Greetings From Our Funders

Susan Jackson

On behalf of the BC Arts Council, I am pleased to welcome you to the 19th annual DOXA Documentary Film Festival

The largest festival of its kind in Western Canada, DOXA is a key screening event and vital forum for national and international documentary filmmakers. With public screenings, panel discussions, and educational programming, the festival provides us with an opportunity to consider the complexity of our times through the documentary art form.

The BC Arts Council—the Government of British Columbia’s key development and funding agency for the arts—is proud to be a long-time supporter of DOXA. We would like to extend our gratitude to the staff and volunteers for their hard work on this celebration of documentary filmmaking.

Sincere regards,
Susan Jackson
Chair

Simon Brault

Art allows us to escape the constraints of everyday life by exploring the imaginary—that which extends, enhances, and impacts our lives.

Art thrives on diversity. In Canada, art calls on us and brings us together. Globally, it expresses our humanity and our hopes for inclusivity and longevity.

In your community, DOXA Documentary Film Festival is as a mobilizing force. The Canada Council for the Arts is proud to support this opportunity for encounters and dialogue between artists and their audiences.

Simon Brault, O.C., O.Q.
Director and CEO

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault

Welcome to the 2020 DOXA Documentary Film Festival!

The art of documentary filmmaking offers us a window on the world and helps us see it from multiple perspectives. The outstanding original films presented at this festival will give audiences in Vancouver the chance to appreciate and celebrate the diversity and creativity for which Canadians are known the world over. This is why our government is pleased to once again be a part of this event.

As Minister of Canadian Heritage, I would like to thank all the hard-working organizers,committed volunteers and inspiring filmmakers who helped bring this year’s festival to life. Enjoy the films!

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault

Kennedy Stewart

On behalf of the citizens of Vancouver and my colleagues on Vancouver City Council, I want to extend my warmest greetings to all those attending the 19th Annual DOXA Documentary Film Festival.

The Documentary Media Society presents independent and innovative documentaries to Vancouver audiences. These films playan essential role in bringing new issues, concerns and human experiences to public attention. This year’s festival, like those that have gone before, brings a remarkable new series of films, both local and international. Vancouver's film and television production industry is one of the strongest in North America and programs like DOXA offer an important showcase for documentary productions.

Best wishes for the best festival!

Sincerely,
Mayor Kennedy Stewart

Prem Gill

Creative BC is enthusiastic to partner with DOXA Documentary Film Festival once again, in this 19th year, as a presenting sponsor of an inspiring, boundary-pushing film festival.

Since its inception, DOXA has grown to be recognized as a community that cultivates curiosity and brings critical thinking and distinct voices with rich subject matter to the public. DOXA plays a key role in contributing to B.C.’s motion picture ecosystem by fostering and promoting complexity and artistic expression in factual storytelling.

Congratulations to DOXA for your dedication in bringing us all together to celebrate the innovators creating change through filmmaking.

Prem Gill
Chief Executive Officer

Christa Dickenson

Festivals play a vital role in ensuring that Canadian films from all corners of our country are discovered and enjoyed.

As a partner of choice, Telefilm Canada is committed to seeing even bigger.

Our focus remains on diversity and inclusion, so that our screens reflect who we are as a nation. We encourage the next generation to dare to make their first feature films. Indigenous filmmakers now enjoy more support, and our industry has come together to support the shared goal of gender parity. These voices are revitalizing Canada’s rich cultural heritage.

Thank you and congratulations to the DOXA DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL and all those who work to bring the diversity / richness of our cinema to the screen. And to audiences everywhere, continue to watch Canadian films wherever they are available and tell others to do the same!

Christa Dickenson
Executive Director, Telefilm Canada

The Honourable Lisa Beare

On behalf of Premier John Horgan and the Government of British Columbia, I would like to welcome you to the DOXA Documentary Film Festival.

I congratulate DOXA for being the first major film festival in B.C. to move online. You are showing the creativity and resilience that will help our province come back strong in the future.

It’s exciting to see the festival shine the spotlight on B.C. filmmakers. Features such as Eddy’s Kingdom, The End From Here and On Falling as well as many more short films showcase the talent we have in our province.

Our government is proud to support DOXA through both the BC Arts Council and Creative BC. And I thank all the organizers and volunteers for their hard work bringing the festival online.

Sincerely,

Hon. Lisa Beare,
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture