Running in Toronto April 25 to May 5, 2024 the 2024 HOT DOCS Festival is back, now in its 31st edition. The Festival not only is one of the World’s premiere Documentary Film Festivals, it is also highlighted by an array of events including a dynamic series of knowledge sessions, networking opportunities and market programs for documentary practitioners and industry delegates, including the renowned Hot Docs Forum and Hot Docs Deal Maker.
This year, 168 Documentary Filmmakers are expected to introduce their work at the Festival including the likes of Peaches, Sash Simpson, Valerie Simpson, Lucy Lawless, Thelma Schoonmaker and several more! Priyanka Chopra-Jonas produced BORN HUNGRY also premieres at the Festival this year.
HOT DOCS ‘24 boasts 168 documentaries representing 64 countries across 16 diverse programs and will feature 51 world and 32 international premieres.
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 in Toronto.
Our Justin Waldman (@DubsReviews) attends this year’s Festival and gives us his Top Five picks, in addition to sharing some reviews of some key titles!
From Justin:
There are so many great Documentaries to see this year at the Hot Docs festival but there are a handful of titles that certainly standout more than others. While the Nightvision program (usually the most disturbing documentaries or the most out of the box, though there are exceptions) isnât the typical midnight fare this year but two of the three titles in the program certainly have peaked my personal interest. With plenty of being shown throughout the Festival, I am going to dive into my top five most intriguing docs (with one recommendation of something Iâve covered) for the upcoming HOT DOCS ’24 in no particular order.
Some Reviews ahead of the Festival:
The most wonderful time of the year, or so the saying goes. December is supposedly a time of joy, love, gifts, whimsical magic and so forth. Of course, this only really applies if youâre of the Christian faith and celebrate Christmas, but for director Ken Wardrop that is the focus of their documentary, So This is Christmas. The documentary focuses on a small Irish village and a handful of residents and their relationship with the Criss Cringle holiday.
The dark side of holidays that no one ever seems to focus on is what Ken Wardrop decides to focus on in So This is Christmas. We get to see the stories of five individuals, all of which have a very difficult relationship with the holiday. While their stories are told and interweaved with the Christmas scenery and exploration, however these five people truly do not like the holiday and certainly do not have the joy that the holiday typically evokes. Whether the stories the audiences are told are tales of tragic loss or just horrific circumstances, So This is Chirstmas will have the audience re-examine not only how they celebrate the holiday but the meaning of Christmas itself.
Ken Wardrop crafts a story that not only is going to captivate the audience but also ensure that they take a more appropriate look at the holiday season. While some people celebrate the holiday season, and the Christmas cheer others have a difficult relationship with the holiday and thusly creates an uncomfortable and difficult time of year for those.
So This is Christmas screens at the HOT DOCS ’24 on Tuesday, April 30th at 8:15 pm at TIFF Lightbox and Thursday, May 2nd at 4:45 pm at Scotiabank Theatre.
When creating a Documentary on a subject/person that has been done often and has had plenty of spotlight on the subject it is rather a daunting task and difficult to do something new and provide new light to said subject. Larry Weinstein was tasked with creating a documentary on Beethoven and specifically his Ninth, amply titled Beethovenâs Nine: Ode to Humanity, a play on the ode to joy. While the documentary doesnât singularly focus on Beethoven himself or the ninth itself but rather the impact of the legendary piece of music and how it is managed to stand the tale of time over the last 200 years.
Focusing on Beethovenâs Nine from legendary comic creators to psychologists, Weinsteinâs documentary focuses on how the music has carried a significant cultural impact over the past two centuries. With stories interwoven across different cultural moments and world issues, we see the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra perform the piece, and we also see Director Larry Weinstein breakdown the piece and the fourth wall in regard to the current situation in Israel and his personal connection to that story. He focuses on explaining how to separate art from life and the significance that Beethoven brings to the cultural zeitgeist.
Beethovenâs Nine: Ode to Humanity may not be the Documentary expected from audiences, but instead delivers a beautiful story of triumph and art that has defined generations. The cultural significance of the Ninth and how it has brought people together, helped them face adversity, and bring them an âOde to Joyâ is truly captured in Weinsteinâs Documentary which similarly to Beethovenâs Ninth will transcend audiences for centuries to come.
Beethovenâs Nine: Ode to Humanity screens at HOT DOCS ’24 with screenings on Sunday, April 28th at 5:15 at the TIFF Lightbox, Tuesday, April 30th at 11:30 at the TIFF Lightbox, and Saturday, May 4th at 2:15 at Scotiabank Theatre.
Alfredo Pourailly De La Plaza brings one of the most inspiring and heartbreaking Documentaries to audiences this year, with his The Fabulous Gold Harvesting Machine. With a title like that it may be easy to think this is a Documentary of something whimsical and fantastical, and while in part of its essence it is, but at its core the true heart of the story is looking at a broken system, a son who doesnât want to watch his father suffer, and a passion for life and willingness to live that cannot go unmatched; true determination and perseverance brings this machine to new heights and levels.
The Film focuses on Toto as heâs in his 60s and has been working in the mines for the past 40 years and explaining in the town of Tierra Del Fuego in Chile, there arenât many miners left. His car â similarly to his health â is in disarray but keeps on pushing through, even though they both need lots of fixes and eventually wonât be able to continue. His son, Jorge, cannot watch his father continue this way any further, and Toto doesnât qualify for social assistance, so he creates an invention, a gold harvesting machine that he hopes can help his father so he can continue to live without the extra continuous strain on his body.
The Fabulous Gold Harvesting Machine is a story of triumph and the power of a good, healthy father-son relationship. De La Plaza brings a levity to such a serious story and by capturing the earnest feelings between Toto and Jorge along with his wonderful contraption and idea creates a moving documentary that is sure to capture the hearts of its audience and bring a powerful story of perseverance and love to the forefront.
The Fabulous Gold Harvesting Machine screens at the HOT DOCS ’24 on Sunday, April 28th at 4:00 pm at the Scotiabank Theatre and again on Tuesday, April 30th at 8:30 pm at the Scotiabank Theatre.
First-time feature Director Hamoody Jaafar takes risks with making their Documentary on the River Rouge High School Panthers basketball team, a team that at one point was one of the most successful high school basketball teams in the United States. 70 years later from their triumphant run, a former player returns to the scene and wants to coach the team to help them achieve another state championship. While the story is inspiring and aspirational, the documentary aspect of it almost feels lost. It feels like a well crafted Hollywood-ized story of overcoming the odds and defying the chances to achieve what a once prosperous team back to their glory. It works incredibly well, but the guise of a documentary feels lost, even though it is one.
Rouge focuses on LaMonta Stone â the former player who returns to bring the team back to the championship dance and some of the student players consisting of Legend Geeter, Brent Darby Jr and Ahmoni Weston. Not only does the Documentary focus on creating a world for the audience to get lost in and route for the underdogs to regain the glory they once held and create a world for of hope that this team can claim another championship. But it also focuses on the troubles and tribulations of being a pre college athlete, fighting for scholarships, what life brings after the games over and the things that people donât always think about when thinking about student athletes. It offers an inside look that usually gets ignored and explores the chaos that resides off the court.
Hamoody Jafar captures the story of the River Rouge Panthers and the past, present and the future of some of their current players. It does so in a way that does not feel like a Documentary, as it focuses more on the team being the best team they can be rather than the trials and tribulations of what happens off the court and after they graduate. While it may not be feel traditional the story is exceptional and is bound to capture the heart of their audience.
