#HOTDOCS: “ALWAYS” TRAILER

Deming Chen‘s ALWAYS will premiere at Hot Docs ’25 and today we get a glimpse of its Trailer.

Gong Youbin was born into a poor Chinese family. He has not seen his mother since he was three months old. Because of a poetry class in school, he embarks on an emotional journey by learning to write poems through his imagination and exploration.

By observing his upbringing in the countryside of Hunan, surrounded by dreams and the harsh realities of his family’s struggles, ALWAYS is an allegory for the loss of innocence, as Gong inevitably has to grow up out of childhood and face reality.

Click here to watch the trailer.

Hot Docs Program: World Showcase
Premiere Status: North American Premiere
Countries: USA, FRANCE, CHINA
Runtime: 84 minutes
Language: Chinese Regional Dialects & Chinese
Subtitles: English

Talent attending Hot Docs: Director Deming Chen, Producer Hansen Lin

ALWAYS Hot Docs Public Screenings:
April 26, 1:45 PM TIFF LIGHTBOX 4
April 29, 5:15 PM TIFF LIGHTBOX 3

#FIRSTLOOK: “AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT” TO PREMIERE AT HOT DOCS 2025

Italy/US co-production producing partners, Marta Zaccaron, Incipit Film and Christine La Monte, La Monte Productions, in association with Andy Cohen, AC Films Inc. are pleased to announce that Maxim Derevianko feature film directorial debut’s documentary, AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT will have its Canadian premiere at Hot Docs 2025 as part of their Big Idea. ( https://hotdocs.ca/festivals/hot-docs-festival/big-ideas)

AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT is an Italy/US co-production directed by Maxim Derevianko (Ars Erotica, Origen, Le Creature di Prometeo/Le Creature di Capucci), co-written by Michele Cogo (The Red Door) and Derevianko and produced by Co-production producing partners, Marta Zaccaron (The Kiss of the Grasshopper, Family Therapy, Sanremo), and Christine La Monte (VIVA VERDI!), with producer Andy Cohen (To Kill a Tiger) executive produced by Julian Lennon (Maya, Women of the White Buffalo) and Marcie Polier (Two Gun Cohen.)

AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT delves into the artistic journey of renowned Chinese artist and activist, Ai Weiwei, during his groundbreaking operatic directorial debut at the Rome Opera House. Drawing inspiration from Puccini’s renowned opera, Turandot, Ai Weiwei masterfully weaves together the opera’s timeless narrative with contemporary global issues, including the Ukraine war, the refugee crises, tyranny, freedom of speech, and more. The film not only reaffirms the enduring relevance of Puccini’s masterpiece but also serves as a reflection of Ai Weiwei’s life and artistic philosophy. Capturing the meticulous staging, rehearsals, and collaborations that bring this visionary production to life, the film takes viewers on an historic behind-the-scenes exploration of Ai Weiwei’s creative process. According to esteemed choreographer Chiang Ching, a lifelong friend and collaborator of Ai Weiwei who provides insights into the deeply personal connection between Ai Weiwei and Turandot, the opera serves as a reflection of Ai Weiwei’s own life. This fusion of the opera’s stunning visuals, evocative music, and powerful storytelling offers a transformative experience that encompasses the essence of Ai Weiwei’s creative vision and process inviting viewers to witness the convergence of music, activism, and visual art, celebrating the enduring legacy of Turandot and the visionary spirit of Ai Weiwei.

AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT Co-production producing partners Marta Zaccaron and Christine La Monte, producing together with Andy Cohen, remark, “Hot Docs and its arts-forward audience is the perfect festival for AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT to make its North American Premiere. The film celebrates the creative process and the power of collaboration, revealing the transformative impact that art can have on individuals and society at large. Thank you Heather Haynes and your stellar team for embracing our film – we are all thrilled to be Toronto-bound!”

Director Maxim Derevianko adds, “Delighted to have my Canadian premiere at Hot Docs. Working with Ai Weiwei has been a life-long dream realized – through his directorial journey, I’ve been able to explore the intersection of opera, activism, and contemporary challenges. Very happy to be sharing our film with Hot Docs audiences – renowned for appreciating documentaries.”

Cinematography by Maxim Derevianko, editing by Emanuele Bonomi (Croste di Polenta) with consulting editor Kate Amend (Into The Arms of Strangers,) sound editing and mix by Federico Cabula (Una Femmina: The Code of Silence), Marco Falloni (The Eight Mountains) with original music by Marco Guazzone (The Place.)

An Incipit Film and La Monte Production Co-Production in association with AC Film, White Feather Films and Homemade Entertainment, in collaboration with Teatro Dell/Opera Di Roma, Co-financed by Fondo Audiovisivo FVG and Direzione Generale Cinema & Audiovisivo.

Rise and Shine World Sales will be handling international sales for the film.

ABOUT MAXIM DERVIANKO
An award-winning director, Derevianko is based in Rome. In 2023, he directed the docuseries “Ars Erotica” with Euridice Axen, a 5-episode series about Eros in the Arts for Sky Arte, produced by Bottega Finzioni. Previously, Derevianko directed and wrote the feature documentaries “Le Creature di Prometeo/Le Creature di Capucci,” which follows the fashion Maestro Roberto Capucci in his last creations for a show at the Spoleto Festival, presented at the Chamber of Deputies in Rome, as well as, “Origen,” about the return of some of the most important choreographers and dancers in Europe after the lockdown within the Origen Festival Cultural in Switzerland, including ballet companies such as the Paris Operà, The Staatsoper of Vienna, the Zurich Ballet and NDT. In 2018, Derevianko directed the feature documentary, “Cellos & Drums” for the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, following renowned cellist, Giovanni Sollima and his Ensemble in Rome and Amsterdam concerts. During his work collaborating with the Rome Opera House, he produced and directed multicam streamings and trailers for all opera and ballet productions, working with internationally renowned directors such as Sofia Coppola, Emma Dante, William Kentridge, for opera and choreography, and dancers such as Roberto Bolle, Eleonora Abbagnato and Angelin Preljocaj. Among his current and ongoing work for top international brands includes directing Netflix’s advertising campaigns for international series “Berlin” with Pedro Alonso and “Emily in Paris” with Lily Collins, as well as Bulgari’s Crafting Magnificence campaign and Octofinissimo campaign, with actor Alessandro Borghi and “Utopia” for Dior. Prior to this, he directed, wrote and produced the multi-award winning sci-fi short film, BODYPIECES.

INCIPIT FILM (Italy) / INCIPIT FILM, founded and headed by Marta Zaccaron, is an independent production company based in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. It develops, produces and co-produces documentary and fiction projects for the international market that address relevant issues to the society we live in, mostly in co- production with foreign partners. It is a company in constant evolution, born with a purely documentary vocation, that has recently co- produced feature films that have garnered much international acclaim, participating in prestigious festivals and distributed through European channels. It is pursuing more and more ambitious projects and collaborations with very talented artists and with an innovative narrative. Incipit Film works regularly with the FVG Audiovisual Fund, FVG Film Commission, MiC and RAI.

