Mandy Leith Pro

An explorer and a creator from an early age, Mandy Leith creates and uses digital and interactive media to build bridges: stories that inform and inspire people and build communities. Her work percolates at the intersection between documentary filmmaking, transmedia and social change. After studying film and working as a film editor at the BBC in London, Mandy emigrated to Canada in 1989. She is the editor dozens of award-winning documentaries produced by the NFB, Knowledge Network, Discovery, VisionTV, Bravo, APTN and a variety of NGO's. She now works as a digital media producer and engagement strategist in Victoria, British Columbia. Mandy is also the Founder and Director of OPEN CINEMA, a popular community screening program that uses documentary and social media as a tool for community engagement, now starting its 12th successful season. In 2013, Mandy drove her VW Westfalia across Canada to connect with documentary filmmakers, festivals and funders during a time of digital transition for the industry. Get on the Doc Bus successfully planted seeds for a Cross Canada Community Cinema Network, which has resulted in the development of an innovative hybrid cinema format with the support of the Canada Media Fund: 'Connect the Docs' combines same-day live doc screening events with social media engagement and venue-to-venue interactivity to amplify the reach and impact of films and social justice issues.