Rouge screens at the HOT DOCS ’24 on Sunday, April 28th at 8:15 pm at the TIFF Lightbox and Tuesday, April 30th at 5:30 at the TIFF Lightbox.
More Reviews to come, please check back soon.
Hot Docs is thrilled to welcome acclaimed doc filmmakers and intriguing subjects to its 2024 Festival, taking place in Toronto April 25 to May 5, 2024. Special guests include legendary Academy Award-winning film editor Thelma Schoonmaker, celebrated actress Emmanuelle BĂ©art, iconic Canadian electroclash musician Peaches, Full Frontal with Samantha Beeâs Amy Hoggart, decorated Estonian Olympic freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru, founder of SiriusXM Satellite Radio Martine Rothblatt, Canadian Chef Sash Simpson, Ashford & Simpsonâs Valerie Simpson, author Staceyann Chin, and more.
The 2024 Festival will also host over 168 of the worldâs 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.
Amber Forte from FLY (D: Shaul Schwarz, Christina Clusiau | P: Christina Clusiau, Shaul Schwarz | USA | 2023 |âŻ106 min) – Guinness World Record holder – Fastest Speed Parachuting by a Female.
Amy Hoggart from AMERICAN CATS (D: Todd Bieber | P: Grace Leeson | USA | 2024 | 88 min) – Writer, actor and comedian, most recently seen on the late-night satire show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.
Dawn Porter, director of LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH (D: Dawn Porter | P: Trish Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith | USA | 2024 | 101 min) – Award-winning documentary filmmaker of The Lary Bird Diaries, John Lewis: Good Trouble, The Way I See It and many other acclaimed films.
Emmanuelle BĂ©art, director of SUCH A RESOUNDING SILENCE (D: Emmanuelle BĂ©art, Anastasia Mikova | P: Emmanuelle Lepers | France | 2023 | 100 min) – CĂ©sar Award-winning actress (Mission: Impossible, Manon of the Spring, 8 Women) and producer, renowned for her work in film and television.
Kelly Sildaru from KELLY – SOMEONE ELSE’S DREAM (D: Helen LĂ”hmus, Leana Jalukse | P: Sten-Kristian Saluveer, David Lacote, Helen LĂ”hmus | Estonia, France | 2024 | 93 min) – Decorated Estonian Olympic freestyle skier.
Lana Wilson, director of LOOK INTO MY EYES (D: Lana Wilson | P: Kyle Martin, Lana Wilson | USA | 2023 |âŻ105 min) – Hot Docs alum and celebrated documentary filmmaker (After Tiller, The Departure, Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields).
Lucy Lawless from NEVER LOOK AWAY (D: Lucy Lawless | P: Matthew Metcalfe, Tom Blackwell, Lucy Lawless | New Zealand | 2024 |âŻ85 min) – New Zealand-born actor who became famous for her portrayal of the title character in the popular television show Xena: Warrior Princess.
Martine Rothblatt from LOVE MACHINA (D: Peter Sillen | P: Brendan Doyle, Peter Sillen | USA | 2024 | 97 min) – American author, entrepreneur, activist, one of the worldâs highest-paid female CEOs and founder of SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
Molly Wickham and Freda Huson from YINTAH (D: Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano | P: Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano, Bob Moore | Canada | 2024 | 125 min) – Indigenous rights activists: Sleydo’ Molly Wickham is a Wing Chief of Cas Yikh, a house group of the Gidimt’en Clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation; Howilhkat Freda Huson is a Wing Chief of the Unist’ot’en people of the C’ilhts’Ă«khyu clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation.
Peaches (Merrill Nisker) from TEACHES OF PEACHES (D: Philipp Fussenegger, Judy Landkammer | P: Cordula Kablitz-Post, Robert Kreuzaler | Germany | 2024 | 102 min) – Iconic Canadian electroclash musician and producer.
Sash Simpson from BORN HUNGRY (D: Barry Avrich | P: Jay Hennick, Mark Selby, Barry Avrich | Canada | 2024 | 77 min) – Prolific Canadian Chef and owner of Toronto restaurant Sash.
Shiori Ito from BLACK BOX DIARIES (D: Shiori Ito | P: Eric Nyari, Hanna Aqvilin, Shiori Ito | Japan, UK, USA | 2024 |âŻ104 min) – Prominent Japanese journalist and documentary filmmaker. Named one of Time Magazineâs 100 Most Influential People of 2020.
Staceyann Chin from A MOTHER APART (D: Laurie Townshend | P: Alison Duke, Ngardy Conteh George, Justine Pimlott | Canada | 2024 | 89 min) – Poet, actor, performance artist and LGBTQ+ activist. She has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and 60 Minutes, and her work has been featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Thelma Schoonmaker from MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER (D: David Hinton | P: Matthew Wells, Nick Varley | UK | 2024 |âŻ131 min) – Legendary American film editor, renowned for her prolific partnership spanning five decades with director Martin Scorsese. Schoonmakerâs contributions have garnered numerous prestigious awards, including three Academy Awards (Raging Bull, The Aviator, The Departed).
Valerie Simpson from LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH (D: Dawn Porter | P: Trish Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith | USA | 2024 | 101 min) – Singer and songwriter, one half of the beloved and legendary songwriter/producers and performers Ashford & Simpson.
Wilfred Buck from WILFRED BUCK (D: Lisa Jackson | P: Lisa Jackson, Lauren Grant, Alicia Smith | Canada | 2024 | 96 min) – Winnipeg-based Indigenous star knowledge expert, author and educator. A member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
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).
Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca), North Americaâs largest 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 31st annual edition from April 25 to May 5, 2024, 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 Forum and Hot Docs Deal Maker. 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 Torontoâs Annex neighbourhood and the worldâs first and largest documentary cinema.
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 5:00 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.
Hot Docs is proud to include Scotia Wealth Management as its Presenting Platinum Partner; Rogers as its Founding Partner; CBC as its Signature Partner; Netflix as its Presenting Partner; and Telefilm Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the Canada Media Fund as its Major Supporters.
The highly anticipated Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival returns to Toronto from April 25 to May 5, 2024, promising an unparalleled celebration of non-fiction storytelling on a global scale. From 2800 film submissions, this yearâs slate will present 168 documentaries representing 64 countries across 16 diverse programs and will feature 51 world and 32 international premieres. Hot Docs continues its commitment to gender parity with 54% female directors represented in the official selection. Furthermore, alongside the premieres of remarkable Canadian and international documentaries, the 2024 Festival will offer an extensive lineup of industry programs and events.
âI am excited to embark on my first Hot Docs Festival as President,â shared Marie Nelson, Hot Docsâ President. âThere is something so extraordinary about what this Festival represents: the opportunity to unite with fellow documentary lovers to share in the collective experience of being amongst the first audiences to witness unforgettable stories of human power. We strive to continue bringing this experience to Toronto audiences for years to come, and hope that doc loversâboth seasoned and newâwill come out to support us in this and take in the remarkable lineup of films showcased at this yearâs Festival.â
The 2024 Hot Docs Festival will open with the international premiere of Luther: Never Too Much, directed by award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter, on Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 PM at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. This remarkable film delivers a stirring portrait of music sensation Luther Vandross, as the film charts his creative journey, his larger-than-life path to stardom, and the creation of his most memorable songs.
The Big Ideas Series, presented by Scotia Wealth Management, will once again spark engaging conversations with notable guests, including filmmaker Barry Avrich and subject Sash Simpson of Born Hungry; director Pete Sillen and subjects Martine and Bina Rothblatt of Love Machina; co-directors Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau and subjects Julia Botelho Morgan and Amber Forte of Fly; director Gary Hustwit of Eno; and director Lucy Lawless of Never Look Away.
