It’s that time of year again and, although the festival has scaled back and is screening fewer documentaries than in years past (113 in 2025 vs. 168 in 2024), there are still a slew of fun, fascinating and fabulous films that have piqued my interest. I’ve pored over the full list, and here are the nine docs I’m most excited to see this year!
An American Pastoral
This film — about the battle for ideological control of a school board in a Pennsylvania town — checks a lot of my fave doc boxes: verité, a “small” story that examines a Big Important Issue, a hot-button discussion-worthy topic, and situational drama that will no doubt make my blood boil.
Climate in Therapy
Anyone who’s followed my past Hot Docs coverage knows I will see every environmental documentary that crosses my path, and this one — which follows seven climate scientists as they explore feelings instead of findings over the course of a weekend of therapy — may be the most unique one yet.
Come See Me in the Good Light
I’m already preparing for the crying headache that will likely ensue, but I can’t resist what looks like it’ll be an emotionally and spiritually powerful chronicle of poet laureate Andrea Gibson’s journey through a terminal-cancer diagnosis.
The Dating Game
Love, relationships, navigating the dating scene — any of these topics can make for a compelling documentary, and this film about three young men in China taking part in a “dating boot camp” as a way of boosting their chances at finding a partner contains all of them.
How Deep is Your Love
I lurrrrrve a good science-and-nature doc, so this one was an immediate “YES!” Director Eleanor Mortimer’s film takes a literal and figurative veryverydeep dive into the oceans to investigate the alien-like flora and fauna that inhabit the pitch-black waters fathoms below the surface.
The Last Ambassador
Brave women fighting the good fight have made for some of my fave docs over the years, so I’m psyched to see this profile of Manizha Bakhtari — Afghanistan’s only female ambassador, whom the Taliban government refuses to recognize — and her dedication to fighting gender discrimination.
Saints and Warriors
Every festival has at least one must-see sports documentary, and I’m all in for this look at Prince Rupert’s All Native Basketball Tournament in British Columbia, its cultural and historical significance, and one veteran team’s efforts to stay atop the leader board amid fierce competition.
Spreadsheet Champions
Speaking of competitions: you KNOW I lovelovelove competition docs! Over the years, I’ve screened fantastic films about everything from competitive cheerleading, dancing, and racing to competitive pinball, dog grooming, cat fancying, and even table setting. A doc about a spreadsheet competition for teens? I could not be more in!
Ultras
Over the years, documentaries about fans and fandoms have been consistently entertaining, so I’m excited to see this immersive exploration of soccer über-fans, whose devotion to their favorite teams is rivaled only by their exuberant, sometimes over-the-top pitch-side antics.
Click here for the full lineup of films screening at the fest!
And click here to snag your tickets!
For more of Moviepie’s coverage of Hot Docs 2025, click here!
