EyeSteelFilm founder Daniel Cross is this year’s winner of the Don Haig Award.

The prize – now in its 12th year – is presented annually to a Canadian independent producer with a feature documentary competing at Hot Docs. The award, which is selected by a jury of independent producers, recognizes a producer for his or her body of work, creative vision and commitment to mentoring emerging Canadian filmmakers.

Cross is an associate professor and the research chair in interactive documentary at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University in Montreal. His most recent film I Am the Blues picked up the best feature documentary prize at the 2017 CSAs.

EyeSteelFilm is supporting five documentaries at Hot Docs this year, including A Cambodian Spring, Let There be Light and Tokyo Idols. 

As this year’s award winner, Cross will receive a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of the Don Haig Foundation and Telefilm Canada at the Hot Docs Awards presentation on May 5.

As part of the award, the recipient can name an emerging female documentary filmmaker to receive a $5,000 cash prize from Telefilm Canada, as well as professional development opportunities a the Hot Docs Festival. Cross has selected Kalina Bertin, whose debut feature Manic, produced by EyeSteel, debuted at Hot Docs this year.

Past recipients of the Don Haig Awrd include League of Exotique Dancers producer and Storyline Entertainment CEO Ed Barreveld, veteran producer Anne Pick, Michael McNamara, Merit Jensen Carr, Mia Donovan and others.