By Mr. Will Wong

Directed by her Filmmaker son Tuki Jencquel, JACKIE THE WOLF certainly is more thought-provoking than it is an easy watch. Combining family videos and candid interviews with his mother, Author and Activist Jacqueline Jencquel, we try to get the why behind her choice to want to end her life.

Jacqueline isn’t ill, nor is she dependent on the care of others. She simply refuses to live beyond a certain age and has lost the will to live, yet appearing sound of mind. She devotes her time and voice to furthering the conversation about a person’s choice to die and having autonomy over their life and body. In doing this, she is calling for a change to French laws include one’s right to die based on personal choice. Jacqueline sets an initial date for her death, though this keeps shifting in hopes she will live to see change before she goes.

Along the way, we get a deeper dive into her psyche, opening-up to her son about everything from lost love to libido, as Tuki alternates the caps of son and Documenter. We even meet another older woman named Joan Schertenleib, who also is looking to end her life as well, though her circumstances are quite different from Jacqueline‘s. Joan is in chronic pain, suffering from Arthritis and has endured losing immediately family, including her daughter, who passed before her.

The level of trust that Tuki and Jacqueline gainin order to get us access into the room with her real-time in Joan’s final moments is both compelling, yet unsettling. Certainly something we will never forget seeing and something we’ll be pondering for a bit. No matter where our opinions stand on the subject matter, Tuki honours his mother’s legacy by allowing her voice to carry in in this complex portrait of her.

JACKIE THE WOLF screens at Hot Docs ’23 as follows:

MON MAY 01
05:30PM
Isabel Bader Theatre

SUN MAY 07
11:45AM
Scotiabank Theatre 6

It streams online May 5-9, 2023.

Now in its 30th edition, the HOT DOCS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is back on again and running April 27 to May 7, 2023. Over 200 films from 72 countries will be screening at the Festival this year with several special guests in attendance, including Lilly Singh, members of July Talk, Moby, Kara Swisher, Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls and Canada’s first female Jewish Supreme Court Judge Rosalie Abella, among others.

The Festival kicks off with Opening Night selection TWICE COLONIZED, directed by Danish Director Lin Alluna, centering on Greenlandic Inuit lawyer, activist, and fierce protector of her ancestral lands, Aaju Peter. More lineup details here.

If you aren’t in-town, you still can stream online as films will be available starting at 12:01 a.m. on May 5 to May 9, 2023.

One of the centerpiece films this year is Writer/Director Barry Avrich‘s WITHOUT PRECENDENT: THE SUPREME LIFE OF ROSALIE ABELLA, getting its World Premiere at the Festival.

The Documentary is part of Hot Docs’ Special Presentations program and featured in its Big Ideas series, presented by Scotia Wealth Management. This is such a proud Canadian moment as we learn about subject Justice Rosalie Abella became the first woman ever to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada and first Jewish woman and refugee to sit on the Canadian Supreme Court bench.

The Film explores her modest beginnings as a daughter of Holocaust survivors, to working for herself after spending just two years working at a small law firm. Avrich explores the love of her life, Irving Abella and how she applied the same persistence to her career as she did winning his heart. And of course, the scrutiny she faced when Paul Martin appointed her to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2004. Abella balances being liked and being respected, led by justice and compassion having understand the refugee experience, and also advocating for the recognition of same sex relationships. We get interviews with former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Margaret Atwood and several other notables. Such a fascinating portrait about a true Canadian hero and success story and a must-see at the Festival.

MON MAY 01
06:30PM
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

TUE MAY 02
06:30PM
TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

FRI MAY 05
11:15AM
Isabel Bader Theatre

Team Mr. Will has had a chance to preview some notable selections from the Festival and here are their thoughts to help you in your viewing!

GEORGE KOZERA (@PartyG)

FOOD AND COUNTRY

In the interest of full disclosure, Gourmet Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Ruth Reichl, is instrumental in turning me into a Foodie. Before the days of internet access, I would religiously buy the Sunday New York Times, cut away and save her restaurant reviews, and have phenomenal experiences during my many trips to Manhattan – whether it was a tripe dish served at a Soho Korean bistro or a meal I still dream about at Asia de Cuba, a restaurant immortalized in an episode of “Sex and the City”. In FOOD AND COUNTRY, we watch as Reichl takes the audience on a fascinating journey of how the Covid pandemic affected U.S. farmers and restaurants.

In a series of conversations that cover a wide range of topics as agricultural economics, financial literacy and how farmers are looking to deal with and adapt to the “new normal” of the hospitality industry, this captivating Documentary illuminates, while exploring options that could be implemented in the future. At the time where restaurants here at home are shuttering their doors forever due to the hardships the pandemic wrought, FOOD AND COUNTRY succinctly and intellectually encapsulates what the future may hold.

You don’t need to be a foodie to appreciate a perfect Crème Brûlée and you don’t need to be one to be enthralled with this movie.

FRI APR 28
06:00PM
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

SAT APR 29
11:15AM
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

SUN MAY 07
11:00AM
TIFF Bell Lightbox 3

THIS WORLD IS NOT MY OWN

Utilizing 3D motion-capture imagery, animation, archival TV footage and anything else the Creators of this Film can throw in, THIS WORLD IS NOT MY OWN explores the life of Nellie Mae Rowe. Born as the daughter of a sharecropper and former slave in the heart Georgia, Rowe’s entire life was dedicated to her art, whether they be vibrantly coloured paintings, making sculptures from leftover chewing gum (Ewww, right?), pencil sketches and dolls made from whatever she could find. She ultimately found a modicum of fame and notoriety when discovered by the wealthy Judith Alexander, who was instrumental in bringing contemporary art to her gallery in Atlanta. The Film is staged in four chapters, plus a gratuitous interlude that detoured from the subject.

Whereas I respected the audacity of THIS WORLD IS NOT MY OWN, the viewing experience became tiresome with all the visual excesses and the subject matter was too bombastic. It reminded me of the musical interpretation of “Ragtime”, which incorporated numerous subject matters into a coherent masterpiece. I did enjoy three-time Emmy winner Uzo Aduba’s vocal stylings, though some of the 3D imagery of Rowe looked a little unsettling. I never thought I would think or say this, but, sometimes, too much is too much, and this Documentary would have benefitted from a bit more focus.

