Diana Sanchez has been promoted to president of Hot Docs, effective immediately, as part of an executive leadership team restructure at the Toronto-based festival announced on Wednesday.
Sanchez has appointed Mara Gourd-Mercado, currently at CPH:DOX, to serve as executive director, Hot Docs. Gourd-Mercado starts in her new role on October 19 and will report to Sanchez.
Sanchez will focus on strategic direction, encompassing artistic oversight, government relations, business development, and major financial partnerships, while overseeing Hot Docs’ long-term health and stability.
Gourd-Mercado will lead day-to-day operations and fiscal management of the organisation and festival, including festival and industry fundraising. The new hire will also focus on industry programming, a revitalised Hot Docs Forum, and ties with the Francophone documentary community in Canada and overseas.
Julie Bristow, chair, Hot Docs, said: “As we look to the future, this enhanced executive leadership team enables Diana to focus on what matters most: taking Hot Docs to the next level while ensuring it is financially secure, resilient, and nimble. I’m also absolutely delighted to welcome Mara to Hot Docs. Her experience and skills blend seamlessly with Diana’s, and I know they will make a remarkable team.”
Sanchez called Gourd-Mercado a “highly respected documentary thought leader with extensive festival experience and deep connections in the documentary ecosystem worldwide”.
Gourd-Mercado added. “I’m elated to join Hot Docs at such a pivotal moment, to build the kind of stability that lets bold storytelling flourish, help strengthen the industry programming and Forum, and deepen ties with French-speaking communities.”
With Bristow as chair, Aaron Zeghers serves as vice chair. The Hot Docs board also comprises Doug Allison; Caroline Harvey; Merit Jensen-Carr; Lea Marin; Habiba Nosheen; Noah Segal; and Marc Serpa Francoeur.
Hot Docs has also consolidated or eliminated “a small number of theatre roles”.
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