About DOXA

Our Mission:

To support a better understanding of the complexity of our times through engaging the public in documentary media as an art form.

We’re Committed To:

Cultivating curiosity and critical thought
Promoting the intersection of actuality and artistic expression
Fostering a local and international community interested in non-fiction media

Our Mandate:

DOXA is presented by The Documentary Media Society, a Vancouver based non-profit, charitable society (incorporated in 1998) devoted to presenting independent and innovative documentaries to Vancouver audiences. The society exists to educate the public about documentary film as an art form through DOXA Documentary Film Festival, a curated and juried festival comprised of public screenings, panel discussions, public forums and educational programs. The 21st annual DOXA Documentary Film Festival is scheduled for May 5–15, 2022; stay tuned for further details. DOXA will present Vancouver’s fourth annual Podcast Festival November 20, 2021.

The Documentary Media Society is a founding member tenant of the 110 Arts Co-op which manages The Post at 750 office and studio facilities.

The Documentary Media Society is located on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

DOXA (pronounced dox'-ah) is a greek word meaning common belief or popular opinion.

Team Members

Sarah Bakke

Development and Communications Manager

Sarah B. manages all development opportunities, including sponsorships, advertising, and donor relations. Her favourite documentary is Jane B. par Agnès V. directed by Agnès Varda.

Gina Garenkooper

Operations and Volunteer Manager

Gina oversees general festival operations including venue management, box office and volunteers. Her favourite documentary is Virunga directed by Orlando von Eiensiedel.

Atenas Contreras

Business and Finance Manager

Atenas is the Business and Finance Manager for DOXA. She oversees DOXA’s budget and makes sure all the pieces fit in the right place. Her favourite documentary is Fix and Release by Scott Dobson.

Sarah Ouazzani

Programming Manager

Sarah O. oversees all programming and engagement initiatives, all while watching too many films to count. Her favourite documentary is Sans Soleil by Chris Marker.

Seasonal Staff

Selina Crammond

Programming Consultant

Sharon Bradley

Vancouver Podcast Festival Coordinator

Dharra Budicha

Programming and Communications Coordinator

Dharra keeps all of DOXA's programming ducks in a row, and assists with all things communications. Her favourite documentary is A Better Man (as well as its companion piece It Was Me) by Atiya Khan.

Eirinn McHattie

Technical Director

Marnie Wilson

Media Relations

Milena Salazar

Programming and Industry Consultant

Board Members

Natasha Tony

Debra Pentecost

Jamala MacRae

Jill Anholt

Ken Tsui

Lizzy Karp

Martin Gerson

Roger Holdstock

Board and Committees

Board of Directors
Jill Anholt, Chris Dafoe, Martin Gerson (treasurer), Roger Holdstock (chair), Lizzy Karp, Jamala MacRae, Michelle Mason, Debra Pentecost (secretary), Natasha Tony, Ken Tsui

Programming Committee
Joseph Clark, Selina Crammond, Marco Fratarcangeli, Christina Larabie, Carson Pfahl, Anant Prabhakar, Kris Rothstein, Milena Salazar, Dharra Budicha, Gina Garenkooper

Screening Committee
Sarah Bakke, Jurgen Beerwald, Michelle Bjornson, Josie Boyce, Dharra Budicha, Patrick Carroll, Atenas Contreras, Kathy Evans, Victoria Furuya, Gina Garenkooper, Andrew Gaybull, liisa Hannus, David House, Melissa James, Jessica Johnson, Christopher Jung, Rami Katz, Brie Koniczek, Viktor Koren, Melanie Lemaire, Anna Lumberjack, Michelle Martin, Sara Wylie, Keith Yoshida, Jeff Yu

Programming Consultants
Selina Crammond, Dorothy Woodend

Fundraising Committee
Jill Anholt, Sarah Bakke, Charlotte Cavalié, Andrea Gin, Natasha Tony

Advisory Committee
Nova Ami, Kris Anderson, Colin Browne, Szu Burgess, Peg Campbell, Mel D’Souza, Ann Marie Fleming, Cari Green, Duncan Low, Alex Mackenzie, Wendy Oberlander, Carmen Rodriguez, Lauren Weisler, Aerlyn Weissman

Vancouver Podcast Festival Organizing Committee
Jill Anholt, Lisa Chen-Wing (Creative Director), Andrea Gin, Carlos Hernandez Fisher (Web Editor), Lizzy Karp, Hannah McGregor, Roshini Nair, Andrea Warner, and Joseph Clark

Program Book and Website Copy Editor
Patrick Geraghty

Media Relations
Marnie Wilson / Artsbiz Public Relations

Graphic Design
Steve Chow / chowdesign.ca

Web Development
Left Right Minds / leftrightminds.com