Montreal, May 10, 2010 — The Documentary Network is delighted to announce the arrival of Nathalie Coutard as its new Executive Director.
An expert in network building with experience in France and Quebec, Nathalie Coutard is passionate about social issues and the influential role that documentary films can play in addressing them. Ms. Coutard will take up her new post on August 21, 2010.
Nathalie Coutard sees her move to the Documentary Network as a continuation of the work she has been doing for two years as Executive Director of Femmes du Cinéma, de la Télévision et des Nouveaux Médias (FCTNM) where she ran training and support programs for documentary directors and producers, many of whom are women. To support filmmakers moving into cross-platform formats, she organized a series of case study workshops in partnership with the Institut national de l’image et du son (INIS) and the Regroupement des Producteurs Multimédia (RPM). Last but not least, Ms. Coutard has been following the public debate on public funding of documentary films and has taken part in numerous meetings with broadcasters (at Les Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal (RIDM), DOC Québec, and others).
Ms. Coutard’s experience conducting studies for France’s interministerial delegation on regional economic development (DATAR) will serve her well as she expands the international networking initiated by the Documentary Network in 2007.
The first priority for Nathalie Coutard will be to advance the work begun at the Documentary Network’s 2009 Forum aimed at the adoption of a national policy on documentary film.
Producer Paul Lapointe, who represents the RIDM on the Doc Network board, assumes interim responsibilities along with Chair Nathalie Barton and Treasurer Nathalie McNeil, representing the Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (APFC).
For further information: Nathalie Barton: 514-284-0441 ext. 201