Toronto/CMEDIA: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is excited to unveil a dynamic lineup of screenings, new series and special events running from March 15 to May 17.
Highlights include Diane Warren: Relentless, a captivating look at the legendary songwriter’s four-decade career of chart-topping hits. Plus, experience the best of Toronto’s documentary scene with In Focus: Toronto’s Doc Filmmakers, a new monthly series celebrating the city’s top documentary storytellers and their most compelling films.
To view the Hot Docs Cinema calendar, please visit www.hotdocs.ca
NEW RELEASE
- Acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren takes center stage in Diane Warren: Relentless, a compelling documentary on her legendary career. Hot Docs Cinema will also host A Weekend with Diane Warren, celebrating the songwriter’s impact on film music with screenings of Burlesque and Armageddon, featuring her Oscar-nominated song “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”
- Audiences can look forward to the highly anticipated encore screening of Blue Rodeo: Lost Together, a heartfelt look at one of Canada’s most beloved bands.
SPECIAL EVENTS
- The Cinema’s lineup includes screenings of Fleabag: National Theatre Live, the award-winning play starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge that inspired the hit BBC series, and Summer of Soul, Questlove’s vibrant documentary on the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.
- Paleontologists traverse the globe to unearth dinosaur fossils that may hold the key to saving humanity from extinction in Jeremy Xido’s The Bones, screening on March 22 and featuring a post-screening Q&A with members of the film team.
SERIES
- For Viola:OnApril 4, Hot Docs Cinema proudly presents a free screening of Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, a lyrical documentary celebrating the late poet and activist. A post-screening Q&A with filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson will be moderated by Toronto-based critic and curator Sarah-Tai Black.
- Spotlight on ImagineNATIVE: Hot Docs continues its partnership with ImagineNATIVE to showcase Indigenous storytelling, featuring Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (April 19) and Taika Waititi’s Boy (May 17).
- In Focus: Toronto’s Doc Filmmakers, the new monthly screening series spotlighting the city’s top filmmakers and their most compelling stories, presents Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story on March 23, with a special Q&A featuring director Alison Duke, and The Ghosts in our Machine on March 30, with a special Q&A featuring director Liz Marshall.
- Drunk Feminist Films presenting lively screenings of Charlie’s Angels on March 27, hosted by Natalie Norman and Sima Sepehri, and Eat, Pray, Love on March 28, hosted by Scaachi Koul.
- Families can enjoy a Tangled Sing-Along, with little ones invited to dress up and sing their hearts out.
- Experience one of the best sequels ever as ogres intended: with drinks flowing and an unhinged shout-along game—Shrek 2 Shout-Along screens on April 12.
- The Mockumentary series invites film enthusiasts to revisit cult classic The Blair Witch Project.
Cinema Ticket: $15 (Members: $10, $8, FREE) *
* Unless otherwise specified.
NEW RELEASES Encore ScreeningBLUE RODEO: LOST TOGETHERD: Dale Heslip | Canada | 88 min | 2024 Blue Rodeo: Lost Together is an engaging dive into the world of one of Canada’s most beloved bands. With the unmistakable voices of Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor guiding the way, this documentary blends humour, honesty and heart to tell the story of their incredible 40-year journey. Sunday, March 16 / 3:15 PM.