The Special Presentations program, showcasing high-profile films, festival circuit heavy hitters, and renowned subjects, includes the world premieres of Red Fever, which sees Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond travel to the four corners of Turtle Island and across Europe to explore the worldâs fascination with Native Americans; American Cats: The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly, in which hilarious Full Frontal with Samantha Bee correspondent Amy Hoggart explores the controversial practice of declawing cats; The Ride Ahead, an expansion of co-director Samuel Habibâs short film My Disability Roadmap (Honourable Mention, Best International Short Documentary, Hot Docs Festival 2022), capturing a typical 21-year-old itching to move out, start a career and find loveâall while navigating life with a disability; Lost in the Shuffle, which follows world champion magician Shawn Farquhar as he simultaneously devises a new trick and delves into a medieval murder cold case; and Le Mans 55: The Unauthorized Investigation, which explores the tragic Le Mans race in 1955 where more than 80 spectators were killed.
Canadian Spectrum Competition, a competitive program showcasing bold new works by Canadian directors, includes the world premieres of A French Youth, following two young North African men in the South of France seeking to take life by the horns quite literally as they compete to survive in the traditional sport of Camargue races; Curl Power, following five high school girlfriends as they pursue their dreams of becoming Canadian National Curling Champions; Karuara, People of the River, in which a group of Indigenous women from Peruâfacing cultural genocideâfile a groundbreaking lawsuit demanding the government recognize the Marañón River as a person with human rights itself; My Dad’s Tapes, in which a trove of home video tapes spurs a filmmaker to investigate his fatherâs sudden suicide and come to terms with his own identity; Fire Tower, in which sentinels survey dramatic and awe-inspiring landscapes high above the boreal forest as a critical first line of defence in wildfire detection; and Me, Michael and I, in which an ambitious young Quebecois man sacrifices everything in his obsession to resurrect the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The Canadian Spectrum Competition is presented in partnership with MUBI.
International Competition, a competitive program spotlighting engaging stories from around the globe, includes a compelling lineup of world premieres: The Weavers’ Songs explores life in San Pedro Amuzgos, Oaxaca, where weaving transcends mere livelihood to become a vital economic backbone; Standing Above the Clouds chronicles the journey of three Native Hawaiian families as they risk it all to defend their sacred mountain where the Thirty Meter Telescope is set to be built on Mauna Kea; Farming the Revolution follows the protests of half a million of Indiaâs farmers as they rise up on an unprecedented scale against unjust new laws; Streets Loud with Echoes observes a society learning to raise its voice, despite decades of fear and oppression, after the murder of a young Olympic skater galvanizes Kazakhstanis; XiXi explores themes of womanhood, autonomy and self-reinvention through video diaries and personal archive; Devi captures mother, rebel warrior, and sexual violence survivor, Devi, as she battles personal demons in her campaign against rapeâs erasure from the narrative of Nepalâs civil war; and The Fabulous Gold Harvesting Machine follows Totoâs quest for a better future after 40 years working in a mine, as his son Jorge attempts to build a gold harvesting machine to secure their retirement. The International Spectrum program is supported by the Donner Canadian Foundation.
The new Festival strand Festival Favourites is a specially curated selection of feature-length documentaries that have made their mark on the festival circuit, proving their mettle with festival audiences and critics alike. It will spotlight some of the most timely, topical and well-crafted docs from fellow global documentary film festivals. International premieres include Daughter of Genghis, chronicling seven years in the life of Gerel, a violent neo-nationalist struggling with motherhood and her role leading a gang of women in the underworld of Mongolia’s capital city, and Daughters (Winner, Sundance Festival 2024 Audience Award in Documentary Competition), capturing the first physical touch four young girls will have with their incarcerated fathers as part of a special Daddy-Daughter Dance in a Washington, D.C. prison. North American premieres include Son of the Mullah, the story of a journalist risking life and limb in his reporting on Iran in order to expose corruption in the Islamic Regime, and This Is Going to Be Big, a peek behind the curtain as a cast of neurodivergent teens prepare to hit the stage in their schoolâs time-travelling, John Farnhamâthemed musical.
A showcase of recent works from Spain will make up the dynamic Made In program, offering Hot Docs audiences the opportunity to immerse themselves into a rich tapestry of captivating, uniquely Spanish stories and discover the talented voices emerging from Spainâs vibrant documentary landscape. Made In Spain will include the world premieres of The Click Trap, in which investigative journalists and online activists reveal the unsettling reach of the unregulated digital advertising industry; Flying Hands, in which a Pakistani mother questions the custom that would have her hide her deaf child out of family shame; and Wild Gleaming Space, in which a chilling encounter deep in Panamaâs untamed jungle triggers a personal exploration of life and death. Made In Spain is presented in collaboration with ICEX Spain Trade and Investment.
The World Showcase program features revelatory stories that span the globe, including the world premieres of Breaking the Cycle, an exploration of Thailandâs recent elections, where a group of young politicians campaigned against an authoritarian constitution; Helen and the Bear, the story of the unlikely 40-year bond between a rebellious young hippie and a U.S. Congressman known for challenging his own Republican party; and The Sharp Edge of Peace, in which four extraordinary women navigate the harsh reality of Afghanistanâs new chapterâand its political impact on womenâs rightsâwhile at the negotiating table with the Taliban.
The Pop/Life strand shares the artistry of impactful musical visionaries and events in music history that changed the artform forever, and will present the world premieres of Beethoven’s Nine, directed by Larry Weinstein and exploring how Beethovenâs final completed symphony continues to resonate 200 years later; and Disco’s Revenge, the true story of disco music and the communities who hustled for their freedom on the dance floor.
The popular Nightvision program presents future cult classics, including the international premiere of Secret Mall Apartment, the remarkable story of a group of Rhode Islanders who create a clandestine apartment inside the local mall in defiant protest of gentrification; the North American premiere of Invisible People, an exploration of Japanese Butoh, the unique contemporary dance born from natural experience that represents a communion between the living and the dead; and the Canadian premiere of Grand Theft Hamlet, in which two out-of-work-during-the-pandemic British actors attempt the impossible: mounting a full-scale production of Shakespeareâs Hamlet inside Grand Theft Auto Online.
The acclaimed 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 The Day Iceland Stood Still, the true story of how Iceland became a world leader in gender equality when, in 1975, 90% of Icelandâs women walked off their jobs and out of their homes; A Mother Apart, an emotional tale of healing and forgiveness that follows powerhouse Jamaican American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin as she embarks on an international journey to re-imagine the art of mothering; and Synchrony, in which, isolated on an island, an elderly woman embraces freedom by open-sea swimming with sea lions, while a champion swimmer tests her endurance in the worldâs iciest of waters. Â An Unfinished Journey will have its North American premiere, it tells the important story of four Afghan women leaders who struggle to keep the worldâs attention on the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan.
Land|Sky|Sea Competition is a new thematic film program exploring nature and our relationship to it, and features the world premiere of The Here Now Project, which constructs an international diary of the impact of climate change using thousands of hours of in-the-moment footage, and the international premiere of Family Tree, which uses a cinema vérité approach in sharing the story of two Black families in North Carolina fighting to preserve their land and generational legacy of sustainable forestry. Receiving a North American premiere is Once Upon a Time in a Forest, in which 22-year-old Ida becomes the leader of the new Forest Movement and finds himself facing off with Finnish forest industry giants. Land|Sky|Sea is supported by the K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation.
