The Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) is the largest professional non-profit association of independent filmmakers in Canada, with more than 1000 members across the country. Formerly called the CIFC (Canadian Independent Film Caucus), DOC has been the champion of independent documentary film and television in Canada since 1983.
The DOC Northwest chapter connects more than 300 DOC members in British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. DOC Northwest is involved in various local professional development initiatives including workshops, Masterclass series, and its Breakthrough Program.
2024 Board of Directors
Baljit Sangra – Chair, Professional Development, National Board
Baljit Sangra is a Vancouver-based filmmaker whose films shine a light on underrepresented and marginalized voices and stories. An award-winning filmmaker, six time Leo nominee, Baljit’s films have routinely premiered at festivals around the world. She directed the NFB-produced feature documentary Because We Are Girls, exploring the impact of sexual abuse on a Punjabi family living in BC. Because We Are Girls had its world premiere in 2019 at Hot Docs and was the Opening Gala film at Doxa Film Festival. It is still screening at festivals and winning awards and is now on Amazon with over 18 million minutes viewed. Other broadcast documentaries include the award-winning Many Rivers Home, a personal story about seniors living in assisted care at the end of life; Have You Forgotten Me, which shines a light on North America’s oldest Sikh Temple; Warrior Boyz, examining the long-running gang scene unique to the Indo-Canadian enclave of BC’s Lower Mainland and Hockey United following dreams of two South Asian hockey hopefuls. Baljit has a slate of projects in development including documentary and narrative. She sits on the board of Hot Docs and is a DGC member. Baljit is the President of Viva Mantra Films.
Priyanka Desai – Vice Chair, Professional Development, Communications
Priyanka is an award-winning broadcast journalist-turned-TV Producer, who specializes in stories that impact and entertain. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Priyanka is known for her understanding of diverse cultures across two continents. Priyanka’s journey in Canada started in the spring of 2018. In Canada her credits include a variety of producing roles for the likes of (House Special) TELUS Originals, (Red Chef Revival) Storyhive, (Moosemeat & Marmalade Season 6 & 7) APTN, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (Pan Canada Tourism Video) and (Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, PostCards Docu Series) AMI. She is honored and grateful to serve as a Vice-Chair of the Documentary Organisation of Canada’s BC YT NT Chapter. Her mission is to enable immigrant women of colour to achieve professional excellence in North America.
Her latest TELUS original’s Indo-Canadian docu-series called Not Your Butter Chicken launched in May 2024. She directed, wrote, and produced the series.
Richard Raghoo – Treasurer, Sponsorship
Richard is co-founder/producer of Dada Ibis Media and has been in finance for more than 25 years of which the last 18 have been Film and TV specific in British Columbia. Working on both the corporate and production sides of film and TV has allowed him to gain valuable expertise in the workings of film finance and production. Richard has worked with some of the busiest and most notable Western producers and studios, namely Great Pacific Media, Thunderbird Entertainment Group, Reel One Entertainment and Insight Film Studios. Having worked on more than 50 MOWs and multiple TV series both scripted and factual, Richard brings a unique perspective and experience level to any entertainment organization. At Reel One Entertainment, Richard grew the accounting department from two to more than ten staff to handle the studio’s growth from 5 to 25 productions. Most recently Richard was at Great Pacific Media (whose work is seen in more than 170 countries), as VP of Finance, Production, brought in to lead the robust production accounting department, establish and implement controls and best practices for the organization.
Kevin Eastwood – Secretary, National Advocacy
Kevin is an award-winning writer, director and producer. His credits include being the series director on two critically acclaimed, award-winning documentary series, British Columbia: An Untold History and Emergency Room: Life + Death At VGH, as well as writing and directing the CBC documentaries, Humboldt: The New Season and After The Sirens (both nominated for Best Documentary Program at the Canadian Screen Awards). His credits as a producer include the award-winning documentaries Haida Modern, Part of the Pack, and Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World, the TV series The Romeo Section and the feature films Preggoland and Fido.
Jessica Hallenbeck – Professional Development, Governance, National Board
Jessica Hallenbeck (Ph.D., MCIP) is the chair of the DOC BC Governance committee and sits on the Professional Development committee. She is the owner and producer at Lantern Films, a documentary company founded on the belief that films should be driven by those who have lived the story. Her films have aired on Knowledge Network and have screened at Hot Docs, BFI Flare, AFI, imagineNative and Blackstar. She is currently a SSHRC Banting Postdoctoral Scholar.
