UPDATED, 3:55 p.m.: Without acknowledging them by name, a spokesperson for leading documentary festival Hot Docs has confirmed the departure of “some members of the programming team,” as well as recently appointed Artistic Director Hussain Currimbhoy. “Hot Docs has announced that Hussain Currimbhoy stepped down from his role as Artistic Director on March 20th due to personal reasons.
Hussain was fundamental in programming this year’s Festival,” wrote a spokesperson in a statement to Deadline. Clarifying that “Festival Director Heather Haynes will lead the programming department in preparations for this year’s Festival, April 25-May 5,” the spokesperson added that “regrettably, some members of the programming team have decided not to participate in this year’s Festival.
We thank them for their contributions.”Wrapping up their statement, rep for Hot Docs said, “We look forward to celebrating this year’s films with our audiences and bringing them together with filmmakers to share their important stories.” As we previously reported, Senior International Programmer Myrocia Watamaniuk took to Facebook to announce her exit from Hot Docs, along with that of nine colleagues.
The list included Samah Ali, Vivian Belik, Jesse Cumming, Angie Driscoll, Margaret Pereira, Gabor Pertic, Kaitlynn Tomaselli, Mariam Zaidi, and Yiqian Zhang.
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