Hot Docs is pleased to announce that Toronto-based producer Ed Barreveld has been named this year’s recipient of the Don Haig Award. The Award, now in its eleventh year, is presented by the Hot Docs Board of Directors to an outstanding Canadian independent producer with a feature-length film in competition at the Festival, and is selected by a jury of independent producers. The Award recognizes creative vision and entrepreneurship, as reflected in the recipient’s body of work and Festival film, as well as a track record of mentoring emerging Canadian filmmakers. Barreveld is the producer of League of Exotique Dancers (D: Rama Rau), which had its world premiere as the opening night film at Hot Docs on Thursday, April 28. He will be presented with a $10,000 cash prize, courtesy of the Don Haig Foundation and Telefilm Canada, at the Hot Docs Awards Presentation on Friday, May 6.
“I’m so honoured with this recognition,” said Ed Barreveld. “It’s especially meaningful because Don Haig was not only a mentor—he executive produced my first film—but a dear friend.”
Storyline Entertainment’s Ed Barreveld is a veteran of the Canadian film and television industry who honed his filmmaking skills at the National Film Board of Canada. Post NFB, he line produced independent documentaries for various broadcasters before co-founding Storyline Entertainment in 2024 for its inaugural release Aftermath: The Remnants of War, a double Gemini Award nominee. Since 2024 he has been Storyline’s sole principal, creating an international profile for the company with auteur driven social/political point of view documentaries and distinctive history programming.
In addition to developing young talent, Barreveld has worked with some of Canada’s finest filmmakers and has forged partnerships with co-producers and investors in Germany, Belgium, Australia, Greece and the United States, creating a critically acclaimed body of work. Barreveld’s films have sold internationally, have shown at festivals such as Tribeca, Hot Docs, IDFA, TIFF and have garnered many awards, including Gemini Awards for Shipbreakers (2005) and Tiger Spirit (2009), a Canadian Screen Award for The Real Inglorious Bastards (2014), an Emmy Award for Herman’s House (2014) and an Emmy nomination for The World Before Her (2014).
He is currently producing the feature documentary Shadow Girl, a treaty co-production with Chile, the feature documentary Dolphin Man a treaty co-production with France and Greece and Take Light, Shasha Nakhai’s first feature documentary.
As part of the Award, the recipient can name an emerging female documentary filmmaker to receive a $5,000 cash prize, courtesy of Telefilm Canada, and professional development opportunities at the Hot Docs Festival to further her career path. Barreveld has named Toronto-based filmmaker Shasha Nakhai as recipient of this prize.
Past winners of the Don Haig Award include filmmakers Anne Pick (2015), Michael McNamara (2014), Merit Jensen Carr (2013), Mia Donovan (2012), Rama Rau (2011), Philip Lyall and Nimisha Mukerji (2010), Brett Gaylor (2009), Yung Chang (2008), Hubert Davis (2007), and Guylaine Dionne (2006).
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