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This year, Hot Docs is unspooling some 168 films. Over the past few weeks, I’ve screened 51 of them. FIFTY. ONE. That’s a lot of documentaries. And I’m not done yet! All that doc-watching has left little time for much else (but I’m not complaining!), so even though I...
Everyone knows Hot Docs offers up a feast of fantastic films every year. And while many filmgoers focus only on features, we know that some super-fab documentaries are frequently found in the Shorts programs. A few days ago, we revealed the 12 feature-length docs we’re most excited to check...
After spending several days poring over the full slate of 168 films unspooling at this year’s fest, we’ve whittled our to-see list down to a (somewhat) more manageable 80-ish titles. Of those, we’ve already got a dozen feature-length docs asterisked as “OMG, can’t wait to check these ones out!”:...
This year, I screened more than 60 (!) films. That’s a lot. And, while most were very good to great, there were a handful that, for one reason or another, I either didn’t finish, didn’t feel I should rate, or just didn’t enjoy. As my coverage now winds to...
One of my favorite things about Hot Docs is settling in to watch a film about music and the people who make it. This year, the pickings were a little slimmer — and, sadly, I missed my window to check out the Joan Baez doc — and not quite...
Whether it’s a battle for justice, for freedom, for change, for one’s life — or for all those things at once — the festival is filled with documentaries about incredible and inspirational warriors fighting the good fight. Here are four that, each in their own way, will linger in...
The short films in the Roads to Regeneration shorts program were executive-produced by Hot Docs and presented by SAP, and showcase ordinary people pursuing new ideas for sustainability and equality around the world. We posed our Qs à la mode to many of the Roads filmmakers, and here’s what...
The Citizen Minutes shorts collection consists of films commissioned by the festival, and showcases everyday Canadians striving to make a difference in their communities. We posed our Qs à la mode to several of the Citizen Minutes filmmakers, and here’s what they shared! If I had to describe my...
In This World is Not My Own, co-directors Petter Ringbom and Marquise Stillwell examine the life, work and legacy of renowned American folk artist Nellie Mae Rowe. We posed our Qs à la mode to Petter, and here’s what he shared! If I had to describe our film using...
There are tons of shorts screening at the festival — either on their own as opening acts for features, or grouped into thematic programs — and here are five more quick-hit reviews of some I checked out! Beautiful Poison (7/8)This super-cool short combines two of my fave documentary subjects:...
When it comes to documentary topics and subjects, is there richer, more easily accessible, more universal material than “family”? Whether it’s carrying on tradition, rebuilding relationships, forging new paths or just figuring out how to talk to your mom while she’s in outer space, here are four family-infused screening...
In unseen, director Set Hernandez profiles Pedro, a visually impaired undocumented immigrant striving to become a social worker. We posed our Qs à la mode to Set, and here’s what they shared! If I had to describe my film using only three adjectives, they would be: Nuanced, resonant, accessible....
