Catherine Olsen specializes as a Creative & Editorial Documentary Consultant, Moderator, & Tutor at Festivals and International workshops, including Hot Docs (Toronto), IDFA (Amsterdam), SunnySide of the Doc (France), & Docs Barcelona where she also acts as a special advisor to the Festival. For 20+ years, Catherine was the Commissioning Editor of the CBC’s “The Passionate Eye”, an award-winning series she developed into one of the most successful documentary strands in North America.
Catherine is one of the founding members of Hot Docs & for years was on it’s international advisory committee. She began her career as a camerawoman & editor in Vancouver, & has since worked as a TV journalist, director, & documentary producer.
Films she’s commissioned or invested in have won virtually every award available, including Oscars, Emmys, Canadian Geminis, Bafta’s, & Peabody’s. Catherine is also on the Executive of the Board of the Vancouver International Film Festival.