The Don Haig Award is an annual award, presented by the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival for distinguished achievement by a Canadian independent documentary film producer with a film in that year's festival program.Daniele Alcinii, "Hot Docs ’18 honors Ina Fichman with Don Haig Award". RealScreen, April 13, 2018. Despite the requirement to have a film in that year's festival lineup, however, the award is not presented for that specific film, but in consideration of the recipient's overall body of work.
From 2017 to 2021 the recipient was empowered to choose an emerging female documentary filmmaker to receive a 5,000 career development grant.Regan Reid, "Daniel Cross receives Don Haig Award". Playback, May 1, 2017.
The award is named in memory of pioneering Canadian documentary producer Don Haig.
The award was originally presented in 2004, in partnership between the Don Haig Foundation and the Canadian Film Centre, before being transferred to Hot Docs in 2006. In some early years, the award jury also presented a special jury prize to a second filmmaker, although this has not happened since 2012.
Winners Canadian Film Centre 2004 - Aubrey Nealon"Vancouver filmmaker wins inaugural Don Haig Award". The Globe and Mail, May 14, 2004. 2005 - Rob Stefaniuk"Stefaniuk wins film prize". Montreal Gazette, June 10, 2005.
Hot Docs 2006 - Guylaine Dionne"Hot Docs pulls record crowds with 13th fest". Toronto Star, May 9, 2006. 2007 - Hubert DavisGuy Dixon, "Panoply of tales win Hot Doc awards". The Globe and Mail, April 28, 2007. 2007 - Yung Chang"Hottest Docs earn honours". Toronto Sun, April 26, 2008. 2009 - Brett GaylorRaju Mudhar, "Festival's top prize to Regent Park documentary". Toronto Star, May 9, 2009. 2010 - Philip Lyall, Nimisha Mukerji"Propaganda tale wins Hot Docs prize movies; Bin Laden bodyguard film also a winner". Toronto Star, May 9, 2010. 2011 - Rama Rau"Films about Ukrainian foster mom and California skate-punk top Hot Docs: Hot Docs awards Ukraine-set doc top Cdn prize". Canadian Press, May 6, 2011. 2012 - Mia DonovanBrendan Kelly, "Darlings of DIY docs; Montreal's EyeSteelFilm winning acclaim by keeping it real". Montreal Gazette, May 11, 2012. 2013 - Merit Jensen Carr"Producer Merit Jensen Carr wins $10,000 Don Haig Award at Hot Docs fest". Canadian Press, April 29, 2013. 2014 - Michael McNamaraLiam Lacey, "Belgian-Romanian, Canadian films take top prizes at Hot Docs". The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2024. 2015 - Anne PickEtan Vlessing, "Anne Pick wins Don Haig Award at Hot Docs". Playback, April 27, 2015. 2016 - Ed Barreveld"'Koneline: our land beautiful' named top Canadian feature at HotDocs festival". Canadian Press, May 6, 2016. 2017 - Daniel Cross 2018 - Ina Fichman 2019 - Peter RaymontLauren Malyk, "Peter Raymont wins the Don Haig Award". Playback, April 29, 2019. 2020 - Bob MooreKelly Townsend, "EyeSteelFilm’s Bob Moore wins Hot Docs’ Don Haig Award". Playback, May 4, 2020. 2021 - Lalita KrishnaKelly Townsend, "Lalita Krishna named Hot Docs’ 2021 Don Haig Award winner". Playback, May 3, 2021. 2022 - Mila Aung-ThwinSadaf Ahsan, "Jacquelyn Mills' 'Geographies of Solitude' wins Hot Docs' best Canadian film award". Canadian Press, May 8, 2022. 2023 - Bonnie ThompsonLeo Barraclough, "Canadian Producer Bonnie Thompson Honored at Hot Docs With Don Haig Award". Variety, May 2, 2023. 2024 - Alison DukeBrendan Christie, "Alison Duke to receive Hot Docs’ 2024 Don Haig Award". Playback, April 30, 2024. 2025 - Cornelia PrincipeJamie Casemore, "Cornelia Principe wins 2025 Hot Docs Don Haig Award". Playback, April 28, 2025. 2026 - Jennifer HolnessBarry Walsh, "Hot Docs honours Jennifer Holness with Don Haig Award". Playback, April 27, 2026.
Special jury award 2006 - Sean Garrity"'Martyr Street' wins best of Hot Docs". CBC News, May 7, 2006. 2009 - Tracey Deer 2012 - Charles OfficerPeter Knegt, "‘World Before Her,’ ‘Call Me Kuchu’ Lead Hot Docs Winners". IndieWire, May 5, 2012.
Development grant recipients 2017 - Kalina Bertin 2018 - Fanny Drew, Sarah Mannering 2019 - Fazila Amiri 2020 - Hnin Ei Hlaing 2021 - Elizabeth D. Costa
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