Hot Docs film festival co-founder Debbie Nightingale has died at 71.
The organization says the veteran Toronto film producer died on July 10.
Her obituary says she fought cancer with the "fierce determination" she had brought to all other aspects of her life.聽
In 1993, Nightingale teamed up with veteran documentary filmmaker Paul Jay to launch a showcase that would evolve into Hot Docs, Canada鈥檚 largest documentary film festival.聽
She helped raise the initial $100,000 that got the organization off the ground and served as its first festival manager and later as executive director.
She also produced several films, TV shows and documentaries, including 2004 hockey dramedy 鈥淐hicks with Sticks鈥 and 2010鈥檚 series 鈥淟iving in Your Car,鈥 a darkly comic look at corporate downfall.
Hot Docs said in a statement that Nightingale 鈥渞ecognized the importance of documentary filmmaking鈥 and provided 鈥渁 place where filmmakers, funders and audiences could connect.鈥
Her obituary notes that she also operated Haute Goat Farm, a 200-acre property in Port Hope, Ont.
"Debbie was not only the founder but the true heart and soul of Haute Goat 鈥 a dreamer, a doer, and an inspiration to all who crossed her path," said a statement on the farm's Facebook page.
"Her love for animals, people, and the land was the magic behind every visit, every experience, and every smile on the farm."
This report by 好色tvwas first published July 17, 2025.