SAT APR 29
02:15PM
Scotiabank Theatre 5

THU MAY 04
05:30PM
Scotiabank Theatre 6

CYNARA

Responding to a 911 call, first responders arrive at a townhouse complex in Scarborough to find a woman on the floor and a young teenaged girl lying unresponsive on a couch. Claiming to be a victim of a home invasion by two armed and masked intruders, Cindy Ali’s life becomes a nightmarish journey as she is arrested, charged with the murder of her 16-year daughter Cynara stricken with Cerebral Palsy, and ultimately charged with murder in the first degree and sentenced to life in prison. CYNARA is a harrowing account how Cindy, with the support of her husband, three daughters and her Church, tries to clear her name with the help of Toronto Star reporter Jim Rankin and wrongful conviction-specializing lawyer James Lockyer. Whereas this Documentary plays like an episode of “Law & Order” and infrequently feels heavy-handed, it is a searing indictment of the Canadian legal system where facts are blatantly ignored by prosecuting lawyers and jury members are misled by a judge who had already in his mind deemed the defendant guilty of a heinous crime.

Writer/Producer/Director Sherien Barsoum skillfully juggles many aspects of this case with finesse. It touches on the subject of systemic prejudice and police and law officials overreaching to get the verdict they want, paying little regard to the facts. CYNARA is an accomplished and compelling Documentary.

SUN APR 30
01:45PM
Isabel Bader Theatre

THU MAY 04
05:00PM
Scotiabank Theatre 7

THE MOUNTAINS

Ever have one of those melodramatic moments in your life where you think “this would make for an amazing movie?”. THE MOUNTAINS is here to tell you that it ain’t! Sometimes life just sucks, and you have to do what you have to do it get above it. Due to the loss of his baby brother at a young age, Danish Filmmaker Christian Einshøj explores his contentious family dynamics 25 years after the fact with interviews with his father and two brothers. Replete with armchair psychology, the Film feels at times visually stagnant, employing perhaps too much on archived family video footage without answering the question. Some scenes feel a tad staged (who filmed the brother on a beach in Spain when the Director was in Denmark?) and sequences of the three brothers frolic about the Arctic Circle wearing DC comic superhero costumes induced are jarring in their purpose.

As a rule of thumb, Documentaries are a hard sell to the movie-going public to begin with. For many it feels like homework, which is exactly how I felt at times watching THE MOUNTAINS.

THU APR 27
06:00PM
TIFF Bell Lightbox 4

SUN APR 30
12:00PM
Scotiabank Theatre 5

AMANDA GILMORE (@GilmoreAmanda)

PRAYING FOR ARMAGEDDON

This shocking Documentary is a political thriller that reveals the power and influence of U.S. fundamentalist Evangelicals, as they aim to fulfil the Armageddon prophecy.

Director Tonje Hessen Schei takes us on a deep dive into the faith from all angles. We are introduced to Evangelicals who believe we are heading for Armageddon, a Journalist who investigates the influence they have on U.S. politics as well as first-hand accounts from people living through the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. One thing is for sure, these Evangelicals believe that this conflict is one that will lead them to their end-of-times prediction…and therefore their Armageddon.

The conflict is one that’s difficult for those not involved to understand. Hessen Schei gives immense clarity to the conflict thanks to the subjects living there. This is one of his many achievements. He connects Evangelism to the rise of Christian Nationalism and its geopolitical plan. For instance, many Evangelical “charities” give money which supports settler colonialism in Israel. Furthermore, disgraced U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who has immense support from Evangelicals, placed a U.S. military base and U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. This has been a source of further conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Overall, Praying for Armageddon makes a persuasive argument about the influence this group has on U.S. politics, which extends to issues around the world.

Tue May 02 at 8PM at Isabel Bader Theatre

Thu May 04 at 1:45PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2

Sun May 07 at 8PM at TIFF BELL Lightbox 2

COVEN

This one is for all who’re curious about witchcraft.

There has been a stigma surrounding witchcraft for centuries. But this insightful Documentary aims to change society’s views by shining a light on a modern retake of an ancient worldwide practice. It follows three millennials Laura, Andra and Canadian singer Ayo a.k.a. Witch Prophet who are reviving the practice and reclaiming the term witch.

All three women believe that Wicca is about being the truest form of a feminist and coming into their own powers. Director Rama Rau has found the perfect subjects to focus on. Each has their own history and is at different stages in their journeys. Therefore, allowing the audience to see all sides of the Wicca practices.

We follow as each finds out what the practice means to them as they search the world finding their own Wicca ancestry. Out of the three subjects, Laura Hokstad, a solitary witch, is the one we follow the most. We watch as she begins her Wicca journey. We learn about most traditions and history alongside her. The most interesting moments happen when she travels around Europe and America finding out that there were many witches in her ancestry.

Coven is a fascinating Documentary about three women coming into their own power. It may not change the minds of all, but it will create a space for conversation. Allowing those who are curious about witchcraft to feel less isolated.

Fri Apr 28 at 8:45PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Fri May 5 at 6:00PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2

More on hotdocs.ca.

HOT DOCS today have announced special guests to appear at the Festival this year!

From Hot Docs:
We’re delighted to welcome noteworthy guests and fascinating subjects to our 2023 Festival, taking place in Toronto April 27 to May 7. Special guests include Canada’s first female Jewish Supreme Court Judge Rosalie Abella; Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers; Canadian YouTube pioneer, comedian, author, and television host Lilly Singh; bestselling author Gretchen Rubin; pioneering Black model and activist Bethann Hardison; trailblazing chef, food writer and editor Ruth Reichl; legendary journalist and podcaster Kara Swisher; prominent Greenlandic Inuk lawyer Aaju Peter; members of Canadian alt-rock band July Talk; and more. The Festival will also host over 186 of the world’s top documentary filmmakers to introduce their films and participate in post-screening audience Q&As

Featured guests are listed below. In most cases, the guests will be present at one or more screenings.

Aaju Peter from TWICE COLONIZED (D: Lin Alluna | P: Emile Hertling Péronard, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Stacey Aglok MacDonald, Bob Moore | Denmark, Canada, Greenland | 2023 | 92 min) – Prominent Greenlandic Inuk lawyer and ardent defender of the rights of northern Indigenous people. In 2012, she received the Order of Canada.

Anna Maria Tremonti, Gavin Crawford, Falen Johnston, Matthew Amha and Kaitlin Prest from “THE STORY I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD TELL”: A NIGHT OF SURPRISING STORIES WITH THE HOSTS OF CBC PODCASTS – Stars of the CBC’s hottest podcasts and Canada’s most gifted audio storytellers, who will gather on the Hot Docs Cinema stage for an intimate evening of live storytelling.

Bethann Hardison from INVISIBLE BEAUTY (D: Bethann Hardison, Frédéric Tcheng | P: Lisa Cortés, Paul Dallas | USA | 2023 | 115 min) – Pioneering Black model, agent, activist, and champion of racial diversity.