Emergence, a new programming slate that highlights stories of our complicated relationship with technology and AI, will include the world premiere of Ari’s Theme, a Canadian documentary about an award-winning composer with type-2 spinal muscular atrophy, and in which a kaleidoscopic creative process leads him to question the meaning of legacy. The program will also feature the international premieres of Love Machina, which follows a coupleâs commissioning of an âAI mindfileâ that uses cryopreservation, digital consciousness, xenotransplantation and space settlement, in order to extend their romance into infinity, and Seeking Mavis Beacon, in which two detectives seek out the Haitian-born cover model of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typingâthe software that taught millions globally how to typeâwho vanished decades ago.
Hot Docs will again partner with European Film Promotion (EFP) for the seventh edition of The Changing Face of Europe, a pan-European showcase of documentaries that explore the cultural, economic and political conditions affecting Europe today. The Changing Face of Europe will include the world premiere of Kelly â Someone Else’s Dream, in which freestyle skier Kelly Sildaruâjust 13 when she won gold at the 2016 Winter X Gamesâsets a new standard for sports bravery by breaking her silence on the abuse of her coach and father. International premieres include Norwegian Democrazy, documenting the street-level battle for democracy after an anti-Islam racist publicly burns the Quâran and hides behind freedom of expression laws, and Woman of God, in which an underpaid and undermined Slovenian village pastor pours her heart and raw personal trauma into ministering to her parishioners.
The Art of Resistance program celebrates the intersection of protest and creativity, with films that illuminate the profound impact of collective voices rallying for change and offer a glimmer of hope. The Art of Resistance will include the world premieres of Impasse, in which a woman engages in conversations with her conservative family amidst the Women, Life, Freedom protesters in Tehran, in hopes of maintaining bonds across three generations under the pressures of a shifting society, and The Strike, which follows the psychological and emotional journeys of California prisoners as they organize the largest hunger strike in US history. The program will also include the international premiere of Nice Ladies, in which members of a 50+ womenâs cheerleading team chose to stay behind as Russia began bombing Kharkiv, Ukraine, using their sport they keep sane and connected even as cracks appear.
Hot Docs will present a specially curated selection of Canadian and international short films as part of the Festivalâs Shorts Programs. These shorts will screen as part of seven individual shorts programs, each one aiming to excite and inspire with its unique collection of fresh filmmaking talent. The Hot Docs 2024 Shorts Program brings 36 films from 20 countries.
Hot Docs Festival 2024 Special Events include a free commemorative screening of Mighty Jerome in memory of the work and legacy of one of Torontoâs best loved filmmakers, Charles Officer, with some of Charlesâs closest collaborators and friends be in attendance to share interviews, personal stories and rarely seen footage of the acclaimed writer/director/producer; a Keynote Session featuring the highly regarded filmmaker, author and organizer Astra Taylor, engaging in an illuminating conversation hosted by Brett Story, renowned writer, geographer, and filmmaker behind the Sundance award-winning film Union; two Surprise Screenings, offering audiences the chance to be amongst the very first to experience a groundbreaking new feature-length documentary; and a free encore screening on the Festivalâs final nightâSunday, May 5âwhere the winner of this yearâs Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary will be announced. The top Canadian feature film in the audience poll will receive a CAD 50,000 cash prize, courtesy of Rogers.
The 2024 Outstanding Achievement Award will honour visionary Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck, whose unparalleled contributions to the world of documentary filmmaking have garnered widespread acclaim and numerous accolades. The Festival will feature a handpicked selection of films curated by Peck, showcasing both a personal favorite and a work that has influenced him. Peck will be in attendance at the Festival, engaging in Q&A sessions following the screenings of his films.
Hot Docs will honour Canadian cinematographer Iris Ng through its annual Focus On program, spotlighting the remarkable work of Canadian filmmakers and craftspeople who have left an indelible mark on the documentary landscape, showcasing their invaluable contributions to the art form. Iris Ngâs notable work turns a critical lens on social justice, marginalised communities, and the process of filmmaking itself.
Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca), North Americaâs largest 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 31st annual edition from April 25 to May 5, 2024, 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 Forum and Hot Docs Deal Maker. 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 Torontoâs Annex neighbourhood and the worldâs first and largest documentary cinema.
Starting Tuesday, March 26, Festival ticket package holders, including Doc Soup subscribers, can redeem their ticket packages, and Hot Docs Members can purchase single tickets. Starting Tuesday, April 2, 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 5:00 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.
Hot Docs is proud to include Scotia Wealth Management as its Presenting Platinum Partner; Rogers as its Founding Partner; CBC as its Signature Partner; Netflix as its Presenting Partner; and Telefilm Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the Canada Media Fund as its Major Supporters.
Hot Docs is excited to introduce a fun and captivating addition to this yearâs Festival lineup, taking place from April 25 to May 5, 2024 in Toronto. The new program, Festival Favourites, is a specially curated selection of feature-length documentaries that have made their mark on the festival circuit, proving their mettle with festival audiences and critics alike. It will spotlight some of the most timely, topical and well-crafted docs from fellow global documentary film festivals. In Festival Favourites, Toronto audiences will be able to immerse themselves in these moving and raw cinematic experiences, connecting with important issues and unforgettable stories.
Festival Favourites International premieres include Daughter of Genghis, chronicling seven years in the life of Gerel, a violent neo-nationalist struggling with motherhood and her role leading a gang of women in the underworld of Mongolia’s capital city, and Daughters (Winner, Sundance Festival 2024 Audience Award in Documentary Competition), capturing the first physical touch four young girls will have with their incarcerated fathers as part of a special Daddy-Daughter Dance in a Washington, D.C. prison.
North American premieres include Son of the Mullah, the story of a journalist risking life and limb in his reporting on Iran in order to expose corruption in the Islamic Regime, and This Is Going to Be Big, a peek behind the curtain as a cast of neurodivergent teens prepare to hit the stage in their schoolâs time-travelling, John Farnhamâthemed musical.
Canadian premieres include A Band of Dreamers and a Judge, in which gangs of prospectors scale the mountains of northern Iran in search of buried treasure while a determined judge seeks to end their gold-hunting escapades; Every Little Thing, following a Los Angeles-based womanâs transformative journey as she nurtures wounded hummingbirds, and Intercepted (Winner, CMF-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize 2023), which layers covertly recorded conversations between Russian soldiers with visible evidence of their destruction in Ukraine.
A BAND OF DREAMERS AND A JUDGE
D: Hesam Eslami | P: Etienne De Ricaud, Hesam Eslami | Iran, France | 2023 |Â 80 min |Â Canadian Premiere
According to legend, the mountains of northern Iran are full of buried treasure. Gangs of prospectors scale and drill their treacherous slopes in the hopes of discovering ancient gold and pottery, while a local judge is determined to end their illegal looting.
DAUGHTER OF GENGHIS
D: Kristoffer Juel Poulsen, Christian Als | P: Andreas Dalsgaard | Denmark, Sweden, France | 2023 |Â 85 min |Â International Premiere
A violent, Mongolian, female nationalist fights for her motherland, conducting sting operations and brothel raids, but in her fight for idealism, she has neglected her son. Can she find redemption by embracing motherhood?
DAUGHTERS
D: Angela Patton, Natalie Rae | P: Lisa Mazzotta, Natalie Rae, Justin Benoliel, Mindy Goldberg, Sam Bisbee, Kathryn Everett, Laura Choi Raycroft, James Cunningham | USA | 2023 |Â 106 min |Â International Premiere
Four young girls prepare for a special Daddy-Daughter Dance in a Washington, DC prison. Cameras capture the first physical touch these girls will have with their incarcerated fathers as part of a groundbreaking program in this Sundance Audience Awardâwinning film.