LA MONTE PRODUCTIONS (USA) / LA MONTE PRODUCTIONS is a Los Angeles-based entertainment production company founded and headed by former Universal, Disney and Orion marketing executive, Christine La Monte. In addition to AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT, current projects on the festival circuit include feature documentary VIVA VERDI!, about Casa Verdi, Milan, home for retired opera singers built by Giuseppe Verdi; and in post-production is FIGLI DEL FIUME, a ‘contemplative’ film that follows three men in search of meaning along Italy’s Po River. THE OTHER SIDE OF 90, which La Monte is directing, and JUSTICE DEFERRED, based on Len Williams’ critically acclaimed legal thriller, are in development. La Monte produced the award-winning short, DANDELION DHARMA; scripted play, “Three Grooms & A Bride”, and syndicated television talk show, “Marilu” starring Marilu Henner. A long-time member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, La Monte is a member of the Television Academy, and the Alliance of Women Directors.

A.C Films is a NYC media production company founded by Andy Cohen, a three-time Emmy nominated independent filmmaker, whose recent films received three Academy Awards nominations spanning both scripted and documentary genres: The Apprentice in 2025 for Best Actor (Sebastian Stan), Best Supporting Actor (Jeremy Strong) and To Kill a Tiger in 2024 for Best Feature Documentary. Cohen directed, wrote, and produced the multi-award-winning feature-length documentaries, Ximei (2019) and Beijing Spring (2021), among others.

#HOTDOCS: ADDITIONAL 2025 HOT DOCS SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ANNOUNCED

Hot Docs announced today a slate of seven additional films to screen at the 2025 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival as part of the Special Presentations program, exhibiting a selection of high-profile Canadian and international feature-length documentary premieres. Hot Docs Festival returns to Toronto from April 24 to May 4.

Making its International Premiere, Come See Me in the Good Light follows spoken word artist and poet laureate of Colorado Andrea Gibson after an incurable cancer diagnosis. Alongside their partner and fellow poet Megan Falley, Gibson embarks on a poignant journey filled with humour and love, culminating in a final career-defining performance. Also making its International Premiere is Selena y Los Dinos, a riveting look at the life and legacy of the “Queen of Tejano Music” Selena Quintanilla. Featuring exquisite family archives and intimate testimonies, the film charts the rise of this iconic superstar who broke barriers for women in the genre.

Canadian Premieres include 2000 Meters to Andriivka, the latest from Academy Award–winning filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov (20 Days in Mariupol). This harrowing and immersive documentary follows a Ukrainian platoon as they navigate a heavily fortified forest to liberate the strategic village of Andriivka. Assembly sees interdisciplinary artist Rashaad Newsome turn documentarian, capturing his groundbreaking 2022 exhibition that transformed a historic military facility into a queer, Afro-futurist utopia. Heightened Scrutiny follows ACLU attorney Chase Strangio as he takes on an uphill battle for trans rights, preparing to become the first openly trans person to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Dating Game delves into the consequences of China’s one-child policy, as three men, faced with a skewed gender ratio, enroll in a controversial dating boot camp that promises romantic success through deception. Spreadsheet Champions spotlights six talented students from around the world as they compete in the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship—the ultimate test of spreadsheet mastery, where a win could be life-changing.

The full selection of films to screen at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival 2025 will be announced at a press conference on March 25. Ticket packages are now on sale online. Ticket package redemption and single ticket sales for Hot Docs members are available starting March 25. Single ticket sales open to the public on April 1.  

Descriptions for films in the Special Presentations program appear below. In many cases, filmmakers will be in attendance for post-screening discussions. For more information on the program visit http://go.pardot.com/e/463832/ot-docs-festival-announcements/lcp1f/776304639/h/v7x9SxFvfBXjMpvoRUTcmNrOxK9FsDSM45y6L24dYU8.

Film stills of Special Presentation titles are available at http://go.pardot.com/e/463832/y3p8zknz/lcp1j/776304639/h/v7x9SxFvfBXjMpvoRUTcmNrOxK9FsDSM45y6L24dYU8.

Hot Docs 2025 Special Presentations include:

2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA
D: Mstyslav Chernov | P: Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, Raney Aronson-Rath | Ukraine | 2025 | 106 min | Canadian Premiere
From the Academy Award–winning director of 20 Days in Mariupol comes an immersive and harrowing look at a Ukrainian platoon on the front lines of the war as they traverse a heavily fortified forest to liberate the strategic village of Andriivka.

ASSEMBLY
D: Rashaad Newsome, Johnny Symons | P: Rashaad Newsome, Johnny Symons | USA | 2025 | 99 min | Canadian Premiere
Interdisciplinary artist Rashaad Newsome adds “documentarian” to his extensive CV with this dazzling record of his titular 2022 exhibition, a multisensory extravaganza that summons a cast of global performers to transform a historic military facility into a queer, Afro-futurist utopia.

COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT
D: Ryan White | P: Jessica Hargrave, Ryan White, Tig Notaro, Stef Willen | USA | 2025 | 104 min | International Premiere
After receiving an incurable cancer diagnosis, spoken word artist and poet laureate of Colorado Andrea Gibson, alongside their partner and fellow poet Megan Falley, embarks on a poignant journey filled with humour and love that culminates in a final career-defining performance.

THE DATING GAME
D: Violet Du Feng | P: Violet Du Feng, Joanna Natasegara, James Costa, Mette Cheng Munthe-Kaas | USA, UK, Norway | 2025 | 86 min | Canadian Premiere
In China, where men vastly outnumber women, three desperate bachelors join a controversial dating boot camp promising romantic success through deception. Their journey exposes the harsh realities of modern dating in a post-one-child-policy world.

HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY
D: Sam Feder | P: Amy Scholder, Sam Feder, Paola Mendoza | USA | 2025 | 85 min | Canadian Premiere
As assaults on trans rights sweep across America, ACLU attorney Chase Strangio must fight legal battles and public opinion pitched against his community as he prepares to be the first openly trans person to argue in front of the Supreme Court.

SELENA Y LOS DINOS
D: Isabel Castro | P: Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, J. Daniel Torres, David Blackman, Simran Singh | USA | 2025 | 106 min | International Premiere
Dubbed the “Queen of Tejano Music,” Selena Quintanilla was an iconic superstar whose voice continues to resonate across generations. Exquisite family archives and intimate testimonies chart the rise of this vocal powerhouse who broke down barriers for women in the genre.

SPREADSHEET CHAMPIONS
D: Kristina Kraskov | P: Anna Charalambous, Charlotte Wheaton, Nick Batzias | Australia | 2025 | 86 min | Canadian Premiere
Six students from around the world show off their impressive spreadsheet skills as they excel in the hyper-competitive Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship—the most challenging and prestigious Excel competition—where a win could change their life.

Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca), North America’s leading documentary festival, conference and market, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing and celebrating the art of documentary and to creating production opportunities for documentary filmmakers. Hot Docs will present its 32nd annual edition from April 24 to May 4, 2025, in cinemas across Toronto. Hot Docs will also mount a dynamic series of knowledge sessions, networking opportunities and market programs for documentary practitioners and industry delegates, including the renowned Hot Docs Deal Maker and Works-in-Progress screenings. Year-round, Hot Docs supports the Canadian and international industry with professional development programs and a multi-million-dollar film fund portfolio, and fosters education through documentaries with its popular free program Docs For Schools. Hot Docs owns and programs the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, a century-old landmark located in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood and the world’s first and largest documentary cinema.

Starting Tuesday, March 25, Festival ticket package holders, including Doc Soup subscribers, can redeem their ticket packages, and Hot Docs Members can purchase single tickets. Starting Tuesday, April 1, single tickets will be available to the public. Tickets and ticket packages can be purchased and/or redeemed online at www.hotdocs.ca or in person at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema Box Office, located at 506 Bloor Street West (hours vary daily in accordance with cinema screenings). Single tickets are $20 to regular Festival screenings and $23 to Special Presentations screenings ($18-$20 members). Special events vary in price. A Festival 12-Pack is $209 and a Festival 20-Pack is $299. Hot Docs offers free tickets for all screenings before 4:00 p.m. to seniors and students with valid photo I.D., available online the day of the screening, subject to availability.

