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10 Hot Docs films to lock down

It happens at every festival: movies come out of nowhere to grab everyone’s attention, selling out their screenings quickly. Hot Docs doesn’t begin until next week, but book these big-buzz flicks now. For information on tickets and times, see hotdocs.ca.

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AMERICAN: THE BILL HICKS STORY

(Paul Thomas, Matt Harlock)

He’s been dead for 16 years, but few comics have since matched the combination of informed anger and political edge that Bill Hicks brought to his nightly stand-up sets. Thomas and Harlock’s documentary – produced in Britain, where Hicks was a far bigger star than he ever was in the U.S. – aims to make sure we don’t forget him any time soon.

Screens May 6 and 8

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AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE

(Steven Soderbergh)

In 1996, Soderbergh directed Spalding Gray in a film version of his monologue Gray’s Anatomy. In 2004, Gray committed suicide. Now, Soderbergh pays tribute to this irreplaceable artist by constructing one final performance out of existing Gray performances. This one’s at the top of my personal must-see list.

Screens April 30, May 1

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FREETIME MACHOS

(Mika Ronkainen)

It may not have the profile of some of this year’s heaviest hitters, but Ronkainen’s study of a terrible Finnish rugby team – and the occasionally demented male bonding rituals that keep their spirits up – will have people chest-bumping in the aisles.

Screens May 5 and 8

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GASLAND

(Josh Fox)

Fox investigates one of the scariest American environmental horror stories of the last decade – contamination of wells and rivers by unregulated (and highly toxic) natural gas exploration. You can’t really understand ecological dread until you see tap water catch fire.

Screens April 30, May 2 and 9

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LISTEN TO THIS

(Juan Baquero)

Everyone at Hot Docs has been buzzing about Baquero’s look at three students in the music program at Toronto’s Firgrove Public School, in the Jane-Finch corridor.

Screens May 2 and 9

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12th & DELAWARE

(Rachel Grady, Heidi Ewing)

Jesus Camp directors Grady and Ewing continue their coverage of America’s culture war with this look at an intersection in Fort Pierce, Florida, where pro-life crusaders open a “pregnancy centre” across the road from an abortion clinic.

Screens May 4 and 6

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MARWENCOL

(Jeff Malmberg)

Malmberg would like to introduce you to Mark Hogancamp and his remarkable art therapy project. The documentary with the year’s strangest title is also the documentary that people are going to be talking about for a very long time.

Screens May 4 and 6

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THE PEOPLE VS. GEORGE LUCAS

(Alexandre Philippe)

Anger, fear, aggression – they are the path to the dark side. They’re also perfectly reasonable responses to Attack Of The Clones. Philippe’s long-awaited doc explores the schism between the Star Wars creator and the fans who’ve watched him destroy his legacy with inferior prequels.

Screens May 1, 3 and 4

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RUSH: BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE

(Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen)

Dunn and McFadyen, who established their musical bona fides with Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey and Global Metal, tackle Canada’s very own monsters of rock. Come on, you know you want to see Geddy Lee kick back and talk about power chords.

Screens April 29 and 30

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WASTE LAND

(Lucy Walker)

Blindsight director Walker returns with a profile of Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, who creates socially engaged art from garbage. It’s generating considerable buzz as a future Oscar contender.

Screens May 1 and 5

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