Emily Saliers from IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL (D: Alexandria Bombach | P: Kathlyn Horan, Jessica Devaney, Anya Rous, Alexandria Bombach | USA | 2023 | 123 min) – American singer-songwriter and member of iconic folk rock duo Indigo Girls.

Gretchen Rubin, special guest on THE HAPPINESS LAB – Bestselling author of “The Happiness Project,” podcaster, and speaker on topics related to happiness, habits, and human nature.

Kara Swisher from ON WITH KARA SWISHER – Renowned American journalist and host of the twice-weekly podcast from New York Magazine, where she picks the brains of the world’s leading thinkers from politics, tech, media and culture.

Dr. Laurie Santos from THE HAPPINESS LAB – Cognitive scientist and Professor of Psychology at Yale University, and host of the acclaimed mind-expanding and inspirational podcast about the science of happiness.

Latif Nasser (co-host) and Simon Adler (producer) from RADIOLAB – The award-winning show from WNYC Studios brings its insatiable curiosity to Hot Docs, presenting a thrilling live event based on its Mixtape series, a rich cultural history of the cassette tape.

Lilly Singh, special guest on ON WITH KARA SWISHER – Canadian YouTube pioneer, comedian, author, and television host.

Moby, executive producer of ROWDY GIRL (D: Jason Goldman | P: Jason Goldman | USA | 2022 | 72 min) – American musician, songwriter, singer, producer, and animal rights activist. He has sold 20 million records worldwide. (joining via Zoom)

Peter De Jager from TIME BOMB Y2K (D: Marley McDonald, Brian Becker | P: Brian Becker | USA | 2023 | 80 min) – South African-born Canadian computer engineer, best known for his Y2K early 1990s outcry warning.

Singers Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay, guitarist Ian Docherty, bassist Josh Warburton, and drummers Danny Miles and Dani Nash from JULY TALK: LOVE LIVES HERE (D: Brittany Farhat | P: Peter Dreimanis, Leah Fay Goldstein | Canada | 2023 | 83 min) – Members of Toronto alt-rock band July Talk, who made headlines for staging live drive-in shows amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Justice Rosalie Abella from WITHOUT PRECEDENT: THE SUPREME LIFE OF ROSALIE ABELLA (D: Barry Avrich | P: Mark Selby, Barry Avrich, Rosemary Sadlier, Jonas Prince | Canada | 2023 | 84 min) – Canada’s first female Jewish Supreme Court Judge – a passionate advocate for the disabled community and visible minorities.

Ruth Reichl from FOOD AND COUNTRY (D: Laura Gabbert | P: Laura Gabbert, Ruth Reichl, Paula P. Manzanedo, Caroline Libresco | USA | 2023 | 99 min) – Trailblazing chef, food writer and editor; renowned for her food criticism at the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times.

Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi from SCAMFLUENCERS – Canadian culture writers and co-hosts of the Wondery smash hit podcast, unpacking epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness.

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is pleased to announce its program for the month of April, which includes an exciting selection of premiere titles covering a wide range of topics, from the ground-breaking storytelling of Judy Blume to the dystopian moment experienced in Brazil under the Jair Bolsonaro government. A range of April premieres and special events will feature inspired Q&As that are sure to spark lively conversations, featuring special guest appearances, including Barenaked Ladies’ Tyler Stewart, actor and model Lauren Howe, podcaster Rachel Cairns, Kehkashan Basu of Green Hope Foundation, members of Planned Parenthood Toronto, prominent filmmakers, and more.

Hot Docs Festival returns to the Cinema April 27 to May 7, 2023 celebrating its landmark 30th anniversary and premiering high-profile films that include The Man Who Stole Einstein’s Brain, Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella, Joan Baez I Am Noise, STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie, Love to Love You, Donna Summer and many more.

To view the full April 2023 calendar, visit http://go.pardot.com/e/463832/whats-on-watch-cinema/kdhmb/518843997?h=Lc4gJS4NR_s_hFi33zgDKXEhmTHJ0hc3M_4alpekPqo.

PREMIERES

• A slate of captivating new docs will premiere at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in April, including: Dressed in Blue, a rarely-seen landmark 1983 film that captures the experiences of six transgender women living in Madrid in the years following Spain’s transition to democracy, screening in Toronto for the first time; Young Plato, in which school headmaster Kevin McArevey tries to change the fortunes of an inner-city Irish community plagued by urban decay, sectarian aggression, poverty and drugs; Judy Blume Forever, a stirring portrait of the revolutionary author’s journey from fearful, imaginative child to storytelling pioneer who elevated the physical and emotional lives of kids and teens, to banned writer who continues to fight back against censorship today; and Dry Ground Burning, in which a Brazilian all-female gang from the favelas of Brasilia sells gas on the black market and decides to create a political party to represent the interests of a population abandoned by the Bolsonaro government.
• River, the follow-up film to Jennifer Peedom’s acclaimed documentary Mountain, is a profound cinematic and musical reflection on how rivers have shaped both the planet’s elaborate landscapes and all human existence, created in collaboration with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and narrated by Willem Dafoe. Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema will offer select screenings of Mountain to complement the premiere screenings of River.
• Also scheduled for a limited theatrical run at Hot Docs Cinema is Okay! The ASD Band Film, a Hot Docs Festival 2022 audience favourite, which follows the members of The ASD Band, featuring four talented autistic individuals, as they prepare to write their first original album. The April 2, 6:30 PM screening will be introduced by Tyler Stewart of the Barenaked Ladies and followed by a live performance by the band and a Q&A moderated by actor and model Lauren Howe.

