Jess Search, Doc Society Co-Founder, Remembered by Film Community

Jess Search, the influential documentary producer and co-founder of the U.K.

Doc Society, has died at age 54 after a battle with brain cancer.

She passed on July 31 after being diagnosed with cancer in June.Nearly two decades ago, Search co-founded the non-profit Doc Society, which since 2005 has been dedicated to funding documentaries globally.

Search’s many credits as a documentary film producer include the Academy Award-nominated “Virunga” about gorilla protection and for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy award, the Emmy-nominated LGBTQ advocacy documentary “Welcome to Chechnya,” and many more.Doc Society leadership — Megha Agrawal Sood, Shanida Scotland, Sandra Whipham, and Maxyne Franklin — shared a note on Tuesday announcing Search’s passing.“She was surrounded by the love of her life Beadie Finzi, their children Ella and Ben, and friends.

As a fierce supporter of independent artists and co-founder of Doc Society, Jess spent the weeks following…

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