#HOTDOCS: 2025 HOT DOCS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCED

Hot Docs announced today the first slate of films to screen as part of its highly anticipated Special Presentations program at the 2025 Festival, running April 24 to May 4, 2025 in Toronto. The Special Presentations program, which features high-profile subjects, award-winning films and filmmakers, and masterful perspectives on current events and pressing issues, will screen in cinemas across downtown Toronto during the Festival.

Making its world premiere at Hot Docs Festival 2025 is The Nest, a deeply personal exploration of memory, identity, and intergenerational storytelling by co-directors Chase Joynt and Julietta Singh. International premieres include Deaf President Now!, a powerful chronicle of the landmark student protest that transformed accessibility rights in the US; and Life After, in which celebrated filmmaker Reid Davenport investigates the troubling implications of assisted suicide laws for disabled people.

Making their Canadian premieres are Antidote, a gripping real-life thriller following investigative journalist Christo Grozev and activist Vladimir Kara-Murza as they challenge Russia’s political machine; Apocalypse in the Tropics, Petra Costa’s timely and incisive look at the rise of religious fundamentalism in Brazil; Coexistence, My Ass!, where comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi boldly navigates the Israel-Palestine conflict with razor-sharp wit; Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, an intimate portrait of the trailblazing Deaf actor; and Saints and Warriors, which captures the fierce competition and deep community spirit of the All Native Basketball Tournament in British Columbia. These films, and many more, will be presented as part of Hot Docs Festival 2025.

The full selection of films to screen at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival 2025 will be announced at a press conference on March 25. Ticket packages are now on sale online. Ticket package redemption and single ticket sales for Hot Docs members are available starting March 25. Single ticket sales open to the public on April 1.  

Descriptions for films in the Special Presentations program appear below. In many cases, filmmakers will be in attendance for post-screening discussions. For more information on the program visit http://go.pardot.com/e/463832/ot-docs-festival-announcements/lcd6y/773667820/h/bcPFH0Dzg_lRW-Nv-XhjxMMqYl_dAHxxXsu_im1L5U8.

Film stills of Special Presentation titles are available at http://go.pardot.com/e/463832/y3p8zknz/lcd72/773667820/h/bcPFH0Dzg_lRW-Nv-XhjxMMqYl_dAHxxXsu_im1L5U8.

ANTIDOTE
D: James Jones | P: James Jones | United Kingdom | 2024 | 90 min | Canadian Premiere
How does it feel to be on Putin’s most-wanted list? Christo Grozev, an investigative journalist and co-founder of Bellingcat, is on the run, while Vladimir Kara-Murza, a political activist, stands trial for treason. A riveting doc-thriller about those resisting and confronting the blood-chilling Russian regime.

APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS
D: Petra Costa | P: Petra Costa, Alessandra Orofino | Brazil, USA, Denmark | 2024 | 110 min | Canadian Premiere
In Oscar-nominated filmmaker Petra Costa’s latest excursion into the state of democracy she turns her attention to Brazil’s most prominent televangelist, Silas Malafaia, delving into the rise of religious fundamentalism in politics and its close ties to the far-right nationalist movement.

COEXISTENCE, MY ASS!
D: Amber Fares | P: Rachel Leah Jones, Amber Fares, Valérie Montmartin | USA, France | 2025 | 95 min | Canadian Premiere
Mixing the personal with the political, comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi boldly confronts the Israel-Palestine conflict in her one-woman show. Skillfully navigating massive social and political divides with wit and humour, she challenges audiences with hard truths that are no laughing matter.

DEAF PRESIDENT NOW!
D: Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim | P: Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim, Amanda Rohlke, Jonathan King, Michael Harte | USA | 2024 | 100 min | International Premiere
When Gallaudet University’s board selected a hearing president over two deaf candidates in 1988, the almost entirely Deaf and hard-of-hearing student body pushed back, sparking a revolution that influenced the future of disability rights.

LIFE AFTER
D: Reid Davenport | P: Colleen Cassingham | USA | 2025 | 99 min | International Premiere
Disability cinema auteur Reid Davenport takes on assisted suicide, exploring how a practice intended to empower end-of-life decision-making has exposed the long-standing devaluation of disabled life.

MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE
D: Shoshannah Stern | P: Robyn Kopp, Justine Nagan, Bonni Cohen, Shoshannah Stern | USA | 2025 | 97 min | Canadian Premiere
Pioneering Deaf performer Marlee Matlin candidly opens up about her life and career. Her meteoric and tumultuous rise to fame with her Oscar-winning performance in Children of a Lesser God is just one chapter of an iconic legacy that continues to resonate.

THE NEST
D: Chase Joynt, Julietta Singh | P: Alicia Smith, Justine Pimlott | Canada, | 2025 | 89 min | World Premiere
At the end of her mother’s life, director Julietta Singh returns to her childhood home, where centuries of forgotten matriarchs emerge to reveal stories of resistance and resilience. Indigenous, Deaf, Japanese and South Asian histories intertwine, buried in a house full of secrets.

SAINTS AND WARRIORS
D: Patrick Shannon | P: Michael Grand | Canada | 2024 | 97 min | Canadian Premiere
For over sixty years, teams have gathered on the Pacific west coast for the All Native Basketball Tournament. As the defending champions, the Skidegate Saints, battle to keep their title, it’s clear the event has become a symbol of resilience, community and culture.

Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca), North America’s leading documentary festival, conference and market, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing and celebrating the art of documentary and to creating production opportunities for documentary filmmakers. Hot Docs will present its 32nd annual edition from April 24 to May 4, 2025, in cinemas across Toronto. Hot Docs will also mount a dynamic series of knowledge sessions, networking opportunities and market programs for documentary practitioners and industry delegates, including the renowned Hot Docs Deal Maker and Works-in-Progress screenings. Year-round, Hot Docs supports the Canadian and international industry with professional development programs and a multi-million-dollar film fund portfolio, and fosters education through documentaries with its popular free program Docs For Schools. Hot Docs owns and programs the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, a century-old landmark located in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood and the world’s first and largest documentary cinema.

Starting Tuesday, March 25, Festival ticket package holders, including Doc Soup subscribers, can redeem their ticket packages, and Hot Docs Members can purchase single tickets. Starting Tuesday, April 1, single tickets will be available to the public. Tickets and ticket packages can be purchased and/or redeemed online at www.hotdocs.ca or in person at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema Box Office, located at 506 Bloor Street West (hours vary daily in accordance with cinema screenings). Single tickets are $20 to regular Festival screenings and $23 to Special Presentations screenings ($18-$20 members). Special events vary in price. A Festival 12-Pack is $209 and a Festival 20-Pack is $299. Hot Docs offers free tickets for all screenings before 4:00 p.m. to seniors and students with valid photo I.D., available online the day of the screening, subject to availability.

