Documentary filmmakers are often told to be resilient. But what does it actually take to build a creative life that is both artistically fulfilling and economically sustainable?
As funding models shift, distribution pathways evolve, and traditional industry support becomes scarce, filmmakers are increasingly developing multifaceted career portfolios that extend beyond filmmaking alone. This conversation explores the tools, mindsets, and strategies that help documentary professionals create long-term stability. Topics include financial literacy, investing, entrepreneurship, identifying transferable skills, expanding professional networks, building career assets, and navigating opportunities across adjacent industries.
Featuring filmmakers and creative leaders redefining sustainability in practice, this panel examines how we can move beyond survival mode and toward careers that generate not only income, but also agency, resilience, and the freedom to pursue meaningful creative work. Beyond practical skills, the conversation will also explore the learning and unlearning required to navigate family expectations, cultural norms around financial security, and the challenges of pursuing creative entrepreneurship as a first-generation immigrant or trailblazer within one's community. Together, we'll explore a fundamental question facing the documentary field today: How do we build careers that sustain the artist as much as the art?
Co-presented by Brown Girls Doc Mafia
Moderator: Haydée Souffrant (Kartemquin)
Panelists: Kitty Hu, Lailanie Gadia, and Princess Hairston
Biographies:
haydée “hr” souffrant is a Chicago-based Haitian American writer, interdisciplinary producer, and film programmer. Her work has included leading artist services programs developing documentary and narrative film, theater and visual performance art centering healing and restorative justice practices for artists of color, educators, youth,and adult audiences. Gravitating to stories probing the intersections of intergenerational trauma, healing and cultural legacies, has served as a film programmer for Chicago Filmmakers' REELING Film Festival; a juror for Chicago International Film Festival, The Gotham, True/False Film Festival, Milwaukee Film Festival, Hot Springs Documentary Film Forum and more; and currently serves as the Director of Programs with Kartemquin Films.
Kitty Hu is documentary producer and co-founder of Shoes Off Media. Her work applies community-centered documentary tactics to amplify character-driven stories that reflect the work of our social movements, looking at topics like labor, housing, culture, migration and climate. She directed the Emmy Award-winning L.A. Rebellion: A Cinematic Movement (PBS Artbound) and produced Taste the Nation (Hulu), Wild Hope (PBS), Take Out (HBO Max), America Outdoors (PBS). Her independent documentary features have been supported by California Humanities, Kartemquin Films, NeXTDoc, and National Park Service. She is a proud member of the A-Doc, BGDM, and Global Impact Producers Alliance.
Princess A. Hairston is a director and editor based in New York City. Her feature directorial debut, BREAKING THE NEWS, aired nationwide on PBS, amplifying the voices behind women-led journalism. She is a part of the editing team for the Emmy award-winning documentary “Songs From the Hole” on Netflix, she also helped shape the rhythm of LADIES FIRST: A Story of Women in Hip Hop on Netflix, both as editor and producer. In the edit room, Princess has also edited the Amazon’s “LulaRich”, “Lani B. Supreme: Legacy” on PBS, HBO’s “Perilous Passage”, the Truer Than Fiction Independent Spirit Award-winning “Pier Kids”, “FRESH DRESSED” and the Emmy-nominated “Capture with Mark Seliger.” Her work has been honored by the Emmys, The Webbys, and celebrated across major festivals. Princess also runs Artist Bag, helping creatives, artists and entertainers create financial stability through investing in real estate.
Raised in Guam, Lailanie Gadia is a Filipina American independent producer and financial professional based in Los Angeles. She previously held a six-year career in mortgage banking. Currently, she’s the founder of Mango Stories and serves as Operations Director at the Asian American Documentary Network supporting 2,000+ film workers. Her producing credits include CAAM-supported Bridging Our Stories (2026), Light on a Hill (2026), CAPE-funded Milk & Honey (2026) and Third Act (Sundance 2025). Named a 2023 DOC NYC Documentary New Leader, Lailanie is a member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia, Documentary Producers Alliance, Global Impact Producers Alliance, Film Independent, and Gold House Futures. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University and serves on the board of the API Alumni Association. Through producing, entrepreneurship, and leadership, Lailanie is dedicated to expanding opportunities for AANHPI storytellers while championing creative independence, financial wellbeing, and lasting social impact. She believes thriving artists build stronger communities.