SPECIAL EVENTS

• April special events include two interactive screenings: Morgan Spurlock’s pop doc One Director: This is Us, hosted by comedy duo Carley Thorne and Meredith Mullen, who will throw it back to the glory days of the 2010s; and Pitch Perfect Sing-Along, an open captioned screening of the 2012 hit musical, where audiences will be encouraged to dance in their seats, sing along to the bopper-filled soundtrack, and experience the unique brand of magic provided by the University of Toronto’s award-winning acapella group Tunes. Beats. Awesome.
• One-night-only special screenings of films with powerful social impact: Citizen of Moria, a harrowing odyssey from the eyes of an Afghani refugee who–after leaving his family behind and escaping from the Taliban–ends up in Europe’s most notorious refugee camp; Green Wave, a thorough documentation of the struggle for legal abortion in South America, presented in partnership with Planned Parenthood Toronto; and Youth Unstoppable, a mighty vision for the future of our planet featuring the new generation of climate activists who will lead us there. All three screenings will be followed by in-depth conversations with experts, activists, and community changemakers.
• On Wednesday, April 19, Hot Docs Cinema invites audiences to two free community screenings in celebration of National Canadian Film Day, screening two classic Canadian docs: Black Ice, an urgent documentary examining the role of Black players in Canadian hockey, from pre-NHL contributions to the game to the struggles against racism that continue to this day; and Come On Children, in which 10 teenagers leave behind parents, school and all other authority figures to live on a rural Ontario farm for 10 weeks.
• Rojek, winner of Hot Docs Festival 2022 DGC Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature Documentary, returns to Hot Docs Cinema on April 16 and 26, combining gorgeous cinematography with incredible access to its subject as it attempts to understand the motivations and lives behind imprisoned ISIS members.
• On April 23: a free memorial screening in honour of beloved Toronto programmer Ravi Srinivasan, a true champion of good storytelling, diverse cinema, and talented filmmakers. Ravi programmed and hosted many films at Hot Docs Festival, but none left a bigger mark on his time at Hot Docs than the documentary film Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.

SERIES

• Family Screenings return in April with a 30-anniversary screening of the 90s family-favourite Free Willy.

HOT DOCS AT HOME

• This April, Hot Docs Members and Hot Docs at Home subscribers can enjoy the new series: 30 Years of Hot Docs: Audience Award Winners, celebrating the films that have captured Festival audiences’ hearts over the past three decades.

Cinema Ticket: $15 (Members tickets from $10) *
*Unless otherwise specified

PREMIERES

Premiere
OKAY! THE ASD BAND FILM
D: Mark Bone | Canada | 86 min | 2022
OKAY! follows the members of The ASD Band as they embark upon the difficult journey of writing an original album. We watch as they learn to navigate a foreign world together, on the way to performing their first public show.

The April 2, 6:30 PM screening will be introduced by Tyler Stewart of the Barenaked Ladies and followed by a live performance by the band and a Q&A moderated by actor and model Lauren Howe.

Opens Sunday, April 2

Premiere
DRESSED IN BLUE (VESTIDA DE AZUL)
D: Antonio Giménez Rico | Spain | 98 min | 1983
One of the best trans films you’ve likely never heard of, now lovingly restored in all its glamour, is a loving portrait of a culture finally emerging from the shadows and a vital testament to just how far we’ve come–and how far there’s still left to go.

Presented in partnership with Inside Out.

Opens Thursday, April 6

Premiere
YOUNG PLATO
D: Declan McGrath, Neasa Ní Chianáin | Ireland, Belgium, France | 102 min | 2021
School headmaster Kevin McArevey tries to change the fortunes of an inner-city Irish community plagued by urban decay, sectarian aggression, poverty and drugs.

Join director Neasa Ní Chianáin, producer David Rane and film subject Kevin McArevey for a post-screening Q&A on Friday, April 7.
The April 7 gala screening is presented with generous support from the Consulate General of Ireland, Toronto, as an event to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Opens Friday, April 7

Premiere
RIVER
D: Jennifer Peedom | Australia | 75 min | 2021
The follow-up film to Jennifer Peedom’s documentary Mountain. Created in collaboration with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and narrated by Willem Dafoe, River is a profound cinematic and musical reflection on how rivers have shaped both the planet’s elaborate landscapes and all human existence.

Opens Friday, April 14
*Only pay for one ticket to see both River and Mountain

Premiere
JUDY BLUME FOREVER
D: Davina Pardo, Leah Wolchock | USA | 97 min | 2023
Catch the Toronto premiere of this stirring documentary from Emmy-winning filmmakers Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok. Trace Blume’s journey from fearful, imaginative child to storytelling pioneer who elevated the physical and emotional lives of kids and teens, to banned writer who continues to fight back against censorship today.

Opens Saturday, April 15

Premiere
DRY GROUND BURNING
D: Joana Pimenta, Adirley Queirós | Brazil | 153 min | 2022
An electrifying portrait of Brazil’s dystopian contemporary moment that blends documentary with narrative fiction and genre elements, Dry Ground Burning reunites filmmakers Joana Pimenta and Adirley Queirós (Once There Was Brasilia) to offer a unique vision of the country’s possible future.

Opens Friday, April 23

SERIES & SPECIAL EVENTS

Special Event
ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US – WATCH-ALONG
D: Morgan Spurlock| USA, UK | 135 min | 2013
Calling all Directioners! Relive your glory days with comedy duo Carley Thorne and Meredith Mullen at an interactive screening of One Direction: This Is Us.

Saturday, April 8 / 9:00 PM
*8:30 PM: Doors / 9:00 PM: Showtime
*Tickets: $18 (Members: $15)

Special Event
CITIZEN OF MORIA
D: Ahmad Ebrahimi, Jawad Mir | Canada, Greece | 75 min | 2022
When Ahmad’s life comes under threat by the Taliban in Afghanistan, he leaves his family behind for survival, without saying goodbye, and ends up in Europe’s worst Refugee Detention Camp, Moria.

Join directors Jawad Mir and Ahmad Ebrahimi (Zoom) for a post-screening Q&A, moderated by Hot Docs programmer Aisha Jamal.

Sunday, April 9 / 1:45 PM
*Free for members

Special Event
PITCH PERFECT SING-ALONG
D: Jason Moore | USA | 142 min | 2012
Sing along to the unforgettable soundtrack, dance in your seat, and enjoy a special guest performance from the University of Toronto’s own award-winning acapella group Tunes. Beats. Awesome.
This is open captioned screening for accessibility and sing-along needs.

Saturday, April 15 / 9:00 PM
*Free for members

Special Event
ROJEK
D: Zaynê Akyol | Canada | 128 min | 2022
Combining gorgeous cinematography with incredible access to its subjects, Rojek attempts to understand the motivations and lives behind imprisoned ISIS members, asking: how does one become radicalized?
Winner – Hot Docs Festival 2022 DGC Special Jury Prize

Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with filmmaker Zaynê Akyol.

Sunday, April 16 / 2:30 PM
Wednesday, April 26 / 6:30 PM
*Free for members

Special Screening
MOUNTAIN
D: Jennifer Peedom | Australia | 74 min | 2017
A unique cinematic and musical collaboration: an epic odyssey through the Earth’s most awesome landscapes, showing the spellbinding force of high places – and their ongoing power to shape our lives and our dreams.

Monday, April 17 / 4:00 PM
Friday, April 21 / 6:15 PM
*Only pay for one ticket to see both River and Mountain

Special Event
GREEN WAVE (MAREA VERDE)
D: Angel Giovanni Hoyos | Argentina, Colombia | 75 min | 2021
The struggle for legal abortion in South America has a history behind it, a road traveled with sacrifice, militancy and politics. Green Wave makes this struggle visible with its protagonists and referents following them in marches, vigils, interviews and unpublished archive material.