Hot Docs is proud to include Rogers as its Founding Partner; Netflix as its Presenting Partner; and Telefilm Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the Canada Media Fund as its Major Supporters. Full list of sponsors and partners: http://go.pardot.com/e/463832/about-partners/lcd65/773667820/h/bcPFH0Dzg_lRW-Nv-XhjxMMqYl_dAHxxXsu_im1L5U8

#HOTDOCS: 2025 HOT DOCS CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL RUNS APRIL 24 to MAY 4, 2025

Hot Docs announced today that the upcoming Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival 2025, April 24 to May 4 in Toronto, will boldly expand the scope of its popular Made In program, shifting the spotlight from a single country to instead celebrate the powerful voices of filmmakers and protagonists in exile.

For the first time in the program’s history, Made In will showcase documentaries created by filmmakers and participants who, driven from their homelands by war, conflict, or humanitarian crises, continue to tell stories that demand to be heard. This year’s lineup will include deeply personal and timely narratives from Afghanistan, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine and beyond, offering audiences a rare and resonant perspective on survival, displacement and the enduring strength of the creative spirit.

“This special program has been years in the making. With each festival, we’ve seen a growing number of projects addressing exile and displacement, and it feels as though we’ve reached a boiling point in history. We deeply believe in the power of documentary filmmaking to build bridges, foster empathy and bear witness to the world’s most urgent realities,” shared Heather Haynes, Hot Docs’ Director of Programming. “Through the Made In Exile program, we urgently amplify the critical work of filmmakers and participants who, despite unimaginable challenges, continue to tell their stories and bring them to the public. These are stories of survival, courage and unyielding hope that must be heard.”

Titles in the Made In Exile program will be announced at the Hot Docs Festival 2025 Press Conference on Tuesday, March 25.

Past Made In programs have showcased the vibrant documentary traditions of countries including Spain (2024), Ukraine (2023), Chile (2022), Colombia (2021), Northern Ireland (2020), Italy (2019), Mexico (2018), Japan (2017), Australia (2016), India (2015), Denmark (2014), Poland (2013), Southeastern Europe (2012), Italy (2011), South America (2010), South Korea (2009), Mexico (2008), Brazil (2007), Japan (2006), South Africa (2004) and Taiwan (2003).

Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca), North America’s leading documentary festival, conference and market, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing and celebrating the art of documentary and to creating production opportunities for documentary filmmakers. Hot Docs will present its 32nd annual edition from April 24 to May 4, 2025, in cinemas across Toronto. Hot Docs will also mount a dynamic series of knowledge sessions, networking opportunities and market programs for documentary practitioners and industry delegates, including the renowned Hot Docs Deal Maker and Works-in-Progress screenings. Year-round, Hot Docs supports the Canadian and international industry with professional development programs and a multi-million-dollar film fund portfolio, and fosters education through documentaries with its popular free program Docs For Schools. Hot Docs owns and programs the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, a century-old landmark located in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood and the world’s first and largest documentary cinema.

Starting Tuesday, March 25, Festival ticket package holders, including Doc Soup subscribers, can redeem their ticket packages, and Hot Docs Members can purchase single tickets. Starting Tuesday, April 1, single tickets will be available to the public. Tickets and ticket packages can be purchased and/or redeemed online at www.hotdocs.ca or in person at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema Box Office, located at 506 Bloor Street West (hours vary daily in accordance with cinema screenings). Single tickets are $20 to regular Festival screenings and $23 to Special Presentations screenings ($18-$20 members). Special events vary in price. A Festival 12-Pack is $209 and a Festival 20-Pack is $299. Hot Docs offers free tickets for all screenings before 4:00 p.m. to seniors and students with valid photo I.D., available online the day of the screening, subject to availability. Free screenings for students courtesy of CBC and CBC Gem.

#HOTDOCS: HOT DOCS ANNOUNCE FEBRUARY-MARCH 2025 PROGRAMMIMG

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema has announced an exciting lineup of screenings, special events and new releases running from February 23 to March 29, 2025. Highlights include The Last Republican, a gripping new documentary on young Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, and Falls Around Her, part of the Spotlight on imagineNATIVE series celebrating Indigenous filmmaking. From anime classics to sing-alongs and thought-provoking documentaries, this season at Hot Docs Cinema delivers a diverse lineup for all audiences.

To view the Hot Docs Cinema calendar, please visit www.hotdocs.ca.

NEW RELEASE

The latest from Hollywood comedy director Steve Pink, The Last Republican delves into an unexpected rapport between Pink and young Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger.

Stick around after the screenings for a pre-recorded Q&A with the director.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Goddess of Slide: The Forgotten Story of Ellen McIlwaine pays tribute to an overlooked pioneer of slide guitar. Director Alfonso Maiorana joins for a post-screening
Q&A.

SERIES

On March 5, the Doc Soup screening series presents Who in the Hell is Regina Jones?, a documentary about the extraordinary life of Regina Jones—both shaped by history and instrumental in making it. Pregnant and married at 15, she navigated the 1965 Watts Rebellion and later became the groundbreaking publisher of Soul newspaper, cementing her legacy in American history.
Art of Anime presents Cowboy Bebop: The Movie—a visually stunning and genre-defining film that expanded the beloved anime universe and shaped Japan’s global anime scene.

Spotlight on imagineNATIVE—the new collaborative series showcasing groundbreaking films by Indigenous, First Nations, Métis and Inuit filmmakers—screens Falls Around Her, the story of a legendary Anishinaabe singer who retreats to her reserve to recharge, followed by a Q&A with director Darlene Naponse.

On March 9, Let’s Sing-Along & Shout-Along hosts a Chicago Sing-Along, a high-energy screening of the hit movie musical starring Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Mockumentary series returns with Waiting for Guffman, Christopher Guest’s hilarious cult classic.

The beloved Disney/Pixar classic Inside Out screens as part of our Relaxed Screenings series, designed to be accessible for neuro-diverse audiences. House lights remain dim, volume is lowered and audience movement is welcome.

Stitches & Scenes invites crafters to a cozy screening of A League of Their Own. Bring your knitting, crochet, or coloring books and participate in a craft supply swap before the film.

New series A Year of Austen, in celebration of the iconic author’s 250th birthday, screens Autumn DeWilde’s colourful adaptation of Emma, starring Anya Taylor-Joy.

Cinema Ticket: $15 (Members: $10, $8, FREE) *

• Unless otherwise specified.

NEW RELEASE

THE LAST REPUBLICAN
D: Steve Pink | USA | 90 min |
2024
Hollywood comedy director Steve Pink develops a surprising rapport with young Republican Congressman Adam
Kinzinger.

Stick around after the screenings for a pre-recorded Q&A with director Steve Pink, moderated by Hot Docs’ Gabor Pertic.

Friday, March 7 / 6:00 PM
Saturday, March 8 / 5:00 PM
Sunday, March 9 / 7:45 PM

SERIES & SPECIAL EVENTS

Mockumentary
WAITING FOR GUFFMAN
D: Christopher Guest | USA | 84 min |
1996

An impresario (Christopher Guest) enlists local amateurs (Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Fred Willard) to put on a show.

Sunday, February 23 / 5:45
PM

Doc Soup
WHO IN THE HELL IS REGINA JONES?
D: Billy Miossi, Soraya Sélène | USA | 99 min |
2024
The extraordinary life of Regina Jones is one not only shaped by history, but also one that made history. Pregnant and married at 15, she went straight through the middle of the 1965 Watts Rebellion, eventually emerging as the groundbreaking publisher of Soul newspaper, Jones is a testament to the American experience.

Wednesday, March 5 / 6:30 PM

• Tickets: $17 (non–member), $15.30
  (member)
• Doc Soup Subscribers and Streaming Pass holders can view online starting Thursday, March 6, in an exclusive 4-day streaming window. During this time, the film will be available on the watch.hotdocs.ca portal. Please sign in with your email and password.

