Board Member Biographies
Ava Karvonen
Ava Karvonen is the founder of Reel Girls Media and has produced more than 100 hours of television and interactive content. Her recent credits include creating and producing five television series, 10 one hour docs, the serious game “Murder or Suicide”, more than 50 websisodes and podcasts, and an online companion to an animated TV series where users can create their own comics and stories (anashinteractive.com). In addition to producing, Ava also writes and directs, She wrote and directed four episodes of The Lie Detective, directed and produced Homefront (a story that followed five soldiers and their families during a deployment to Afghanistan), directed Seeds of Change for Panacea Entertainment (a one hour documentary that tells the story of a friendship between two scientists and how they worked together to help restore the health of China’s Yangtze River). Her work has been internationally recognized with more than 40 awards, including the CFTPA Award for Best Convergent New Media, the Japan Prize and the Ojai California Festival Theme Award: “Enriching the Human Spirit Through Film”. Ava teaches at part-time at NAIT and MacEwan University and currently serves on the national board of DOC and the Alberta Chapter board of DOC (current chair). She is a past board member of AMPIA, WIFT and DMAA.
Ava’s mission statement:
This is the second term I have served on DOC's Board. At the time of my first term (2005-2006), I felt it was important to bring another regional documentary producer voice to our national organization. I am one of the founding members (and current chair) of DOC Alberta, now in its 3rd year. This past year I served DOC as Treasurer. It took the first 6 months for me to wrap my head around the job and I feel confident that I have a good understanding of where we are at financially and the challenges that lie ahead for us as an organization. I am proud to say that the National Finance Committee has worked hard this past year and helped to implement many positive changes. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve on DOC National’s Board.
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