Doc Society Co-Founder Jess Search to Step Down Following Brain Tumor Diagnosis

variety.com:

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Jess Search, a titan of the documentary world and co-founder of the U.K.-headquartered Doc Society, is stepping away after 18 years following a brain tumor diagnosis.

The executive revealed her condition in a newsletter post sent to members on Thursday. “Today I am sharing that I’m currently under the care of a neurosurgeon because like 300,000 others every year around the world, I’ve been diagnosed with a brain tumour,” Search wrote. “I’m stepping back from Doc Society — after 18 years of nonstop creative collaboration, dedicated craft, joyous partying and fierce camaraderie.” Search, a well-respected leader and fierce advocate for the doc community, noted that the org has been led for years by six female directors in a “flat, power-sharing model.” “So I can do this, knowing that someone else will step in to be unfeasibly late for meetings and break the printer constantly,” joked Search. “Whether you know me from a distance or up close and personal, I want to acknowledge that as a newsletter announcement, this is pretty heavy stuff,” said Search. “But know that I am extremely calm and have literally everything I need around me.” The org will continue to be led by directors Megha Sood, Shanida Scotland, Sandra Whipham, Beadie Finzi and Maxyne Franklin.

Formed in 2005, Doc Society — formerly known as BRITDOC — is a non-profit group based out of the U.K. and New York. The org has funded and executive prodcued 520 film teams from 75 countries in its 18-year history.

Doc Society last week announced the launch of a global Democracy Story Unit to sit alongside its Climate Story Unit. It is also at work on an Independence Project – a co-created global research project that