Alix Buck – Communications
After nearly a decade working in communications and advocacy for humanitarian organizations, Alix followed her lifelong dream of becoming a documentary filmmaker. She now holds a certificate in Documentary Filmmaking from Capilano University and has worked as a director, writer, and editor for several productions in BC, notably as the editor for the Rogers Media series, Katiba Banat: Sisters in Arms in 2023. Currently, Alix is in production for her documentary Lobster Queens, with funding from Canada Council for the Arts, and is developing her film The Beast in Me with Make Believe Media, on her journey as one of the eight million Canadians who live with chronic pain.
Özgün Gündüz – Communications
Özgün is an emerging documentary filmmaker/producer based in unceded Coast Salish territories. She holds a BA in sociology and political science and an MBA graduate degree. Before transitioning into documentary producing in 2021, she worked at global media and research agencies for over a decade. Özgün was among the 10 emerging producers selected for CMPA’s 2021 Diverse Producers Mentorship program. Her first short documentary, Weltschmerz (2021) received support from TELUS, screened at international festivals. Özgün is currently working in the independent documentary industry as an Associate Producer and developing her second documentary, Burcu’sAngels – which is selected for DOXA’s 2023 Kris Anderson Mentorship Program.
Tristin Greyeyes – Communications
Tristin is a Two-Spirit Nehiyaw, Ojibway, and Anishinaabe visual storyteller from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and Long Plains First Nation. Tristin is currently working on her first feature documentary, A Cree Approach. Tristin has created a film festival in her home territory called ‘Kīyam Film Festival’, which she hopes will foster a film industry in Treaty 6 territory. Over the weekends, Tristin is working on her Creative Writing Master’s at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Tristin is determined to empower Indigenous voices across Turtle Island through the art of film.
A proud mom, film curator and filmmaker, Tristin has produced several short films such as; I’m Not Next, Tawaw? and was the editing mentee on the successful independent feature film The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open. She was an indie film lab instructor for youth groups at Pacific Cinémathèque in Vancouver and a documentary mentor at Chokecherry Studios in Saskatoon, SK. Tristin received her Bachelor’s Degree in Motion Picture Arts, in 2021. Before she graduated, she helped create the National Indigenous Student Advisory Committee with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations.
Justin Sealy – Communications
With over 16 years in Telecom, Justin brings a wealth of experience, his technical contributions have been instrumental in significant projects, including implementing wireless solutions for large installations like the Victoria International Airport and various sites across Vancouver Island. Beyond his technical skill, Justin harbours a deep-seated passion for film. His “eye” for capturing interesting content adds a unique dimension to his profile. Recently, Justin has delved into various aspects of film production.
His endeavors range from capturing scenes as a licensed drone operator and performing stunts on camera to serving as a 1st AD on an upcoming CBC documentary and being a 2nd AD on films. This breadth of experience in film showcases his versatile skill set and deep understanding of the medium.
At the heart of Justin’s interests lies a desire to blend his technical skills with cinematography. His goal is to use this synergy to craft and elevate compelling stories, bringing them to life in a manner that resonates with audiences. Justin’s transition from a tech professional to film professional represents his pursuit to intertwine technology with the art of storytelling.
Wendy Wan – Communications, Sponsorship
Wendy is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer living in Vancouver, British Columbia. They hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Drawing from The Alberta University of the Arts and an Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design from The Art Institute of Vancouver. Wan is best known for their visual research experience in the stock photography world (in which they spent nearly a decade) and their practice with alternative photography methods that depict human encounters or a slice of life. They approach their work with the hope that it speaks to the odd, humorous, and documentation of the passage of time. In response to the ubiquity of digital imagery, tactility is very important to their practice. Images are incorporated with flaws and shot on film while maintaining the intimacy of the ‘fingerprint’ in the exploration of photography. Wan entered into the world of Film and Television in 2020. From there, they skyrocketed up to the production level, gaining useful experience in visual research for a popular medical drama.
ANNUAL REPORTS
2023 DOC BC YT NT Board Report
2022 DOC BC YT NT Board Report
2021 DOC BC Board Report
2020 DOC BC Board Report
Final_2020 AGM Board Report .docx
2019 DOC BC Board Report
2018 DOC BC Board Report
2018 AGM Board Report and Meeting Minutes
2017 DOC BC Board Report
2016 DOC BC Board Report
2015 DOC BC Board Report
2014 DOC BC Board Report
DOC BC 2014 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT
2013 DOC BC Board Report
DOC BC 2013 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT
2012 DOC BC Board Report
2012 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT [PDF]