Documentary filmmakers are often told to be resilient. But what does it actually take to build a creative life that is both artistically fulfilling and economically sustainable?
As funding models shift, distribution pathways evolve, and traditional industry support becomes scarce, filmmakers are increasingly developing multifaceted career portfolios that extend beyond filmmaking alone. This conversation explores the tools, mindsets, and strategies that help documentary professionals create long-term stability. Topics include financial literacy, investing, entrepreneurship, identifying transferable skills, expanding professional networks, building career assets, and navigating opportunities across adjacent industries.
Featuring filmmakers and creative leaders redefining sustainability in practice, this panel examines how we can move beyond survival mode and toward careers that generate not only income, but also agency, resilience, and the freedom to pursue meaningful creative work. Beyond practical skills, the conversation will also explore the learning and unlearning required to navigate family expectations, cultural norms around financial security, and the challenges of pursuing creative entrepreneurship as a first-generation immigrant or trailblazer within one's community. Together, we'll explore a fundamental question facing the documentary field today: How do we build careers that sustain the artist as much as the art?
Co-presented by Brown Girls Doc Mafia
Moderator: Haydée Souffrant (Kartemquin)
Panelists: Kitty Hu, Lailanie Gadia, and Princess Hairston
Biographies:
haydée “hr” souffrant is a Chicago-based Haitian American writer, interdisciplinary producer, and film programmer. Her work has included leading artist services programs developing documentary and narrative film, theater and visual performance art centering healing and restorative justice practices for artists of color, educators, youth,and adult audiences. Gravitating to stories probing the intersections of intergenerational trauma, healing and cultural legacies, has served as a film programmer for Chicago Filmmakers' REELING Film Festival; a juror for Chicago International Film Festival, The Gotham, True/False Film Festival, Milwaukee Film Festival, Hot Springs Documentary Film Forum and more; and currently serves as the Director of Programs with Kartemquin Films.
Kitty Hu is documentary producer and co-founder of Shoes Off Media. Her work applies community-centered documentary tactics to amplify character-driven stories that reflect the work of our social movements, looking at topics like labor, housing, culture, migration and climate. She directed the Emmy Award-winning L.A. Rebellion: A Cinematic Movement (PBS Artbound) and produced Taste the Nation (Hulu), Wild Hope (PBS), Take Out (HBO Max), America Outdoors (PBS). Her independent documentary features have been supported by California Humanities, Kartemquin Films, NeXTDoc, and National Park Service. She is a proud member of the A-Doc, BGDM, and Global Impact Producers Alliance.
Princess A. Hairston is a director and editor based in New York City. Her feature directorial debut, BREAKING THE NEWS, aired nationwide on PBS, amplifying the voices behind women-led journalism. She is a part of the editing team for the Emmy award-winning documentary “Songs From the Hole” on Netflix, she also helped shape the rhythm of LADIES FIRST: A Story of Women in Hip Hop on Netflix, both as editor and producer. In the edit room, Princess has also edited the Amazon’s “LulaRich”, “Lani B. Supreme: Legacy” on PBS, HBO’s “Perilous Passage”, the Truer Than Fiction Independent Spirit Award-winning “Pier Kids”, “FRESH DRESSED” and the Emmy-nominated “Capture with Mark Seliger.” Her work has been honored by the Emmys, The Webbys, and celebrated across major festivals. Princess also runs Artist Bag, helping creatives, artists and entertainers create financial stability through investing in real estate.
Raised in Guam, Lailanie Gadia is a Filipina American independent producer and financial professional based in Los Angeles. She previously held a six-year career in mortgage banking. Currently, she’s the founder of Mango Stories and serves as Operations Director at the Asian American Documentary Network supporting 2,000+ film workers. Her producing credits include CAAM-supported Bridging Our Stories (2026), Light on a Hill (2026), CAPE-funded Milk & Honey (2026) and Third Act (Sundance 2025). Named a 2023 DOC NYC Documentary New Leader, Lailanie is a member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia, Documentary Producers Alliance, Global Impact Producers Alliance, Film Independent, and Gold House Futures. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University and serves on the board of the API Alumni Association. Through producing, entrepreneurship, and leadership, Lailanie is dedicated to expanding opportunities for AANHPI storytellers while championing creative independence, financial wellbeing, and lasting social impact. She believes thriving artists build stronger communities.