EVERY LITTLE THING
D: Sally Aitken | P: Bettina Dalton, Anna Godas, Oli Harbottle | Australia | 2024 |Â 93 min |Â Canadian Premiere
A woman finds herself on a transformative journey as she nurtures wounded hummingbirds, unravelling a captivating and magical tale of love, fragility and healing amidst the sprawl of Los Angeles.
INTERCEPTED
D: Oksana Karpovych | P: RocĂo B. Fuentes, Giacomo Nudi, Pauline Tran Van Lieu, Lucie Rego, Darya Bassel, Olha Beskhmelnytsina | Canada, France, Ukraine | 2024 |Â 93 min |Â Canadian Premiere
Layered over the visible evidence of their destruction, covertly recorded conversations between Russian soldiers provide a shocking and revealing soundtrack of those who destroy amidst the futility and inhumanity of a prolonged war in Ukraine.
WINNER â CMF-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize 2023
SON OF THE MULLAH
D: Nahid Persson Sarvestani | P: Setareh Lundgren, Monica Hernandez Rejon | Sweden, France | 2023 |Â 100 min |Â North American Premiere
Journalist Ruhollah Zam, like many of his colleagues, reports on Iran from abroad. Relying on tips from unreliable and potentially compromised insiders, he risks life and limb to expose the Islamic Regimeâs corruption, hypocrisy and money laundering in this all-too-real spy thriller.
THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG
D: Thomas Charles Hyland | P: Josie Mason Campbell, Jim Wright, Catherine Bradbury | Australia | 2023 |Â 101 min |Â North American Premiere
Dreams and desires are confronted as a cast of neurodivergent teens prepare to come of age in their schoolâs time-travelling, John Farnhamâthemed musical. A funny and heart-warming peek behind the curtain with some banger songs.
hotdocs.ca for more.
Hot Docs is excited to announce the full lineup of new documentary features that will screen in this yearâs Festivalâs Special Presentations program, a stellar lineup of films that promise to inspire, inform, and entertain Festival audiences. Titles in this program feature visionary filmmakers, intriguing subjects, and riveting storytelling. The 2024 Hot Docs Festival will take place April 25 to May 5, 2024 in cinemas across Toronto.
The 2024 Special Presentations program will delve into narratives of power, corruption and tragedy,
offering a critical lens on societal issues. Additionally, it will turn the camera onto celebrated artists and
filmmakers themselves, providing audiences with intimate insights into their lives and creative
processes. The program will also transport audiences on immersive journeys into the worlds of BASE
jumping, magic, psychics, and cats, enticing them to explore a captivating array of diverse and
fascinating subjects.
World premieres include Red Fever, which sees Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond travel to the four corners
of Turtle Island and across Europe to explore the worldâs fascination with Native Americans; American
Cats: The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly, in which hilarious Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
correspondent Amy Hoggart explores the controversial practice of declawing cats; The Ride Ahead, an
expansion of co-director Samuel Habibâs short film My Disability Roadmap (Honourable Mention, Best
International Short Documentary, Hot Docs Festival 2022), exploring a typical 21-year-old itching to
move out, start a career and find loveâall while navigating life with a disability; Lost in the Shuffle,
which follows world champion magician Shawn Farquhar as he simultaneously devises a new trick and
delves into a medieval murder cold case; and Le Mans 55: The Unauthorized Investigation, which
explores the tragic Le Mans race in 1955 where more than 80 spectators were killed.
Hot Docs 2024 will also see the International Premiere of the thrilling new National Geographic doc Fly,
in which incredible cinematography and all-access storytelling follow three couples whose passion for
BASE jumping means theyâll risk everything for the rush of feeling alive; and the North American
Premiere of Michel Gondry, Do It Yourself, an intimate look at the music video director and filmmakerâs
life, work and creative process.
2024 Special Presentations will also include the Canadian premieres of Power, examining the history,
scale and social effects policing has had on the United States and its culture; Black Box Diaries, which
sees journalist and filmmaker Shiori Ito take on one of the most powerful institutions in Japan to
prosecute her high-profile sexual assailant in a landmark legal case; Union, in which a group of Amazon
workers on New York Cityâs Staten Island take on one of the worldâs largest and most influential
companies in the fight to unionize; Never Look Away, the directorial debut of Lucy Lawless that follows
CNN combat camerawoman Margaret Moth, whose appetite for danger is challenged following a lifechanging injury; Look Into My Eyes, acclaimed filmmaker Lana Wilsonâs new film featuring an eclectic
group of New York City psychics; Born Hungryâthe latest from acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Barry
Avrichâchronicles the rags-to-riches tale of Sash Simpson, a runaway child from the streets of India,
who was adopted into a Toronto family with 31 siblings before becoming a world-renowned chef; and
Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger, in which Martin Scorsese shares his lifelong love
affair with the âsubversive commercial moviesâ of filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger,
whose collaboration thrived in the adversity of WWII.
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://hotdocs.ca/festivals/hot-docs-festival/announcements.
AMERICAN CATS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE CUDDLY
D: Todd Bieber | P: Grace Leeson | USA | 2024 | 88 min | World Premiere
Ontario is the only province in Canada without a ban on cat declawing. Amy Hoggart, the hilarious
correspondent from Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, cracks jokes, cuddles kittens and attacks this
controversial practice using satire to expose a heart-wrenching catspiracy.
BLACK BOX DIARIES
D: Shiori Ito | P: Eric Nyari, Hanna Aqvilin | Japan, UK, USA | 2024 |âŻ104 min | Canadian Premiere
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.
BORN HUNGRY
D: Barry Avrich | P: Jay Hennick, Mark Selby, Barry Avrich | Canada | 2024 | 77 min | Canadian Premiere
The true rags to riches tale of Sash Simpson, a runaway child from the streets of India, who was adopted
into a Toronto family with 31 siblings before becoming a world-renowned chef.
FLY
D: Shaul Schwarz, Christina Clusiau | P: Christina Clusiau, Shaul Schwarz | USA | 2023 |âŻ106 min |
International Premiere
To stand on the edge and jump into the wind, one must be willing to lose everything. That could mean the love of your life, or the life you love. Three couples in the world of BASE jumping risk everything to
feel alive.
LE MANS 55: THE UNAUTHORIZED INVESTIGATION
D: Emmanuel ReyĂ© | P: Isabelle Dagnac | France | 2023 |âŻ90 min |âŻWorld Premiere
The Le Mans race in 1955 made history through tragedy when more than 80 spectators were killed.
Uncover the story of the crash that took the lives of so many and, to this day, looms over the world of
motorsports.
LOOK INTO MY EYES
D: Lana Wilson | P: Kyle Martin, Lana Wilson | USA | 2023 |âŻ105 min | Canadian Premiere
In this unique journey into the human desire for connection, acclaimed filmmaker Lana Wilson follows
an eclectic group of New York City psychics whose intimate readings reveal a kaleidoscopic view of
loneliness, connection and healing with humour and intrigue.
LOST IN THE SHUFFLE
D: Jon Ornoy | P: Jon Ornoy, Ana Carrizales | Canada | 2024 |âŻ100 min |âŻWorld Premiere
Pick a card, any card! World champion magician Shawn Farquhar delves into a medieval murder cold
case among Jacks, Queens and Kings as he devises a new trick inspired by the worldâs best sleight-ofhand artists.
MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER
D: David Hinton | P: Matthew Wells, Nick Varley | UK | 2024 |âŻ131 min | Canadian Premiere
Martin Scorsese tells of his lifelong love affair with the movies of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
and their âsubversive commercial movies.â Drawing on a rich array of archival material, Scorsese
explores their collaboration that thrived in the adversity of WWII.
MICHEL GONDRY, DO IT YOURSELF
D: François Nemeta | P: Olivier de Bannes, Robin Accard, Philippe Savine | France | 2023 |âŻ80 min |
North American Premiere
French filmmaker Michel Gondry re-invented the music video and challenged Hollywood with his
distinctive handmade visual style. Intimately documented, Gondryâs career and playful creative process
receive an overdue review, from his earliest music videos to his latest feature film at Cannes.
NEVER LOOK AWAY
D: Lucy Lawless | P: | New Zealand | 2024 |âŻ85 min | Canadian Premiere
CNN camerawoman Margaret Moth was facing down warâs inhumanity when one bullet changed
everything but her resolve. Debut filmmaker Lucy Lawless turns the cameraâs gaze on this
groundbreaking woman and her legacy.
POWER
D: Yance Ford | P: Sweta Vohra, Jess Devaney, Yance Ford, Netsanet Negussie | USA | 2024 |âŻ87 min |
Canadian Premiere
Part essay, interview and archival collage, Power traces the explosion of police power from the founding
of the U.S. to our present. Power makes the historical continuity of unchecked police power legibleâ
examining whoâs policed, whoâs protected and why.
RED FEVER
D: Neil Diamond, Catherine Bainbridge | P: Lisa M. Roth, Rebecca Lessard | Canada | 2024 |âŻ104 min
|âŻWorld Premiere
Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond travels to the four corners of Turtle Island and across Europe to explore
the worldâs fascination with Native Americans, recognizing the profound impact Indigenous people have
had in shaping modern Western culture.
THE RIDE AHEAD
D: Samuel Habib, Dan Habib | P: Dan Habib, Erica Lupinacci | USA | 2024 |âŻ97 min |âŻWorld Premiere
An expansion of his short film My Disability Roadmap, Samuel Habib is a typical 21-year-old, itching to
move out, start a career and find love. But âno one tells you how to be an adult, let alone an adult with a
disability.â
UNION
D: Brett Story, Stephen Maing | P: Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone, Martin DiCiccio | USA | 2024 |âŻ104
min | Canadian Premiere
The Amazon Labor Union (ALU)âa group of current and former Amazon workers on New York Cityâs
Staten Islandâtakes on one of the worldâs largest and most powerful companies in the fight to unionize.
More at hotdocs.ca.
Barry Avrich‘s BORN HUNGRY is poised for a Canadian debut at this year’s HOT DOCS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL April 26, 2024.
SYNOPSIS:
He went looking for his family ⊠and found himself.
An inspiring true story brought to life, BORN HUNGRY is a gritty yet life-affirming human drama about a young Indian boy who finds himself abandoned by his family, lost on trains and thousands of miles from home. Now, Sash, a celebrity chef who once survived alone on the streets of Chennai eating from garbage bins before ultimately being adopted by a Canadian couple, returns to India armed with only blurry memories to find his lost family. BORN HUNGRY is a raw, true and important story with a huge heart that deals with identity and cultural heritage.
Written and Directed by
Barry Avrich
Executive Producers
Jay Hennick
Mark Selby
Barry Avrich
Produced by
Mark Selby
Barry Avrich, p.g.a.
Runtime
77 min
(Photo credit: Melbar Entertainment Group)
Hot Docs is proud to announce the confirmed dates for the five-market free community theatrical initiative, Docs for Schools, and the broadcast premiere of its short doc collection Citizen Minutes. The second series of shorts highlights ordinary Canadians doing extraordinary things to make their communities better places. From Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week to noise pollution in Toronto, from the first all-female Muslim softball league to a rapper addressing mental health issues, the second series of Citizen Minutes will inform and entertain. Each free screening will be followed by an audience Q&A with the goal of inspiring collaborative dialogue about civic engagement and the many forms it can take.
âWe are incredibly proud to introduce this essential series of short docs crafted by visionary filmmakers to audiences across Canada,â shared Marie Nelson, Hot Docsâ President. âThese compelling films urge us to champion positive change within our communities and remind us of the remarkable influence that individuals have in shaping our world. I am invigorated by these vibrant, youth-driven stories that poignantly reflect lifeâs hardshipsâyet radiate with hopeâand hope that others will be too.â
Theatrical Dates
October 16th – Rio Theatre, Vancouver, BC, 6:30 pm – Host Angela Steritt
October 25th – Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Toronto, ON, 6:30 pm – CBC Host Ismaila Alfa and a special guest performance by Akitone.
November 9th – Calgary Central Library, Calgary, AB, 6:30 pm – CBC Host Angela Knight
November 27th – Cinema Du MusĂ©e – Montreal, QC, 6:30 pm – CBC Daybreak Host Sean Henry
November 27th – Halifax Central Library, Halifax, NS, 6:30 pm – CBC Host Preston Mulligan and a special guest performance by comedian Janelle Niles.
DOCS FOR SCHOOLS
Citizen Minutes will also be made available for free screenings online and for grade 5-12 students across the country through the Docs for Schools program. Each of the films will come with a unique education package with discussion questions, resources and activities to support extended learning about the issues addressed in the film. All education packages will be made available in English and French.
Last year, Docs for Schools brought films to over 150,000 students in 98 school boards across Canada.
The second series of Citizen Minutes features the following titles:
ANCESTRAL THREADS
Directed by: Sean Stiller
Joleen Mitton, a NĂ©hiyaw woman and the founder of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW), shows how she builds community using fashion, as she works to undo years of traumaâin herself and others.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?
Directed by: Cat Mills
A couple of activists try to put the mute button on Noise Pollution in Toronto.
JANELLE NILES: INCONVENIENT
Directed by: Kelly Zemnickis, Cass Gardiner
Despite a tumultuous upbringing that would break most, Janelle Niles confronts being Black and Mi’kmaw head-on, embracing her biracial experience and two-spirit identity, while using stand-up to heal and usher in a new era of inclusive Canadian comedy.
LOUD & HERE
Directed by: Josiane Blanc
Teen youth activist collective La Voix des Jeunes Compte try to make meaningful change to school board policy across Quebec.
MIND CHECK 1-2 1-2
Directed by: Ian Keteku
A viral rapper uses his voice to uplift young people struggling with mental health.
RISING FROM THE ASHES
Directed by: Sara Ben-Saud
A portrait of the DĂ©panneur Sylvestre, an atypical place that aims to break down isolation for members of the displaced Gatineau community.
SISTERHOOD SOFTBALL
Directed by: Farhiya Ahmed
The first all-female Muslim softball league in North America empowers women through sports in a community where women traditionally don’t take part.
TVO Original Charlotteâs Castle is the story of a cultural hubâs real estate borne crisis, told through one remarkable rental building and its remarkable inhabitants. It chronicles the battle of a quirky cast of unlikely activists who want to hang on to their rented homes against a foreign-owned developer they fear will ruin a cultural landmark, of which they consider themselves the caretakers.
Spadina Gardens, the half-block mid-rise apartment at Spadina and Lowther, built in 1904, is the oldest Toronto building to maintain its original floor plans, not to mention many original details (subway tiles that pre-date the subway by half a century!). Vast, luxurious rental units have drawn an equally eclectic mix of tenants: literary, industrial, operatic, distressed gentlefolk to ascending rock stars.
They embody the creative class who drew developers to Toronto in the first place, driving property values up. But now, though their plight is understandably often overshadowed by harder luck stories, even they are no longer able to afford the city which they helped to enrich.
