Winnipeg-based producer Merit Jensen Carr is this year’s recipient of the Don Haig award at the 2013 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.

She receives a $10,000 cash prize, sponsored by CBC’s Documentary channel and to be presented at the Hot Docs Summit on May 3.

The Don Haig award recognizes creative vision and entrepreneurship, body of work, and a track record of mentoring emerging Canadian filmmakers. It is presented to an outstanding Canadian indie producer with a feature-length film in competition at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.

“Producing documentaries in Canada is not for the faint of heart- it is a tough and competitive business. The newly re-envisioned award recognizes these stalwarts and champions their work,” said Hot Docs executive director Chris McDonald in a statement.

Jensen Carr is the producer of Special Ed, directed by John Paskievich, which will have its world premiere at Hot Docs today (Apr. 29).

Jensen Carr is founder of indie Merit Motion Pictures, which produces documentary programs, series and theatrical films. Jensen Carr has executive produced the 65-part Gemini award-winning series Recreating Eden, as well as four-part series One Ocean and its interactive website One Ocean Interactive, co-produced with CBC’s The Nature of Things and National Geographic International. Her feature documentary debut, TuTuMuch, about young ballet dancers, is slated for a New York release later this year.

Special Ed also screens during Hot Docs on Apr. 30 and May 4.