The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is back in Toronto and celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Known as North America’s largest documentary festival and market, Hot Docs is dedicated to showcasing, supporting and advancing the art of Canadian and international documentary filmmakers. The non-for-profit organization creates production opportunities whilst promoting excellence in documentary production.
This year, the Hot Docs festival includes 214 outstanding documentaries spanning 72 countries around the world, carefully selected from over 2,800 submissions.
Hot Docs Artistic Director, Shane Smith, tells Now Toronto this year includes the most countries the organization has ever represented at the festival. He shares the range of events Torontonians can expect to see.
“We’ve got talks, we’ve got flamenco performances, therapy, dogs, tarot card readings, a walking tour and a screening in Ontario Place. We’re projecting onto unexpected surfaces in Ontario Place,” he said.
“And then later in the week, we’ve got podcast events. We’re doing live podcast events on stage here at the Hot Docs Cinema with world famous podcasters coming into town for that as well. So, there’s a lot happening for the next 11 days,” Smith added.
When it comes to festival screenings, there are several documentaries in particular that feature some big names. Smith points out the Joan Baez I Am A Noise documentary, the Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie documentary, and the Stephen Curry: Underrated documentary as examples.
Additionally, he says the international films are exclusively special because they can only be seen at this festival.
“These documentaries really show us what’s going on in the world. They show us stories of people overcoming the odds, people doing great work in their communities. These are films that will inspire you. They might infuriate you, they might upset you, but you will be changed once you see a documentary in the festival this year,” Smith explained.
TWICE COLONIZED DEBUTS AT HOT DOCS FESTIVAL
On Thursday, the festival premiered with a screening of Twice Colonized, directed by Danish filmmaker Lin Alluna. The film follows Greenlandic Inuk lawyer and activist, Aaju Peter, who embarks on a journey to bring her colonizing countries, Canada and Denmark, to justice and reclaim her language and culture.
The film is the first ever co-production between Inuit across colonial borders.
“It’s a very personal portrait of Aaju and her life as she’s fighting through the effects of colonization. And she’s trying to create this permanent forum for Indigenous people to create structural change,” Alluna said to Now.
Alongside Alluna was Peter, the star actress of the documentary, she says her goal for this film is to spread awareness about Indigenous issues and inspire dialogue around the subject.
“I would like a better understanding of the Indigenous peoples and their struggles, what we have been through and we are going through the effects and trying to make sense of it. What I would really like at the end of the day is more open communication with all Canadians, with all people who view this, so that we can have a better future,” Peter said.
Alluna and Peter say they feel extremely blessed and fortunate to have their film debut on the opening night of Hot Docs.
“It is a great honor to show the film here. I think that what’s special for me about Hot Docs is that we pitched the film here in 2019. So, that was really when we came together as a producing team. And then coming back here is kind of going full circle,” Alluna said.
Single tickets are $19 and daytime screenings before 5pm are free for students, seniors and Hot Docs members under the age of 25.
Showtimes will play at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema located at 506 Bloor St W in the Annex neighbourhood, as well as other select theatres in Toronto.
The Hot Docs festival takes place April 27 through May 7.