Followed by a panel discussion featuring: Marea Verde director, Angel Giovanni Hoyos; Rachel Cairns, Toronto-based actor, writer, and creator of Aborsh, a podcast about abortion in Canada; Amrita Kumar-Ratta (she/her), social researcher, storyteller, community curator, educator and founder of Shades of Brown Girl; Dr. Rabea Parpia, family physician at Planned Parenthood Toronto specializing in reproductive health and trauma-informed care; Planned Parenthood Executive Director, Mohini Datta-Ray; Staff experts from Planned Parenthood Toronto, and more.

Presented in partnership with Planned Parenthood Toronto.

Tuesday, April 18 / 6:30 PM

National Canadian Film Day
COME ON CHILDREN
D: Allan King | Canada | 95 min | 1973
In the early 1970s, 10 teenagers (five boys and five girls, including Toronto rock band Rush’s Alex Lifeson) leave behind parents, school and all other authority figures to live on a rural Ontario farm for 10 weeks.

Wednesday, April 19 / 11:30 AM
*Free event

National Canadian Film Day
BLACK ICE
D: Hubert Davis | Canada | 97 min | 2022
This incisive, urgent documentary examines the role of Black players in Canadian hockey, from pre-NHL contributions to the game to the struggles against racism that continue to this day. Directed by Oscar nominee Hubert Davis and executive produced by LeBron James, Drake and Maverick Carter, Black Ice is a sobering survey of systemic marginalization within one of the world’s most beloved team sports.

Wednesday, April 19 / 2:15 PM
*Free event

Family Screening
FREE WILLY
D: Simon Wincer | USA | 112 min | 1993
“A 12-year-old street kid. A 3-ton orca whale. A friendship you could never imagine. An adventure you’ll never forget.” The tagline says it all when it comes to this family classic, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Saturday, April 22 / 2:30 PM
*Tickets: $15 ($7.50 for 12 and under)
*Free for members

Special Event
YOUTH UNSTOPPABLE
D: Slater Jewel-Kemker | Canada | 86 min | 2018
From flood ravaged villages in Nepal to the Alberta Tar Sands to the riots in Copenhagen, Youth Unstoppable shows a powerful vision for the future of our planet and the youth who will lead us there.

A panel discussion moderated by Kehkashan Basu (Green Hope Foundation)and featuring activist Abrar Anwar, who appears in the film, as well as activists from Fridays for Future TO, will follow the film.

Saturday, April 22 / 5:30 PM
*Tickets: $15 ($7.50 for 12 and under)
*Free for members

Special Event
MEMORIAL SCREENING FOR RAVI SRINIVASAN: MATANGI/MAYA/M.I.A.
D: Steve Loveridge | UK, USA, Sri Lanka | 95 min | 2018
On January 14th, 2023, Hot Docs’ friend and colleague Ravi Srinivasan passed away suddenly. This free screening is in honour and remembrance of him and his time with us here at Hot Docs as an associate programmer. During his time at Hot Docs, we came to know Ravi as someone who championed good storytelling, diverse cinema and above all, talented filmmakers. Ravi programmed and hosted many films at the Festival, but none left a bigger mark on his time at Hot Docs than the documentary film Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.

Sunday, April 23 / 6:15 PM
*Free event

HOT DOCS AT HOME
Free for Hot Docs members and subscribers at hotdocs.ca

Hot Docs at Home Premiere
BECOMING A QUEEN
D: Chris Strikes ǀ Canada ǀ 2021 ǀ 90 mins
Follow Toronto’s nine-time Queen of Carnival, Joella Crichton, as she prepares to compete for a historic tenth crown in a joyful celebration of family and Toronto’s Caribbean community. Pair your viewing with an exclusive Q&A with director Chris Strikes in conversation with the Queen of Carnival herself, Joella Crichton.

30 Years of Hot Docs: Audience Award Winners
TRANSFORMER
D: Michael Del Monte ǀ 2017 ǀ 78 mins
When former US Marine and world record weightlifter, Janae Kroc, is publicly outed as transgender, she is rejected from her sport and from her family. In an intimate portrait, Janae must navigate her new role in society while reconciling her love of bodybuilding and strength with being a woman.

30 Years of Hot Docs: Audience Award Winners
FIRST WE EAT
D: Suzanne Crocker ǀ 2020 ǀ 100 mins
In a celebration of community and the bounty of local food, filmmaker Suzanne Crocker puts food security to the test and eliminates all grocery store foods from her house. For one year, she feeds her family only food that can be hunted, fished, gathered, grown or raised around Dawson City, Yukon. Add three skeptical teenagers, one reluctant husband, no salt, no caffeine, no sugar and -40 temperatures.

30 Years of Hot Docs: Audience Award Winners
SOMEONE LIKE ME
D: Sean Horlor, Steve J Adams ǀ 2021 ǀ 80 mins
Follow the parallel journeys of Drake, a gay asylum seeker from Uganda, and a group of strangers from Vancouver’s queer community who are tasked with supporting his resettlement in Canada. Together, they embark on a year-long quest for personal freedom, revealing how in a world where one must constantly fight for the right to exist, survival itself becomes a victory.

30 Years of Hot Docs: Audience Award Winners
FANNY THE RIGHT TO ROCK
D: Bobbi Jo Hart ǀ 2021 ǀ 96 mins
Uncover the story of a Filipina American garage band that morphed into the ferocious rock group Fanny, who almost became the female Beatles.

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, North America’s largest documentary festival, conference and market, will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, with the 2023 Festival taking place April 27 to May 7 in Toronto. From 2848 film submissions, this year’s slate will present 214 films from 72 countries in 13 programs and will feature 70 world and 33 international premieres. Over 100 official selections will also stream nationwide on Hot Docs at Home starting the final weekend of the Festival, May 5-9. Hot Docs continues its commitment to gender parity with 53% female directors represented in the official selection. In addition to showcasing the best in Canadian and international documentary, this year’s Festival will present the Hot Docs Podcast Festival Showcase, featuring five of today’s hottest podcasts live, as well as several 30th-anniversary special events and industry programs, bringing non-fiction lovers and makers together in celebration of 30 years of advancing and celebrating the art of documentary here at home and around the world. HotDocs.ca for full Festival lineup.