The struggle over the preservation of Spadina Gardens is emblematic of the battle, secretly at the heart of the national current housing crisis.
“In Charlotte’s Castle, we embarked on a cinematic journey to explore not just bricks and mortar, but the very heart and soul of our communities. This documentary is a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who’ve fought for their homes and the preservation of landmark housing. Through this universal story of struggle and resilience, we illuminate the broader housing crisis that touches us all. Because in every brick in every home, there resides a piece of our shared history and future. Charlotte’s Castle reminds us that the preservation of these castles, big and small, is the preservation of our collective identity and the promise of a more equitable tomorrow.” â Director, Jamie Kastner
The film was produced with the participation of Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates and the Rogers Documentary Fund.
Premiere – Toronto screening at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
Sunday, September 24, 2023
6:45 PM
Followed by a Q&A with the director, Jamie Kastner. Joined by Charlotte Mickie and a panel of additional special guests
Additional screenings will take place:
Tuesday, September 26 2023 â matinee 4:00 PM
Friday, September 29, 2023 â 7:00 PM
Hot Docs Festival 2023 came to its close last night, bringing 214 films from 72 countries to audiences in Toronto cinemas. The 11-day festival featured 308 live screenings on nine screens at four venues across the city, with 235 live filmmaker Q&As, and five special extended discussions with filmmakers and special guests as part of the Big Ideas Series, presented by Scotia Wealth Management. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Hot Docs presented the Podcast Festival Showcase, featuring a slate of todayâs hottest podcasts live on stage, A Wall Is a Screen site-specific outdoor screening at Ontario Place, and a series of special activations for attendees throughout the Festival. Further building on national audiences cultivated by past online and hybrid editions, 123 official selections started streaming across Canada on Friday, May 5 and will continue through to Tuesday, May 9.
âAs the curtain closes on a highly successful 30th-anniversary edition of Hot Docs Festival, we are reminded once again of the power and impact of documentaryânot only in reflecting our world, but also in building community, creating connection and challenging us to play our part in making this world a better place,â shared Shane Smith, Hot Docs Artistic Director. âWe are humbled by the emphatic reception we received from our famously curious Toronto audiences, whose energy, engagement and enthusiasm are always a Festival highlight for filmmakers, and who continue to inspire our mission to showcase outstanding, outspoken documentaries. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the volunteers, filmmakers, industry delegates, sponsors and partners who helped us bring Hot Docs 2023 to life.â
The Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary, which recognizes the top Canadian feature as determined by audience poll with a cash prize of CAD 50,000, was announced last night at a free encore screening at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. Someone Lives Here (D: Zack Russell | P: Matt King, Andrew Ferguson | Canada)âthe story of a young Toronto carpenter building life-saving shelters for unhoused people facing the winter outside during the pandemic, while also facing staunch opposition from the city governmentâreceived the prize, courtesy of Rogers Group of Funds.
With CAD 80,000 in cash and prizes announced at the Hot Docs Awards Presentation on Saturday, May 6, and CAD 78,000 in pitch prizes awarded at the close of Hot Docs Forum on Wednesday, May 3, this year the Festival awarded a total of CAD 208,000 in cash and prizes to filmmakers.
Hot Docs Audience Awards are determined by votes submitted by Festival audiences after in-person screenings. At the close of the Festival, it was determined that Lac-MĂ©gantic â This is Not an Accident (D: Philippe Falardeau | P: Annie Sirois | Canada)âa captivating four-part series from Oscar-nominated director Philippe Falardeau that exposes the scandalous causes of one of Canadaâs worst rail disasters and the urgent changes needed to prevent the next oneâplaced first in the overall audience poll and won the Hot Docs Audience Award.
The top mid-length film in the audience poll, winning the Audience Award for Mid-Length Documentary, was When Spring Came to Bucha (D: Mila Teshaieva, Marcus Lenz | P: Marcus Lenz | Ukraine, Germany), in which cameras quietly capture the resilience of a people who will not be broken. The top short film, winning the Audience Award for Short Documentary, was Eco-Hack! (D: Josh Izenberg, Brett Marty | P: Josh Izenberg, Brett Marty | USA), capturing conservation biologist Tim Shieldâs fight to protect desert tortoise populations from ravens.
The 20 documentaries in the audience poll are:
Hot Docsâ incredibly popular Docs For School program also ran during the Festival, offering teachers across Canada free access to 16 films, including eight official selections from this yearâs Festival, and accompanying teaching resources linked to curriculum. Hot Docs also presented its annual market and conference, welcoming 1,800 delegates from more than 40 countries. The Hot Docs Industry program featured four days of knowledge sessions and networking events including Hot Docs Forum and Hot Docs Deal Maker, along with additional industry content.
Hot Docs announced this morning the winning documentaries in this yearâs official competition and the recipients of additional awards honouring Canadian and international filmmakers. The awards were revealed at the Hot Docs 2023 Awards Presentation at TIFF Bell Lightbox, hosted by arts journalist and co-founder of Media Girlfriends, Garvia Bailey. 15 awards in total were given out, including 11 awards for Festival films in competition â of which four were won by female filmmakers âand CAD 80,000 in cash and prizes were awarded. Playing on screens across Toronto, the 30th-anniversary Hot Docs Festival will close on Sunday, May 7. The Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian documentary will be announced on the last day of the Festival at a special encore screening at 7:00 pm at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. The top Canadian feature in the audience poll will receive a CAD 50,000 cash prize, courtesy of Rogers Group of Funds. The overall Audience Award winner will be announced after the Festival.
The Betty Youson Award for Best Canadian Short Documentary was presented to Last Respects (D: Megan Durnford | P: Megan Durnford | Canada | 2023), in which Montreal priest AbbĂ© Claude Paradis creates a touching annual ceremony to celebrate the lives of the “unclaimed.” The award includes a $3,000 cash prize courtesy of John and Betty Youson. Jury statement: âFor its human, simple and necessary approach to the universal theme of the dignity and value of every single life that stands out by virtue of its compelling, skilfully crafted visual language as much as its personal story and message.â
The Best International Short Documentary Award was presented to Mrs. Iranâs Husband (D: Marjan Khosravi | P: Milad Khosravi | Iran | 2023), a pointed exploration of family and labour in Iran. The award includes a $3,000 cash prize. Jury statement: âFor its subtle intelligence and non-judgmental narrative. This honest family portrait allows us to approach a reality that deserves our attention now.â
In the Best International Short Documentary Award category, the jury also acknowledged Dear Ani (D: Micah Levin | P: Micah Levin | USA | 2022) with an honourable mention.
Hot Docs is an Academy Award qualifying festival for short documentaries and, as winners of the Best International Short Documentary Award and the Betty Youson Award for Best Canadian Short Documentary Award respectively, Mrs. Iranâs Husband and Last Respects will qualify for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the annual Academy AwardsÂź without the standard theatrical run, provided they comply with Academy rules.
Veteran Canadian producer Bonnie Thompson, producer of Echo of Everything (D: Cam Christiansen | P: Bonnie Thompson | Canada | 2022), received the Don Haig Award, announced at the beginning of the Festival. The award is given to an outstanding independent Canadian producer with a film in the Festival in recognition of their creative vision, entrepreneurship and track record for nurturing emerging talent and comes with a $5,000 cash prize, courtesy of the Don Haig Foundation.
