Heather Haynes has been with Hot Docs for nearly two decades and is currently Director of Programming, overseeing both the festival and programming for the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. Over the years, Heather has advanced from Senior International Programmer to Associate Director of Festival Programming, with a strong focus on Latin American documentaries. She has spent over a decade working across Mexico, Central and South America, and now travels internationally to support filmmakers through work-in-progress sessions, labs, and juries. Heather has served as a recommender for Chicken & Egg Pictures' (Egg)celerator Labs and has also programmed for festivals such as the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, imagineNATIVE, and AluCine. Hot Docs plays a vital role in showcasing the best in non-fiction storytelling from around the world. Hot Docs Festival serves filmmakers by offering a global platform, industry connections, and professional development. It supports diverse voices, fosters collaborations, and connects filmmakers with industry leaders, funding bodies, and distribution networks, helping them advance their projects and grow their careers.