Art of Anime
COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE
D: Shinichiro Watanabe | Japan | 115 min | 2001
Released in 2001, the film expands Cowboy Bebop, a visually stunning and influential anime that shaped Japan’s global anime scene.

Friday, March 7 / 9:00 PM

Relaxed Screenings
INSIDE OUT
D: Pete Docter | USA | 95 min | 2015
When 11-year-old Riley and her family move to San Francisco, her emotions guide her through the life-changing event.

Open to everyone, this screening offers a sensory friendly environment for those in the neuro-diverse community or for anyone who may benefit from a more informal viewing atmosphere.

• Throughout the screening, house lights will remain on a low level and the volume will be slightly turned down.
• No trailers will be shown.
• Audience members will be free to move around, leave the theatre, or take a break in a designated “quiet” area.
  View the venue guide to the Cinema. For any questions or requests, contact our box office.

Relaxed Screenings are supported by Warner Bros. Discovery Access.

Saturday, March 8 / 2:00 PM

Special Event
TWILIGHT FANGIRL PICTURE SHOW
D: Catherine Hardwicke | USA | 122 min | 2008
The Twilight Fangirl Picture Show is back and more chaotic than ever! Relive the vampire romance that sparked a generation of fangirls and queer awakenings in a theatre full of fellow Twihards.

Hosted by Carley Thorne and Ben Sosa-Wright.

Saturday, March 8 / 9:00 PM
*Tickets: $20 / Members: $15

Special Screening
GODDESS OF SLIDE: THE FORGOTTEN STORY OF ELLEN MCILWAINE
D: Alfonso Maiorana | Canada | 96 min | 2024
An intimate look at a largely forgotten pioneer performer whose lengthy career deserves a place in music history.

Stick around after the film for a Q&A with director Alfonso Maiorana.

Sunday, March 9 / 12:30 PM

Let’s Sing-Along & Shout-Along
CHICAGO SING-ALONG
D: Rob Marshall | USA | 103 min | 2002
Gather your fellow merry murderesses and join Hot Docs Cinema and sing along—and all that jazz—to the hit movie musical.

Sunday, March 9 / 4:30 PM

Stitches & Scenes
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
D: Penny Marshall | USA | 128 min | 1992
Stay warm this winter with a cozy craft-along screening of A League of Their Own, the inspiring story of WWII’s all-women baseball league!

The film will be played with house lights on for the duration of the film. Guests can bring their own portable crafting lamps for extra light.

BYOC—Bring your own craft: crochet, knitting, or a colouring book.

Don’t forget reusable cups and containers for a 10% discount on non-alcoholic beverages and popcorn.

Arrive early to participate in a craft supply swap! Have a ball of yarn you haven’t thought about in ages? Paint you bought for that one project you never got around to using? Give your new or lightly used craft supplies a new life and swap them for something old but new to you. Supplies left over at the end of the event will be donated to Creative Reuse Toronto.

Saturday, March 15 / 4:00 PM

Truth and Dare
SO UNREAL
D: Amanda Kramer | USA | 101 min | 2023
Debbie Harry narrates this historical examination and philosophical exploration of cyberspace cinema from 1981 to 2001.

Join us before the screening to receive a wild zine specially designed for the event AND catch a screening of the locally-made short film T-POSE: To Dance With One’s Hands, directed by Steven Sych.

Stick around after the screening for a Q&A with director Amanda Kramer.

Presented with community partner Insomniac Film Festival.

Saturday, March 15 / 8:30 PM

A Year of Austen
EMMA
D: Autumn de Wilde | UK | 124 min | 2020
Autumn de Wilde paints Austen’s signature humour, romance and social critique with bold colours and a whimsical score.

Sunday, March 23 / 4:00 PM

Spotlight on ImagineNATIVE
FALLS AROUND HER
D: Darlene Naponse | Canada | 100 min | 2018
A legendary Anishinaabe singer retreats to her reserve to recharge, but fame and the outside world refuse to let go.

Join director Darlene Naponse and Hot Docs’ director of programming, Heather Haynes, for a post-screening Q&A.

Saturday, March 29 / 3:00 PM
*Free for members

Owned and operated by Hot Docs, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing and celebrating the art of documentary, Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is the world’s largest documentary cinema. A historic, century-old landmark located in Toronto’s vibrant Annex neighbourhood, the Cinema is a year-round home for non-fiction film and storytelling, presenting first-run international and Canadian documentaries, curated film and speakers series, signature events including Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Hot Docs Podcast Festival and Curious Minds Weekend, as well as hosting for some of the city’s premier festivals and events. Since assuming management in 2012, Hot Docs has screened over 1,425 films to audiences of more than 1.3 million. In 2016, a generous $5-million donation from Rogers Foundation enabled Hot Docs to purchase venue.

#FIRSTLOOK: HOT DOCS TED ROGERS CINEMA PRESENT “A WEEKEND WITH BOB MACKIE”

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is thrilled to present A Weekend with Bob Mackie, a two-day celebration honouring the life, artistry and immense cultural impact of the iconic American designer who brought sparkle to the worlds of fashion and entertainment. On January 18 and 19, 2025, the Cinema will screen the Canadian Premiere of the enthralling new documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion (Matthew Miele | USA | 105 min. | 2024), offering unprecedented access into Mackie’s world and delving into his unique upbringing and the pivotal relationships that shaped his life and career. Both screenings will feature exclusive and insightful Q&As with Mr. Mackie and Joe McFate, who has served as Bob Mackie’s Design Director for over 26 years.

Bob Mackie is a legendary American costume and fashion designer whose illustrious career spans over six decades. Known for his daring, innovative designs, Mackie has dressed some of the world’s most iconic entertainers, including Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Elton John, Miley Cyrus, P!nk, Tina Turner and Zendaya. His creations have left an indelible mark on both fashion and entertainment, from stage and television to film and the red carpet. With nine Emmy Awards, three Oscar nominations, and a Tony Award for his work on The Cher Show on Broadway, Mackie’s work continues to inspire and influence generations of designers, performers and fans around the world.

Directed by Matthew Miele, the acclaimed director behind Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s (2013) and Always at The Carlyle (2018), Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion showcases the six-decade career of the award-winning costume and fashion designer. And like his costumes, Bob Mackie is wholly unique and unfiltered, which makes for a compelling and candid subject. The film examines Bob’s unique upbringing, those whom he has held dear within his inner circle, and the familial surprises in his life that have all contributed to the optimism and audacity present in his work.

The film gives access to the full Bob Mackie archive, which has been meticulously kept and curated with many rare and unseen artifacts, including the outfits that didn’t make the cut. It also captures the over-the-top costumes as they get sequined and beaded from sketch to stage. Specific highlights include some of the soon-to-be lost art methods by old-world artisans that help make each outfit Mackie conjures something to behold and remember.

Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion includes original interviews with Bob Mackie clients and collaborators, along with those he has inspired—designers, stylists, comedians and actors—as well as Mackie’s first-person account of some of his most iconic looks from The Carol Burnett Show’s Scarlett O’Hara dress to Cher’s 1986 Academy Awards look and Tina Turner’s iconic concert costumes. Bob Mackie is a truly peerless and timeless designer, with interviews from Cher to Pink, to Tom Ford and Miley Cyrus, to RuPaul and Carol Burnett a testament to that fact.