“2023 marks 30 years of Hot Docs in Toronto, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this
milestone with our audiences, supporters, and talented filmmakers,” shared Shane Smith, Hot Docs’
artistic director. “As Hot Docs has grown and evolved over the last 30 years, so too has the
inventiveness, impact and craft of documentary filmmaking. Filmmakers continue to thrill us with
unexpected approaches, unforgettable subjects and exceptional storytelling, and their outspoken,
outstanding films continue to inspire and inform Hot Docs’ passionate audiences. We’re truly honoured
to present a showcase of the finest documentary films from Canada and over 70 countries around the
world at this year’s Festival.”

Hot Docs 2023 will open its 30th-anniversary Festival with Twice Colonized, directed by Danish director
Lin Alluna, which captures renowned Greenlandic Inuit lawyer, activist, and fierce protector of her
ancestral lands, Aaju Peter, as she fights for the human rights of Indigenous people of the Arctic,
working to bring her colonizers in Canada and Denmark to justice.

The Big Ideas Series, presented by Scotia Wealth Management, will celebrate its 10th year of sparking
engaging conversations with notable guests, including influential American chef and food writer Ruth
Reichl and director Laura Gabbert (Food and Country); director and film subject Ella Glendining (Is There
Anybody Out There?); Indigo Girls musician Emily Saliers and director Alexandria Bombach (It’s Only Life
After All); Rosalie Abella —Canada’s first female Jewish Supreme Court Judge, and director Barry Avrich
(Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella); and fashion revolutionary Bethann Hardison
with director Frédéric Tcheng (Invisible Beauty).

The Special Presentations program, showcasing high-profile films, festival circuit heavy hitters, and
renowned subjects, includes world premieres of celebrated Canadian journalist Michelle Shephard’s The Man Who Stole Einstein’s Brain, the uncovering of the explosive story behind the pathologist who stole
the genius’ brain in 1955; The Rise of Wagner, a chilling exposé on the collusion between Wagner Group
mercenaries and the Kremlin, which has resulted in secret killings and countless human rights violations;
We Are Guardians, the story of the Indigenous guardians of the Brazilian Amazon, struggling to protect
their territories from the ravages of extractive industries, deforestation, corrupt politicians and profit
hungry global corporations; Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?, a chronicle of dissident Hong Kong politician
and activist Nathan Law’s fight for democracy; and Director Barry Avrich’s Without Precedent: The
Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella, a portrait of Canada’s first female Jewish Supreme Court Judge, a
passionate advocate for the disabled community and visible minorities. The Special Presentations
program is sponsored by CRAVE.

Canadian Spectrum, a competitive program showcasing bold new works by Canadian directors, includes
the world premieres of Cynara, the gripping story of Canada’s justice system on trial; I’m Just Here for
The Riot, a look into the world’s “first smartphone riot” after the Vancouver Canucks lost the 2011
Stanley Cup final; July Talk: Love Lives Here, in which the hard-touring band books a drive-in theatre in
hopes of bouncing back from the pandemic’s live music shut-downs; Silvicola, exploring the human
impact on forests through breathtaking vistas and poignant vignettes set in Canada’s Pacific Northwest;
Someone Lives Here, the story of a young Toronto carpenter building life-saving shelters for unhoused
people while also facing staunch opposition from the city government; Subterranean, in which two
gritty teams of hobbyist cavers are poised to discover the longest and deepest caves in Canada; and
Upstream, in which the filmmaker revisits childhood friends in Northern China’s rustbelt. The Canadian
Spectrum program is sponsored by TVO.

International Spectrum, a competitive program offering engaging stories from around the globe,
includes the world premieres of The Last Relic, an encompassing portrait of Putin’s “modern” Russia
shot over the course of four years, and Everardo González’s A Wolfpack Called Ernesto, a look inside the
chilling world of teenage boys who have chosen a life of organized crime. International premieres
include Angel Applicant, an exploration of Swiss-German artist Paul Klee, who died from a rare
autoimmune disease; Hong Kong Mixtape, in which the filmmaker joins a movement of underground
artists following the government’s imposition of laws silencing freedom of expression; The Mountains,
which uses 75,000 photos and 30 years of home videos to weave a tender and humorous story of men in
a Scandinavian family struck by devastating tragedy; Name Me Lawand, in which a young deaf Kurdish
boy hones his communication skills at a UK school after a treacherous journey from Iraq, only to later
face deportation from his new home; Pure Unknown, the story of a doctor who makes it her life’s work
to identify and reunite deceased refugees with their families; Revir – Everything You Hold Dear, a
portrait of taxidermist siblings Susie and Sune who live together in a tense still life of co-dependency
following a neglectful upbringing; and You Were My First Boyfriend, a hybrid doc in which the director
re-stages her most traumatic high school memories using actors and elaborate sets. The International
Spectrum program is supported by the Donner Canadian Foundation.

A showcase of recent works from Ukraine will make up the dynamic Made In program, highlighting
stories being captured on the ground by filmmakers since the war began. Made In Ukraine will
introduce audiences to five Ukrainian teenagers escaping the reality at home and embarking on an adventure to the Himalayas in We Will Not Fade Away; expose them to the horrors of the invasion in 20
Days in Mariupol; confront preconceived notions and oppressive Russian ideology that often fuels the
narrative of the invasion in Eurodonbas; revisit the investigation of the deadly Malaysian Airlines Flight
17, shot down by Russian forces over Eastern Ukraine, in Iron Butterflies, and find signs of new life and
regeneration in war-torn Bucha in When Spring Came to Bucha. Docudays UA, Ukraine’s most venerable
documentary film festival and the co-presenter of Made In Ukraine, defied the air raids and rocket fire
and valiantly presented its 2022 Festival. In it, they launched Civil Pitch 2.0, a competition to sponsor the
production of brand new docs. More than 150 projects competed, and Hot Docs proudly presents the
world premiere of all four winners in the shorts program Films That Bring The Victory Closer: Civil Pitch
2.0 Winning Films presented by Docudays UA. Made In Ukraine is presented in collaboration with
Docudays UA and supported by the Temerty Foundation, Telefilm Canada, and the Shevchenko
Foundation.

The World Showcase program features revelatory stories that span the globe, including the world
premieres of After the Bridge, a nuanced and humanizing portrait of a shocked mother finding peace
with her son, a jihadist killed in the 2017 London Bridge attack; Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story, in which
Kurdish refugees come together to form a professional soccer team in Sweden in a shared fight for both
independence and victory on the pitch; Jackie the Wolf, an unconventional conversation between the
filmmaker and his mother who, as part of a refusal to live beyond a certain age, has announced her
death date despite not being terminally ill; The Lebanese Burger Mafia, in which the filmmaker–heir to
a Burger Baron franchise–chases clues through rural Alberta to uncover the saga of a rogue fast-food
chain with mysterious origins; Razing Liberty Square, a look at the oldest segregated public housing
project in the Southern USA as it faces climate change gentrification; Rowdy Girl, the story of a former
Texas cattle rancher turned animal sanctuary operator as she encourages a move to plant-based food
production; and Sleepless Birds, a look at how the rise of industrial greenhouses in the French region of
Bretagne are bringing dire consequences for the region’s biodiversity.

