#HOTDOCS: “ANTIDIVA: THE CAROLE POPE CONFESSIONS” OPENS HOT DOCS 2026

Hitting select Canadian theatres this summer and premiering on documentary Channel, Sunday, July 19. 2026 at 9 pm ET, and on CBC Gem Friday, July 24.

DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY: Michelle Mama
PRODUCED BY: Michelle Mama, Bill Taylor, Allison Grace

Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions is a raw, rollicking portrait of Carole Pope—music icon, provocateur, and queer trailblazer whose fearless voice and unapologetic sexuality reshaped rock ‘n’ roll. From the underground grit of 1970s Toronto to opening for David Bowie, Pope’s incendiary lyrics and magnetic presence shattered expectations of what a woman, let alone a lesbian, could be onstage.

More than a music doc, Antidiva is a time capsule of queer resistance and chosen family, charting Pope’s creative symbiosis with Kevan Staples, her complicated relationships, and the bittersweet realities of aging in an industry that sidelines outsiders. Through archival treasure, electrifying performances, and present-day vérité, director Michelle Mama captures Pope’s contradictions: tough yet tender, jaded yet vibrantly alive.

Featuring k.d. lang, Peaches, Jann Arden, and Rufus Wainwright, Antidiva stands as a battle cry for self-expression, queer joy, and the artists who refuse to be tamed.

Commissioned by documentary Channel, Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions is a GAY AGENDA film in association with Here’s The Thing Productions, with distribution by Motion 58. The film was made possible with the support of the Canada Media Fund POV Program, the Ontario Creates Film Fund, the Hot Docs-Slaight Family Fund, Telefilm Canada Theatrical Documentary Program and the Rogers Documentary Fund, in association with CBC and documentary Channel.

About Motion 58 Entertainment
Motion 58 Entertainment, led by Josh Epstein and Kyle Rideout, is Canada’s newest film distributor specializing in bold storytelling and high-concept event cinema. With roots in production, the company’s credits include Eadweard, Adventures in Public School, and the upcoming Firesky. Motion 58’s first theatrical releases include the VIFF Audience Choice winner Angela’s Shadow and the Hot Docs opening night film Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions which is set to hit theatres this summer.