A CONVERSATION WITH BOB MACKIE: NAKED ILLUSION
D: Matthew Miele | USA | 105 min | 2024
Bob Mackie, a six-decade costume and fashion designer, received the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award and Tony nomination for The Cher Show. His unique, unfiltered style has been showcased in a new documentary.

Saturday, January 18 / 7:00 PM
Sunday, January 19 / 2:00 PM

Tickets for Hot Docs Members will be available starting Tuesday, December 17, at 1 PM, with sales opening to the general public on Thursday, December 19, at 1 PM.

To buy tickets and learn more, please visit www.hotdocs.ca

#FIRSTLOOK: HOT DOCS TED ROGERS CINEMA RESUMES PROGRAMMING RESUMES DECEMBER 4, 2024

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is delighted to unveil its December lineup, featuring an exciting collection of docs from some of the world’s most compelling filmmakers. This diverse program is set to captivate audiences with powerful stories that span a wide range of themes: from Ali Weinstein’s poignant look at the final days of Ontario Place in Your Tomorrow, to Errol Morris’ in-depth examination of the family separation crisis in the U.S. in Separated.

“We are deeply excited to reopen our cinema, where the magic of storytelling comes alive through Canadian and international films that connect with our valued audiences,” shared Heather Haynes, Hot Docs’ Director of Programming. “With a lineup of award-winning documentaries ready to inspire and engage, we invite you to share in the joy of experiencing these films on the big screen, surrounded by a community of passionate viewers. Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is more than just a venue; it’s a home for our documentary family, a place where stories unite us and foster connection. We can’t wait to welcome you back for this extraordinary journey.”

To view the full December 2024 calendar, please visit www.hotdocs.ca

PREMIERES

Premiering at Hot Docs Cinema in December: Your Tomorrow, Ali Weinstein’s new film documenting the final days of Toronto’s iconic modernist waterfront park, Ontario Place.
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2024 presents the best international ads of the year on the big screen.

SERIES

Season 2024-25 of Doc Soup—Toronto’s best-loved film series showcasing premieres of the hottest documentaries fresh off the international Festival circuit, including lively post-screening Q&As with directors and other special guests—will launch on December 4 with the world premiere of Play it Loud! – How Toronto Got Soul, the little-known story of how Jamaican music became a critical part of Canadian culture. The December 4 screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Graeme Mathieson, musician Jay Douglas and producer Andrew Munger. The December 7 screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Graeme Mathieson and film subject Everton Pablo Paul. Both sessions will be moderated by Heather Haynes, Hot Docs’ Director of Programming.

For Viola, Hot Docs screening series centering Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC)-led stories and filmmakers, named in honour of Canadian civil rights icon Viola Desmond, returns on December 13 with a free screening of Seeking Mavis Beacon, an investigation into the disappearance of one of the most influential Black women in technology. The screening will be followed by a conversation with director Jazmin Jones and co-collaborator Olivia McKayla Ross, moderated by Toronto-based critic and curator Saffron Maeve.

Hot Docs Cinema is your one-stop destination to catch all the most talked-about docs of this awards season. The Hottest Docs series features screenings of Separated, where Academy Award-winning filmmaker Errol Morris delves into the harrowing chapter of family separations in recent American history; Daughters, which follows four young girls preparing for the first-ever father/daughter dance in a Washington, DC jail; Zurawski v Texas, a powerful story of women denied abortions joining forces with a fearless attorney to challenge the state of Texas and reclaim their rights and reproductive futures; Will & Harper, featuring Will Ferrell on a heartfelt road trip with his friend Harper after she comes out as a trans woman; Hollywoodgate, which explores the Taliban’s occupation of the Hollywood Gate complex, said to be a former CIA base in Kabul; Black Box Diaries, documenting journalist Shiori Ito’s landmark legal battle as she takes on one of Japan’s most powerful institutions to prosecute her high-profile assailant; Porcelain War, showcasing three Ukrainian artists who continue to create amidst defending Kharkiv from Russian attacks; Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, Raoul Peck’s compelling portrait of Ernest Cole, one of South Africa’s pioneering Black freelance photographers; Queendom, in which a queer, 21-year-old artist risks her life performing in surreal costumes throughout Moscow, in defiance of Russia’s anti-LGBTQ laws; and A New Kind of Wilderness, where a family embarks on a journey to live a free, untamed life on a small farm in the Norwegian forest. Select screenings include a live or pre-recorded director Q&A.

Get into the holiday spirit at Hot Docs Cinema! The 2024 Festive Favourites series will showcase cherished classics, including White Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Die Hard and a special The Polar Express PJ party. Tickets to all screenings are $7.50, except for Die Hard ($15.00) and donations of cash or non-perishable food item in support of the Spadina-Fort York Community Care are welcome. The December 14 screening of White Christmas is free for Hot Docs members.

Back to the Bloor revisits the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema’s most recent previous incarnation, when from 1980-2010 it was known as the Bloor Cinema, screening multi-month holdover hits, cult and midnight movie madness and mainstay classics. In December and January, Back to the Bloor will screen Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, School of Rock, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Godzilla (1954).

SPECIAL EVENTS

Hot Docs Cinema and A24’s residency of Stop Making Sense—the “greatest concert film of all time”—returns in December, featuring some of Talking Head’s most memorable songs.

La Vie Boheme! On December 8, Hot Docs Cinema will present an electrifying sing-along screening of Rent, the Chris Columbus vibrant adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s legendary Broadway musical.
Ring in the New Year with the Dude! Hot Docs Cinema invites audiences to one of their most hallowed and wildest cinema traditions: the eight annual Dude’s New Year’s event featuring The Big Lebowski!
BTS ARMY alert! On December 27, Hot Docs Cinema presents a one-night-only screening of RM: Right People, Wrong Place, a new candid documentary that delves into the life of BTS’ leader RM as he navigates global stardom while working on his second solo album, offering an intimate glimpse into his creative journey across multiple cities.

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

PREMIERES

Premiere
YOUR TOMORROW
D: Ali Weinstein | Canada | 96 min | 2024
With Toronto’s iconic modernist waterfront park, Ontario Place, set to close for redevelopment, an eccentric yet lovable group of park regulars and staff members live out its last year open to the public while confronting its controversial transformation into a private spa and waterpark.

The Friday, December 6 screening will be followed by an insightful Q&A with director Ali Weinstein, producer Geoff Morrison, birder Francesca Bouaoun, activist and politician Norm Di Pasquale and professor and swimmer Steve Mann. The session will be moderated by Hot Docs’ Director of Programming, Heather Haynes.

Opens Friday, December 6

Premiere
CANNES LIONS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY 2024
105 min | 2024
Ads are art, and these ones will knock your socks off. Check out the best of the best of the 2024 Cannes Lions Festival. Prepare to be persuaded!
Opens Saturday, December 21

THE HOTTEST DOCS

The Hottest Docs
SEPARATED
D: Errol Morris | USA, Mexico | 93 min | 2024
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Errol Morris incisively probes the darkest chapter in recent American history: family separations.

The Sunday, December 8 screening will be followed by a virtual Q&A with American journalist Jacob Soboroff, a regular correspondent for MSNBC and NBC News, and the author of Separated: Inside an American Tragedy. The session will be moderated by Heather Haynes, Hot Docs’ Director of Programming.