The award for Best Mid-Length Documentary was presented to Being in a Place â A Portrait of Margaret Tait (D: Luke Fowler | P: Luke Fowler, Sarah Neely | UK | 2022), an experimental tribute to Scottish filmmaker Margaret Tait. Sponsored by British PathĂ©, the award includes a $3,000 cash prize. Jury statement: âFor its uniquely direct poetic sensibility to embody the spirit and work of an undercelebrated filmmaker and the way that the director moves us through its subject’s visions by way of her archives and placing us behind her camera we chose âŠâ
In the Best Mid-Length Documentary category, the jury also acknowledged Scala (D: Ananta Thitanat | P: Abhichon Rattanabhayon, Nontawat Numbenchapol | Thailand | 2022) with an honourable mention.
The Lindalee Tracey Award, which honours an emerging Canadian filmmaker with a passionate point of view, a strong sense of social justice and a sense of humour, was presented to Gaëlle Graton. Graton will receive a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of the Lindalee Tracey Fund, $5,000 in post-production services from SIM, and a hand-blown glass sculpture by Andrew Kuntz, specially commissioned to honour Lindalee.
Award-winning Chinese American documentarian Christine Choy received the 2023 Outstanding Achievement Award. Choyâs seminal work was featured in the Outstanding Achievement Retrospective Program at this yearâs Festival.
The Scotiabank Docs For Schools Student Choice Award went to Invisible Beauty (D: Bethann Hardison, FrĂ©dĂ©ric Tcheng | P: Lisa CortĂ©s, Paul Dallas | USA | 2023 | 115 min | Canadian Premiere), pioneering Black model Bethann Hardisonâs exploration of racial diversity in the fashion world. The award is given to the Festival film in the Docs For Schools education program that receives the highest rating as determined by a student poll and comes with a $5,000 cash prize, courtesy of Scotiabank.
The Earl A. Glick Emerging Canadian Filmmaker Award is given to a Canadian filmmaker whose film in competition is their first or second feature-length film. The award, which includes a $3,000 cash prize courtesy of the Earl A. Glick Family, was presented to director Dominique Chaumont for Veranada (D: Dominique Chaumont | P: Dominique Chaumont | Canada, Argentina | 2022). Jury statement: âLife seems still in the Argentinian plains, but a man and his sheep give sense to a craft that seems destined to disappear. Beautiful images and a mesmerizing soundtrack make Veranada a truly authentic cinematographic experience, transporting you to a world you need to know.â
The new John Kastner Award went to Silvicola (D: Jean-Philippe Marquis | P: Jean-Philippe Marquis | Canada | 2023), exploring the human impact on forests through breathtaking vistas and poignant vignettes set in Canadaâs Pacific Northwest. The Award presents $5,000 to a Canadian Spectrum feature-length documentary of courage and compassion that embodies masterful and audacious storytelling, meticulous observation, and a profound trust between the director and the people who share their stories. Jury statement: âMany films ask the question, how are we meant to exist upon a living being, our Earth. This is a masterwork of patience and complexity that doesnât seek easy answers, and for that we lean in with humility and heartache. This is a film that holds questions we should all be asking ourselves.â
The new Bill Nemtin Award for Best Social Impact Documentary, which recognizes the producers of a film in the Canadian Spectrum program that has the greatest potential to create social impact, went to Matt King and Andrew Ferguson of Someone Lives Here (D: Zack Russell | P: Matt King, Andrew Ferguson | Canada | 2022). The $10,000 cash prize accompanying the award will help enable the winning film team to optimize the impact of the documentary through outreach and marketing activities. Jury statement: âCreating safe spaces against all odds, trying to fight humiliating circumstances, the carpenter constructs little safe heavens while authorities seem not to appreciate his efforts. This important and well-constructed film leaves us asking: how should we be living alongside each other?â
The DGC Special Jury Prize â Canadian Feature Documentary was presented to Caiti Blues (D: Justine Harbonnier | P: Nellie Carrier, Julie Paratian | Canada, France | 2023), in which an ex-New Yorker now living in a remote hippie town in New Mexico struggles to revive her dreams of singing on Broadway. Sponsored by the Directors Guild of Canada and DGC Ontario, the award includes a $5,000 cash prize. Jury statement: âIn a lonely universe, we travel through a world of imagination in search of identity. Music fractures and interweave in a film about struggling to become the person you dream of and are in search of. This is deeply engaging filmmaking.â
The Best Canadian Feature Documentary Award was presented to I Lost My Mom (D: Denys Desjardins | P: Denys Desjardins | Canada | 2022), an empathetic and intimate doc in which filmmaker Denys Desjardins captures his elderly motherâs experience of neglect in Quebecâs healthcare system. Supported by DOC and Telefilm Canada, the award includes a $10,000 cash prize. Jury statement: âThe filmmaker made something sublime out of limits. In a time of closures, he made a handmade work of art that opens empathy. This is a work of difficult love. This is deeply heartbreaking work.â
The Best International Feature Documentary Award was given to The Mountains (D: Christian EinshĂžj | P: Mathilde Hvid Lippmann | Denmark | 2023), which uses 75,000 photos and 30 years of home videos to weave a tender and humorous autobiographical portrait of the men in a Scandinavian family struck by devastating tragedy. The award includes a $10,000 cash prize. Director Christian EinshĂžj was also the winner of The Emerging International Filmmaker Award, given to an international filmmaker whose film in competition is their first or second feature-length film. The award, supported by the Donner Canadian Foundation, includes a $3,000 cash prize. Jury statement: âThis unique, eloquent, and deeply honest look at a family told through various lenses was captivating. Christian Einshoj uses humour to tell a deeply personal story that anyone who is part of a family can relate to.â
In the Best International Feature Documentary category, the jury also acknowledged A Wolfpack Named Ernesto (D: Everardo GonzĂĄlez | P: Roberto Garza, Inna PayĂĄn, Jean-Christophe Simon | Mexico, France | 2023) with an honourable mention.
Hot Docs is an Academy Award qualifying festival for feature documentaries and, as the winner of the Best International Feature Documentary Award, The Mountains will qualify for consideration in the Best Documentary Feature category of the annual Academy AwardsÂź without the standard theatrical run, provided they comply with Academy rules.
The Special Jury Prize â International Feature Documentary was given to Name Me Lawand (D: Edward Lovelace | P: Fleur Nieddu, Sam Arnold, Beyan Taher, Neil Andrews, Marisa Clifford | UK | 2022), in which a young deaf Kurdish boy joyfully hones his communication skills at a UK school after a treacherous journey from Iraq, only to later face deportation from his new home. Sponsored by A&E, the award includes a $5,000 cash prize. Jury statement: âWe were touched by this epic yet intimate story of a refugee family who had no choice but to leave their home to create a life for their deaf son.
The 2023 awards for films in competition were determined by four juries.
The Canadian Feature Documentary Jury:
Rodolfo Castillo-Morales (filmmaker, programmer, and curator), Shane Belcourt (filmmaker), Margje de Koning (filmmaker, educator, Artistic Director of Movies That Matter film festival).
The International Feature Documentary Jury:
Addie Morfoot (entertainment industry writer, head of editorial coverage for Variety), Ina Finchman (Oscar, BAFTA and Emmy nominated producer), Sudeep Sharma (programmer for the Sundance Film Festival).
The Mid-Length Documentary Jury:
Lina Rodriguez (filmmaker), Iris Ng (cinematographer), Amir George (award-winning filmmaker and Artistic Director of Kartemquin Films).
The Short Documentary Jury:
Anna Bressanin (US Editor of BBC Reel, the BBC’s platform for short documentary), Inga Diev (General Manager of Ouat Media), Inti Cordera (documentary filmmaker and producer).
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