscape. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Hot Docs to shape a dynamic and inclusive future for documentary storytelling.”