Saturday, December 7 / 2:30 PM
Sunday, December 8 / 7:00 PM

The Hottest Docs
DAUGHTERS
D: Angela Patton, Natalie Rae | USA | 108 min | 2024
Daughters follows the lives of four young girls who prepare for the first ever father/daughter dance in a jail in Washington, DC. What unfolds is an intimate portrayal of childhood that is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

WINNER – Audience Award, US Documentary, Sundance 2024; Festival Favourite, Sundance 2024; Knight Documentary Award, Miami Film Festival 2024

Saturday, December 14 / 12:00 PM

The Hottest Docs
ZURAWSKI V TEXAS
D: Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault | USA | 98 min | 2024
A group of women denied abortions, even at the brink of death, band together with a fearless attorney to sue the state of Texas in an extraordinary effort to regain their rights and reproductive futures—not only for themselves but millions of others.

Saturday, December 14 / 6:30 PM
Sunday, December 15 / 6:00 PM

The Hottest Docs
WILL & HARPER
D: Josh Greenbaum | USA | 114 min | 2024
When Will Ferrell’s good friend Harper comes out as a trans woman, they take a road trip to bond and reintroduce Harper to the country as her true self.

Sunday, December 15 / 3:00 PM

The Hottest Docs
HOLLYWOODGATE
D: Ibrahim Nash’at | Germany, USA | 91 min | 2024
Immediately after the US withdraws from Afghanistan, the Taliban occupied the “Hollywood Gate” complex, claimed to be a former CIA base in Kabul. The Taliban finds countless aircrafts, weapons and pieces of military equipment. Over one year, HOLLYWOODGATE shows the transformation of an extremist militia into a military regime.
WINNER – Full Frame Grand Jury Award, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2024; Golden Eye Award, Zurich Film Festival 2023

Both screenings of the film will be followed by an insightful pre-recorded Q&A with director Ibrahim Nash’at, moderated by Hot Docs Festival Programmer Aisha Jamal.

Friday, December 20 / 9:15 PM
Sunday, December 22 / 3:00 PM

The Hottest Docs
BLACK BOX DIARIES
D: Shiori Ito | Japan, USA, UK | 104 min | 2024
Journalist Shiori Ito takes on one of the most powerful institutions in Japan to prosecute her high-profile sexual assailant in a landmark legal case. Using personal footage and hidden cameras, Ito puts it all on the line for justice.
WINNER – Human:Rights Award, CPH:DOX 2024; Special Jury Award, San Francisco International Film Festival

Saturday, December 21 / 5:30 PM
Sunday, December 22 / 6:00 PM

The Hottest Docs
PORCELAIN WAR
D: Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev | Ukraine, USA, Australia | 87 min | 2024
Why would anyone craft fragile ceramics in an active war zone? Three Ukrainians, fighting as both soldiers and artists, offer up an unexpected dispatch from the front lines. Creativity combats destruction in this gorgeous Sundance Best US Documentary award-winner.
WINNER – Grand Jury Prize, Best US Documentary, Sundance 2024; Best Documentary, SIFF 2024

Friday, December 27 / 5:30 PM
Sunday, December 29 / 3:00 PM

The Hottest Docs
ERNEST COLE: LOST AND FOUND
D: Raoul Peck | France, USA | 105 min | 2024
Ernest Cole was the first Black freelance photographer in South Africa, whose early pictures laid bare the injustices of apartheid for a world audience. Cole was exiled to the US, where his experiences were far from his expectations of the American Dream.
WINNER—L’Oeil d’Or, Cannes 2024

Friday, January 3 / 6:00 PM
Sunday, January 5 / 3:30 PM

The Hottest Docs
QUEENDOM
D: Brett Story, Stephen Maing | USA | 104 min | 2024
In defiance of Russia’s anti-LGBTQ laws, a queer, 21-year-old artist risks her life performing in surreal costumes throughout Moscow. Jenna Marvin’s radical public performances blend artistry and activism in this SXSW documentary.
WINNER – CPH:DOX Next:Wave Award 2023
Saturday, January 4 / 3:00 PM
Sunday, January 5 / 6:30 PM

The Hottest Docs
A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS
D: Silje Evensmo Jacobsen | Norway | 84 min | 2024
On a small farm in the Norwegian forest, a family seeks a wild free existence. However, after a tragic event changes everything, they are forced from their idyllic farm and into the expectations of modern society.
WINNER—Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema, Documentary, Sundance 2024

Friday, January 10 / 6:00 PM
Saturday, January 11 / 5:00 PM

The Hottest Docs
UNION
D: Brett Story, Stephen Maing | USA | 104 min | 2024
The Amazon Labor Union (ALU)—a group of current and former Amazon workers on New York City’s Staten Island—takes on one of the world’s largest and most powerful companies in the fight to unionize.

The January 11 screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Brett Story, moderated by Hot Docs’ Director of Programming, Heather Haynes.
Saturday, January 11 / 8:00 PM
Sunday, January 12 / 12:00 PM

FESTIVE FAVOURITES
Tickets: $7.50 for all films in this series except Die Hard.
Please bring a donation of cash or non-perishable food item to support Spadina-Fort York Community Care.

Festive Favourites
WHITE CHRISTMAS
D: Michael Curtiz | USA | 120 min | 1954
A successful song-and-dance team (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) become romantically involved with a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.

Saturday, December 14 / 3:15 PM
*Free for members

Festive Favourites
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL
D: Brian Henson | USA | 85 min | 1992
The Muppets’ rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic tale puts a unique twist on that fateful Christmas Eve, when Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

Sunday, December 15 / 12:00 PM

Festive Favourites
THE POLAR EXPRESS – PJ PARTY
D: Robert Zemeckis | USA | 99 min | 2004
When a doubting young boy takes a train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Friday, December 20 / 6:30 PM

Festive Favourites
DIE HARD
D: John McTiernan | USA | 131 min | 1988
Die Hard is an iconic 1980s action movie starring Bruce Willis as a rogue cop who must save a building full of hostages shortly before Christmas.
Saturday, December 21 / 9:00 PM

BACK TO THE BLOOR
Tickets: $7.50

Back to the Bloor
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
D: Edgar Wright | USA, UK, Canada, Japan | 112 min | 2010
In a magically realistic version of Toronto, a young man must defeat his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes one by one in order to win her heart.
Saturday, December 28 / 9:00 PM

Back to the Bloor
SCHOOL OF ROCK
D: Richard Linklater | USA | 108 min | 2003
After being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band.

Sunday, December 29 / 12:00 PM

Back to the Bloor
BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY
D: Sharon Maguire | UK | 96 min | 2001
Bridget Jones is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary.

Friday, January 3 / 9:00 PM

Back to the Bloor
GODZILLA (1954)
D: Ishirō Honda | Japan | 98 min | 1954
Underwater hydrogen bomb testing awakens a fire-breathing monster from its centuries-long sleep, and it soon starts to terrorise Japan.
Saturday, January 4 / 9:00 PM

SPECIAL EVENTS

Doc Soup
DOC SOUP: PLAY IT LOUD! – HOW TORONTO GOT SOUL
D: Graeme Mathieson | Canada | 85 min | 2023
The little-known story of how Jamaican music became a critical and unlikely part of Canadian culture.
Recipient of Hot Docs-Slaight Family Fund.

The Wednesday, December 4 screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Graeme Mathieson, musician Jay Douglas and producer Andrew Munger. The Saturday, December 7 screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Graeme Mathieson and film subject Everton Pablo Paul. Both sessions will be moderated by Heather Haynes, Hot Docs’ Director of Programming.

Wednesday, December 4 / 6:30 PM
Saturday, December 7 / 8:00 PM
*Doc Soup Subscribers and Streaming Pass holders can view online starting Thursday, December 5, in an exclusive 4-day streaming window. During this time, the film will be available on the watch.hotdocs.ca portal. Please sign in with your email and password.