The Artscapes program showcases creative minds, artistic pursuits and inventive filmmaking, and will
present the world premieres of Echo of Everything, featuring leading thinkers in music, philosophy,
astronomy and physics exploring music’s universal yet mysterious power to elicit ecstasy; Nathan-ism,
in which a young Jewish recruit is posted to guard top Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg Trials,
inspiring 70 years of obsessive sketching and storytelling; and Soviet Barbara, The Story of Ragnar
Kjartansson in Moscow, in which an Icelandic art star opens a Russian oligarch’s museum by re-staging
the American soap Santa Barbara live. The Artscapes program is presented in partnership with MUBI.
The popular Nightvision program features future cult classics, including the world premiere of It’s
Coming, a found footage horror in which supernatural encounters escalate after a mother returns to her
family’s ancestral apartment; and the international premiere of Another Body, in which a student
investigates deepfake technology after pornographic video surfaces showing her face on another body;
Canadian documentary Satan Wants You, which looks into how a young woman and her Catholic
psychiatrist ignited the global Satanic Panic in the 1980s with their bestselling memoir Michelle
Remembers; and Anhell69, in which a young director explores the dreams and fears of an annihilated
generation while cruising the streets of Medellín in a hearse.

The Persister program will feature films that shine a light on the voices of strong, inspirational women
who are speaking up and being heard, including the world premieres of Coven, a Canadian documentary
in which three millennial women explore their identities as witches in today’s world, and We, The
Women, in which three generations of women reflect on the joys of women’s bonds and resilience as
well as the devastating impact of traditional gender roles and gender-based violence. The program will
feature the international premiere of My Place Ozerna, in which a Polish woman in London connects
through shared feelings of melancholy and alienation with a distant aunt in Ukraine.

Markers features a global, genre-defying collection of films that push the boundaries of the
documentary form, including the world premiere of We No Longer Prefer Mountains, which uses
Japanese “landscape theory” to structure an examination of the Druze religious minority in Palestine.
Canadian premieres include Being in a Place – A Portrait of Margaret Tait, an experimental tribute to
Scottish filmmaker Margaret Tait; Calls from Moscow, shot almost entirely in an austere flat occupied by
queer Cuban exiles on the eve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; A Common Sequence, a collaboration
between two experimental luminaries that expands their immersive work to explore humanity’s
relationship with nature; Feet in Water, Head on Fire, a Canadian experimental portrait of the carers of
Indigenous palm trees and imported date palms that grow along the San Andreas Fault; and Forms of
Forgetting, which explores the nature of remembering through the eyes of a couple who can’t recall
how they broke up.

The Deep Dive program will present long-form episodic series featuring complex and layered
storytelling, with world premieres of The American Gladiators Documentary, a two-part ESPN behindthe-scenes look at the iconic 90s show; and Poison(s), a stunning investigative series exposing Vladimir
Putin’s lethal criminality, from Litvinenko through to Navalny. The program will also include the North
American premiere of Lac-Mégantic, a captivating four-part series from Oscar-nominated director
Philippe Falardeau that exposes the scandalous causes of one of Canada’s worst rail disasters and the
urgent changes needed to prevent the next one.

Hot Docs will again partner with European Film Promotion (EFP) for the sixth year of The Changing Face
of Europe, a pan-European showcase of documentaries that explore the cultural, economic and political
conditions affecting Europe today. World premieres in this program include A Happy Man, in which the
move of a young family from the Czech Republic to Sweden is made more complex as one member
begins the process of transitioning to affirm their gender identity; and Roberta, an intimate portrait of a
young Lithuanian woman grappling with flux while fumbling for purpose in these times of uncertainty.
Human Kind, a new theme program highlighting stories of kindness, connection, and collaboration, will
feature the world premieres of The Only Doctor, the uplifting story of the only doctor in Georgia’s
poorest county for 15 years; unseen, a portrait of a blind, undocumented Mexican immigrant who
aspires to become a social worker to help support his family and underserved communities; and
Unsyncable, a deep dive into the lives of a group of seniors who won’t let their age get in the way of
their passion for synchronized swimming.

Hot Docs and SAP are proud to present the shorts series Roads to Regeneration, a curated collection of
eight inspirational, short documentaries, executive produced by Hot Docs and presented by SAP.
Working closely with filmmakers, SAP and Hot Docs partnered in producing this collection of docs,
showcasing innovative ideas from everyday people around the world who seek to make life more
sustainable, equitable and hopeful for everyone—one change or idea at a time.

Hot Docs will premiere seven original short documentaries commissioned for Series 2 of Citizen
Minutes, an initiative that seeks to inspire viewers to become change agents in their own communities.
These remarkable short docs come from Canadian filmmakers looking to highlight bold and unlikely
changemakers, ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things in their communities. Citizen Minutes will
also feature an educational component to promote youth-led civic engagement, with Hot Docs
organizing community screenings to engage young adults, and developing complementary resources
linked to curricula to enable educators to use the films as teaching tools. The Citizen Minutes project is
made possible through support from The Rossy Foundation.

Hot Docs 2023 will feature a slate of today’s hottest podcasts live on stage in the documentary festival’s
first-ever non-fiction audio-storytelling program. The Hot Docs Podcast Festival Showcase will offer
audiences a taste of the exceptional programming found at the organization’s popular Podcast Festival,
an annual celebration of the world’s most talented audio storytellers that is set to return live for its
seventh year this fall. Public presentations at the Hot Docs Podcast Festival Showcase will include five
live podcast events, including WNYC Studios’ Peabody Award-winning Radiolab, the ground-breaking
series on science, philosophy and society; Wondery’s hit series Scamfluencers, in which co-hosts,
Canadian culture writers Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi, unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds
of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness; The Story I Never Thought I Would Tell, a night
of surprising stories with CBC Podcasts’ hosts Anna Maria Tremonti, Gavin Crawford, Falen Johnston,
Matthew Amha and Kaitlin Prest; the wildly popular On With Kara Swisher featuring Canadian YouTube
pioneer, comedian and author Lilly Singh, and The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos, featuring
bestselling author and podcaster Gretchen Rubin. On May 3 and 4, the Hot Docs Podcast Festival
Showcase will also feature a special edition of its renowned industry conference, the Creators Forum,
presenting a dynamic line-up of six panels and master classes, plus additional opportunities to network
with key decision-makers and industry peers. The Hot Docs Podcast Festival Showcase is made possible
with the support of Lead Sponsor CBC Podcasts, Major Partner Acast, Event Partner iHeartRadio, and
Media Partner The Big Story.