New ReleaseDIANE WARREN: RELENTLESS
D: Bess Kargman | USA | 91 min | 2024
Songwriter Diane Warren emerges as a force to be reckoned with in this look at her four decades of writing mega-hits. Friday, March 21 / 6:00 PM, Saturday, March 22 / 1:00 PM, Sunday, March 23 / 1:00 PM
SERIES & SPECIAL EVENTS Special ScreeningFLEABAG: NATIONAL THEATRE LIVED: Vicky Jones | UK | 67 min | 2023
The hilarious, award-winning play that inspired the BBC’s hit series, written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Saturday, March 15 / 12:30 PM Sunday, March 16 / 6:30 PM
Special Screening
SUMMER OF SOULD: Questlove | USA | 118 min | 2021
Questlove’s debut film revisits the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a long-lost celebration of music, culture and soul. Sunday, March 16 / 12:00 PM
A Weekend with Diane Warren
BURLESQUE
D: Steven Antin | USA | 119 min | 2010
Celebrate the release of the documentary Diane Warren: Relentless with this campy musical starring Cher and Christina Aguilera and featuring Warren’s music. Friday, March 21 / 9:15 PM
Special EventTHE BONES
D: Jeremy Xido | Canada, Germany | 98 min | 2024Paleontologists traverse the globe to unearth dinosaur fossils that may hold the key to saving humanity from extinction.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with members of the film team. Saturday, March 22 / 4:00 PM
A Weekend with Diane Warren
ARMAGEDDOND: Michael Bay | USA | 150 min | 1998
Celebrate Diane Warren: Relentless with this disaster classic, featuring her Oscar-nominated hit “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” Saturday, March 22 / 8:00 PM
In Focus: Toronto’s Doc FilmmakersBAM BAM: THE SISTER NANCY STORYD: Alison Duke | Canada | 98 min | 2024
Sister Nancy’s iconic “Bam Bam” shaped music for 40 years—discover her story in Alison Duke’s inspiring doc. Join director Alison Duke for a special post-screening Q&A. Sunday, March 23 / 7:30 PM
Drunk Feminist Films: CHARLIE’S ANGELSD: MCG | USA | 98 min | 2000
Join Lucy Liu, my girl Drew, Cameron D and Destiny for some martial arts mayhem and approximately 69,420 wardrobe changes. Hosted by Natalie Norman and Sima Sepehri. Thursday, March 27 / 8:00 PM*
General: $25 / Students and Seniors: $20 Drunk Feminist FilmsEAT, PRAY, LOVED: Ryan Murphy | USA | 133 min | 2010
Join Drunk Feminist Films for a romp through countries that start with “i” in search of self-actualization and healing. Hosted by Scaachi Koul. Friday, March 28 / 8:00 PM
*General: $25 / Students and Seniors: $20 Family ScreeningTANGLED SING-ALONGD: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard | USA | 100 min | 2010
Little royals, dress up and sing your heart out at a magical Tangled sing-along! Costumes of all kinds are welcome! Sunday, March 30 / 12:00 PM
*General & Members: $15 / 12 and under: $7.50 In Focus: Toronto’s Doc Filmmakers
THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINED: Liz Marshall | Canada | 92 min | 2013
A feature doc by Toronto’s Liz Marshall revealing the lives of individual animals within the machine of our modern world. Join director Liz Marshall for a virtual post-screening Q&A. Sunday, March 30 / 3:00 PM
MockumentaryTHE BLAIR WITCH PROJECTD: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez | USA | 81 min | 1999Three students enter the Maryland woods to film the Blair Witch—what they capture convinced millions it was real. Presented with Community Partner Collective Arts. Sunday, March 30 / 6:00 PM
For Viola
GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT *FREE SCREENING*D: Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson| USA | 102 min | 2023
In celebration of revered poet Nikki Giovanni, who passed late last year at the age of 81, For Viola proudly presents a community screening of a rich and lyrical documentary portrait, crafted by veteran filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson. Winner of the 2023 Sundance Grand Jury Prize for U.S. documentary, Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project is a vibrant late-life tribute to the legendary author and activist.
This screening will be followed by an in-person Q&A with filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, moderated by Toronto-based critic and curator Sarah-Tai Black. For Viola is supported by the Donner Canadian Foundation and the Ontario Arts Council. Friday, April 4 / 7:00 PM
*While this screening is presented free of charge, please consider a donation of $10 in recognition of the value of the work presented, and in honour of Viola Desmond, featured on the $10 banknote, at checkout. Half the proceeds will be shared directly with the filmmakers, who also receive screening fees.
Let’s Sing-Along & Shout-AlongSHREK 2 SHOUT-ALONGD: Andrew Adamson, Conrad Vernon, Kelly Asbury | USA | 90 min | 2004
Experience one of the best sequels ever as ogres intended: with drinks flowing and an unhinged shout-along game. Featuring a drag performance by Andy Fetamean, a shout-along game and themed drink special, this event has many layers to enjoy. Saturday, April 12 / 8:00 PM
Spotlight on Imagine
NATIVEATANARJUAT: THE FAST RUNNERD: Zacharias Kunuk | Canada | 161 min | 2000
Filmed in Inuktitut and made by Inuit filmmakers, this adaptation of an Inuit legend is the first feature of its kind. Saturday, April 19 / 3:30 PM
*Free for members Spotlight on ImagineNATIVEBOYD: Taika Waititi | New Zealand | 88 min | 2010
In Taika Waititi’s Boy, a young Māori kid idolizes Michael Jackson—until his estranged father returns home. Saturday, May 17 / 3:30 PM *Free for members