Special Event
RENT SING-ALONG
D: Chris Columbus | USA | 135 min | 2005
In New York City’s gritty East Village, a group of bohemians strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic.

Sunday, December 8 / 3:15 PM

For Viola
FOR VIOLA: SEEKING MAVIS BEACON (FREE SCREENING)
D: Jazmin Jones | USA | 102 min | 2024
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing taught millions globally how to type, but the software’s Haitian-born cover model vanished decades ago. Two detectives search for Beacon, revealing questions about identity and AI along the way.

The screening will be followed by a lively conversation with director Jazmin Jones and co-collaborator Olivia McKayla Ross, moderated by Toronto-based critic and curator Saffron Maeve.

Friday, December 13 / 7:00 PM
*While this screening is presented free of charge, please consider a donation of $10 in recognition of the value of the work presented, and in honour of Viola Desmond, featured on the $10 banknote, at checkout. Half the proceeds will be shared directly with the filmmakers, who also receive screening fees.

Special Event
RM: RIGHT PEOPLE, WRONG PLACE
D: Seok-jun Lee | South Korea | 80 min | 2024
A candid documentary that delves into the life of BTS’ leader RM as he navigates global stardom while working on his second solo album, offering an intimate glimpse into his creative journey across multiple cities.

Friday, December 27 / 9:00 PM
*Doors will open one hour early at the Friday, December 27 screening for a BTS fan meetup.

Special Event
STOP MAKING SENSE – A24 RESIDENCY
D: Jonathan Demme | USA | 88 min | 1984
Newly restored in 4K to coincide with its 40th anniversary, this 1984 film is considered by many critics to be the greatest concert film of all time and is a long-held institution at the Hot Docs/Bloor Cinema. Shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater in December of 1983, Stop Making Sense also features some of Talking Heads’ most memorable songs.

Saturday, December 28 / 5:30 PM

Special Event
THE BIG LEBOWSKI: THE DUDE’S NEW YEAR
D: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen | USA, UK | 117 min | 1998
Join us for one of our most hallowed and wildest cinema traditions: the eight annual Dude’s New Year’s event featuring The Big Lebowski!

Tuesday, December 31 / 8:00 PM
*Tickets: $20 (Members: $15)

#HOTDOCS: HOT DOCS ANNOUNCE UPCOMING 2025 UPDATES

Hot Docs is pleased to announce dates for its 2025 Festival, the gradual resumption of programming at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, and the organization’s plan forward. After an intensive period of cost-cutting measures and stabilization efforts, program assessments and internal restructuring, Hot Docs will resume operations. Over the past four months, the Hot Docs team has worked tirelessly to address the organization’s financial challenges and governance issues, and significant progress has been made to stabilize the organization and establish a solid foundation for a sustainable path forward.

“We are absolutely thrilled to share this news,” said Hot Docs’ Interim Executive Director, Janice Dawe. “We are grateful to our steadfast sponsors, donors and public sector stakeholders whose outpouring of support has given us the confidence to move forward. We would not be in this position if it weren’t for these champions of Hot Docs – from the individual donors who gave during our spring campaign, to the incredibly gracious donors who converted their designated gifts to operational support and to the many elected officials at all levels of government who are standing up for culture and working diligently to help secure funding.”

In September, Hot Docs announced the limited reopening of Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema after a summer closure necessitated by the organization’s financial challenges. Today’s announcements follow that positive first step and are made with confidence that Hot Docs will continue to deliver on its mission to support documentary filmmakers and showcase their work in the upcoming year, as it has done for the past three decades.

The 32nd annual Hot Docs Festival will take place April 24 to May 4, 2025, in Toronto. Festival Programming Director Heather Haynes will lead the curation of an outstanding lineup of more than 100 documentaries from Canada and around the world. Submissions are now open at hotdocs.ca/submit.

Industry programs offered at the Festival are currently being planned to prioritize intimate networking opportunities, meaningful knowledge sharing and impactful market initiatives. Details will be announced later this month.

Hot Docs thanks the Festival’s major sponsors, foundations, arts councils and government agencies who have unanimously expressed their desire for the event’s return, many of whom, including Founding Partner Rogers, have already confirmed their support for the 2025 edition.

Hot Docs will gradually resume its own programming season at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema starting on Wednesday, December 4, with the launch of the long-running and much-loved Doc Soup screening series, which features premieres of new documentaries hot off the festival circuit and post-screening Q&As with guest directors. The series opener will be announced later this month, and subscriptions will go on sale in the coming weeks.

In addition to Doc Soup and first-run documentaries, audiences can expect the return of many popular curated series and special events.

Hot Docs’ Board of Directors have taken significant steps to address governance issues and prepare the organization for new executive leadership to guide it through this next phase. After scaling down to a three-person working board in June to more efficiently address the organization’s challenges, the Board is actively planning to rebuild its membership this winter. Additionally, the Board is excited to announce the initiation of recruitment efforts for a permanent Executive Director to lead Hot Docs into its next chapter. The Board is dedicated to ensuring that the organization takes the right steps during this process to identify an individual who will not only excel in leadership but also resonate with our mission and community. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

While today’s announcements reflect the team’s incredible work to stabilize Hot Docs, confidently reopen the Cinema and deliver the 2025 Festival, the organization is still working through two years of operating deficits, the majority of which can be attributed to the ownership and operation of the Cinema. As part of its longer-term rebuilding strategy, Hot Docs has decided to seek a new owner for its Cinema at 506 Bloor West and secure a lease-back arrangement that will allow programming at the Cinema to continue. The organization is actively seeking a buyer who values cultural spaces and creative enterprise, and who demonstrates a commitment to the legacy of the Cinema as a vital hub in the city.

“Owning the Cinema for the past 12 years has been an incredible opportunity for Hot Docs, allowing us to expand our reach and impact and those of the stories we’ve showcased on our screen,” said Nicolas de Pencier, co-chair of Hot Docs’ Board of Directors. “But current financial conditions—including rising interest rates and the post-pandemic recovery of audiences—have made it extremely challenging. We’re confident that finding the right buyer will allow us to refocus on our mission to support documentary filmmakers and continue to celebrate their work at the Cinema and Festival, while also addressing our deficit and ensuring our long-term viability.”

Hot Docs’ history with the Cinema has been one of collaboration and cultural impact, and this next phase presents an exciting opportunity for a new owner to join in supporting the continued success of the venue. The organization remains committed to securing a future that balances its mission and the community’s needs, while ensuring a sustainable foundation for the years to come.

#SPOTTED: KEVIN KWAN IN TORONTO AT HOT DOCS TED ROGERS CINEMA FOR “LIES & WEDDINGS”

What a pleasure hearing KEVIN KWAN speak as part of Hot Docs’ Curious Minds & Author Talks series, in celebration of Asian Heritage Month. You know Kwan as the genius who penned the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, plus Sex and Vanity which soon will be made into a movie via Sony Pictures. He just released his latest, LIES & WEDDINGS and spoke with Shinan Govani about the Novel centering on Rufus Leung Gresham, a bachelor of pedigree and eligibility who has inherited a pile of debt, with his scheming mother Arabella plotting to pair him with a wealthy women to resolve the problem.

Kwan also dished a little on the upcoming Crazy Rich Asians musical, TV series set in its universe, plus also the eagerly-awaited second film in the Franchise.

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(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)