The 2023 Outstanding Achievement Award will honour trailblazing Chinese American filmmaker,
educator, and artist Christine Choy (Chai Ming Huei) with a retrospective program that includes Electric
Shadow, a dynamic overview of films directed by Asian filmmakers in the 90s; From Spikes to Spindles, a
chronicle of the history of Chinese Americans and their political awakenings in the 1970s; Homes Apart:
Korea, a seminal documentary exploring the trauma of families torn apart by the division of Korea in
1953; Long Story Short, the story of Larry and Trudie Long, a pioneering Asian American nightclub act of
the 40s and 50s; and Who Killed Vincent Chin?, an investigation into the 1982 killing of Chinese
American Vincent Chin by two white men and its ramifications on the greater Asian American
community.

Hot Docs’ 30th-anniversary Festival will pay homage to Canadian film producer, visual researcher and
clearance specialist Elizabeth Klinck with its annual Focus On tribute, celebrating the work of Canadian
filmmakers and craftspeople who have made a significant contribution to the documentary landscape.
On Thursday, May 4, at 5:30 pm, Klinck will be joined on stage by award-winning documentary director
Jennifer Baichwal for Working Together: The Visual Researcher And The Director: A Conversation
between Elizabeth Klinck and Jennifer Baichwal, an illuminating conversation about the integral role of
archival research and producing in the documentary filmmaking process. The Focus On Elizabeth Klinck
program is supported by K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation.

Hamburg-based collective A Wall is a Screen will take Hot Docs Festival out of the cinema and onto the
streets for A Wall is a Screen: Toronto, a free outdoor film event taking place on-site at Toronto’s
historic Ontario Place (955 Lake Shore Blvd. West), where audiences will follow the projection team
from wall to wall and thus from film to film. Only the starting point (West Commons at Ontario Place) is
known in advance, the films and other locations are a surprise. All films screened are family-friendly. A
Wall is a Screen: Toronto is made possible by support from the City of Toronto, the Ontario Cultural
Attractions Fund, Telefilm Canada, and Goethe-Institut Toronto.

By Amanda Gilmore

Midwives documents a small birthing clinic in the highly politicized region of western Myanmar, where Rohingya Muslims are persecuted. The owner of the Centre, a Buddhist named Hla, helps all women who enter the facility. She works along with the assistance of Nyo Nyo, a member of the Rohingya Muslim community and Hla’s apprentice.

This is one of the best Documentaries of the year. Hlaing brings us to an area of the world where a civil war has been waging for years and the minority group, the Rohingya people, have been made to live in fear under the military regime. But amongst this war, Director Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing shows us a story of empathy and hope through the beautiful act of caring for the ill and bringing new life into the world.

She followed Hla and Nyo Nyo for over five years, and what she captured is a story of resilience. 

Even though Hla faces huge risks and possibly getting her clinic shut down for treating Rohingya Muslims, she continues to do it. Hla is doing all she can to help, however, she still uses a name for the Rohingya people that they find insulting, even when speaking to or about Nyo Nyo. Including these moments shows how ingrained prejudices can still have an effect on even those who are actively fighting to help.

Over the five years, Nyo Nyo learns how to become a medical practitioner from Hla. After desiring to flee western Myanmar for a different city where her sister lives, life gets in the way and she is forced to stay. However, her determination and resilience to make something of her life leads her to raise money and build her own clinic. Through the interviews with Nyo Nyo, we get a wider view of not only the conflict happening but the positions women are placed. Her inspiring story shatters the boxes that society had packed her into.

Overall, see Midwives whenever and wherever you can. You won’t regret it.

Midwives screens at Hot Docs ’22:

Sun, May 1 at 8:15 PM at Isabel Bader Theatre

Thu, May 5 at 11:45 AM at Varsity

Online streaming is available for five days starting on MAY 2 at 9:00 AM

By Amanda Gilmore

Director Daniel Roher gives his audience access to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was poisoned with Novichok, a nerve agent implicated in attacks on other opponents of the Russian government. We follow from the moments immediately following the attack, his time spent in Germany, and his dangerous return to Russia.

What makes Navalny standout is the man himself. One interview with Alexei Navalny repeatedly plays between the narrative. Roher’s questions gain access to Navalny’s infectious and optimistic personality. It comes as no surprise that Russia loves him and Vladimir Putin is terrified of him (so much so, he has never uttered his name).

In the opening, Navalny is asked if he is worried something bad will happen upon his arrival in Russia. He responds by saying that he doesn’t want this Documentary to be a sad one, but a Thriller. And that is precisely what Navalny is, a gripping Thriller that’s made even more terrifying because it’s real. The most memorable moment is a long sequence where Navalny is calling the Russians who are believed to be a part of his poisoning. This immensely tense and riveting moment will leave you on the edge of your seat and shock you to your core.

Roher shows the importance Yulia, Navalny’s wife, played in keeping her husband alive. Yulia was the force behind getting her husband out of a Russian hospital and to Germany. Her unwavering bravery against the corrupt system is inspiring. As we learn more about their partnership, Roher focuses-in on their bond and the close-knit family they have. Therefore, capturing a portrait of the domestic all can relate to.

Overall, Navalny is a timely, gripping Documentary that gets to the truth behind the poisoning and the lethal lengths Putin’s Government will go.

Navalny screens at Hot Docs ’22:

Sat, Apr 30 at 6:30 PM at Hot Docs Cinema

Mon, May 2 at 1:30 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Sat, May 7 at 2:00 PM at Hot Docs Cinema

Online streaming is available for five days starting on MAY 1 at 9:00 AM

By George Kozera

As a child of a parent who was as an Auschwitz survivor, I am constantly drawn to Documentaries about said subject matter as watching narrative features on the topic (Schindler’s List, Son of Saul, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) devastate me emotionally and I can only watch those when the sun shines as that brightness signifies life and hope. Being Catholic and consigned to work in the kitchens, my mother’s experience there may not have been as laborious and dangerous as other survivors, but her daily horrors were parallel to those with numbers tattooed on their arm. Executive produced by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, Writer/Producer/Director Sara Takster’s HOW SABA KEPT SINGING is one of the best Documentaries about the Holocaust that I have seen.