DOC Delegation at IDA’s Getting Real ’24 Conference
DOC is thrilled to bring a Business Leap delegation to this year’s Getting Real conference in Los Angeles!
Getting Real is the International Documentary Association’s biennial conference, designed for and by documentary practitioners and focused on the business and art of nonfiction storytelling. This four-day event provides a space for the field to hold constructive conversations, build lasting relationships, and tackle the ethical, creative, sustainability, production, and distribution challenges facing our growing community. The core of the conference programming connects participants who hail from diverse independent filmmaking sectors, geographic regions, and professional status, platforming the most exciting new and established voices dialoguing with each other.
Thank you to Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada for sponsoring DOC’s delegation at Getting Real ’24!
About DOC’s Business Leap Program
DOC’s Business Leap program is designed to help production companies “leap” to the next level. Six Canadian documentary producers are supported in growing their production companies and their slate of projects through regular one-on-one consultations in the key areas of legal, accounting, producing, and mental health. Each company is owned by a producer whose community has historically been under-represented and under-served by Canada’s production sector. Over the course of one year, the cohort benefits from sessions that serve to strengthen each company’s production accounting systems, provides them with tailored legal consultations, regular sessions with a producer-mentor, and subsidized therapy – a key recommendation from DOC’s 2023 study on mental health in the documentary sector, “DocuMentality.”
Thank you to the Canada Media Fund for sponsoring the Business Leap program!
DOC’S FOUR DELEGATES AT GETTING REAL
Sarah Spring
Executive Director of the Documentary Organization of Canada
Executive Director of the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) and a veteran producer and consultant, Sarah has been actively involved in Canada's vibrant film community for almost twenty years. The company Sarah co-founded in 2010 with Selin Murat, Parabola Films, is a boutique production house known as a champion of independent cinema and innovative storytellers. Sarah served as Board Chair of Montreal's RIDM documentary festival and is currently on the Board of the Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC (Black and People of Colour) Creators. In her role as Executive Director of DOC Sarah advocates toward an equitable, sustainable and inclusive film industry.
Jessica Brown
Ujarak Media | jessica@ujarakmedia.com
We are Ujarak Media, an Inuit, woman-owned production company revolutionizing entertainment. Our mission is to create captivating, diverse content that sparks meaningful conversations, fosters understanding, and connects people. With cultural sensitivity at our core, we deliver unforgettable experiences that inspire change. Join us as we redefine storytelling worldwide.
Heather Hatch
Della and Goliath Productions | heatherjeanhatch@gmail.com
Della and Goliath Productions is a film company based in Edmonton, Alberta founded in 2018 by Heather Hatch. Their work focuses on Social Impact documentary, kids’ content, and scripted series. Currently they are in development on a children’s web series called Goin to Kookum’s with Maureen Belanger, a scripted Web series called Roommate Treaties with the strangling wolf brothers, a narrative scripted series called Metis Love stories with writer Tai Amy Grauman and a feature length Documentary called Miscarriage – a healing circle – with stories from First nations women around the subject. The multi award film Wochiigii lo: End of the Peace, a feature-length documentary premiered at TIFF in 2021 and is still touring festivals. Heather is first nations from Haida Gwaii. Well told stories are timeless and impact social change; this is the focus of Heather’s company.
Rosie Johnnie-Mills
Likinskw Productions | rosiejohnniemills@gmail.com
Likinskw Productions Inc. was founded in Vancouver, B.C on Unceded Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-waututh Homeland by V.J. Rose Johnnie-Mills (Xinipsen, Cowichan/Skidegate, Haida, Eagle Clan) and Dustin Riel McGladrey (Nisga’a, Grizzly Clan). Being a 100% Indigenous Owned Film Production Company, Likinskw (Grizzly Bear) Productions Inc. empowers Indigenous Storytelling by Indigenous People. Upcoming projects in 2024 will center eight different communities around the province of British Columbia, their cultures, and what it means to be Indigenous in BC. All story content, inspiration, and locations require community involvement. Both Indigenous Co-founders of Likinskw Productions Inc. are community-made.