Toronto/CMEDIA: A lineup of documentaries, special events and engaging author talks reportedly running from February 22 to April 7 has been announced by Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.
Included in the highlights are Oscar-nominated docs like Sugarcane and Soundtrack to a Coup d’État, as well as imaginative new community series such as Stitches & Scenes and Service Industry Night.
A diverse mix of powerful storytelling, interactive experiences and thought-provoking conversations, is being promised by Hot Docs Cinema promising something unforgettable for culture enthusiasts and curious minds alike.
To view the Hot Docs Cinema calendar, please visit www.hotdocs.ca
THE HOTTEST DOCS / OSCARS WEEKEND
- The Hottest Docs screening series returns with two standout films: The Bibi Files, an unflinching investigation into Benjamin Netanyahu, and The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, which uncovers the secret life of a World of Warcraft gamer after his death.
- During Oscars weekend, Hot Docs Cinema features Academy Award-nominated documentaries. No Other Land follows a Palestinian activist documenting the destruction of his community by Israeli forces, while forging an unexpected bond with a journalist. Sugarcane exposes abuse at a Canadian Indian residential school, sparking a national reckoning. Soundtrack to a Coup d’Étatreveals the political intrigue behind Patrice Lumumba’s 1961 assassination. Also screening is Flow, the Oscar-nominated Latvian animated feature that follows Cat, navigating a waterlogged world full of challenges beyond her fears.
- Join Hot Docs Cinema for a free broadcast of the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2.
SPECIAL EVENTS The Rocky Horror Picture Show , a cult classic and Hot Docs Cinema favourite is back on March 14. Performing their own satirical, comedic version of the film for audiences while adhering to all health and safety protocols would be presented by Toronto’s own shadow cast, Excited Mental State.
SERIES
Thrilled to partner with imagineNATIVE to celebrate Indigenous storytelling, Hot Docs would put a Spotlight on imagineNATIVE. Approaching its 25th anniversary, imagineNATIVE’s collaboration showcases groundbreaking films by Indigenous, First Nations, Métis and Inuit filmmakers, amplifying their voices on the global stage. With its ongoing work in delivering the best in Indigenous cinema, a portion of ticket sales from these screenings will go to support imagineNATIVE.
A new series Reel Injun would be launched on Feb 22 revealing the Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond’s examination of the portrayal of North American Indigenous people throughout a century of cinema.
A Q&A with Hot Docs’ Director of Programming Heather Haynes and imagineNATIVE’s Artistic Director Lindsay Monture would follow the screening.
Inviting audiences to stitch, knit or craft along to beloved films, the new Stitches & Scenes series would screen Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire’s Funny Face on February 22.
Meanwhile, Service Industry Night celebrates bartenders, servers and behind-the-scenes heroes with monthly events, screening the hilariously raunchy restaurant comedy Waiting on February 23.
Discussion of a historical thriller, The Paris Express by Bestselling author Emma Donoghue hits the Hot Docs stage. Loosely inspired by an 1895 disaster and captured in a series of surreal, extraordinary photographs, The Paris Express is a novel set on a train packed with a fascinating cast of characters who hail from as close as Brittany and as far as Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania and Cambodia. Cinema Ticket: $15 (Members: $10, $8, FREE) *
* Unless otherwise specified.
THE HOTTEST DOCS / OSCARS WEEKEND
The Hottest Docs / Oscars Weekend
NO OTHER LAND D: Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor | Palestine, Norway | 95 min | 2024 In the Oscar-nominated No Other Land, a Palestinian activist films his community’s destruction by Israeli forces, building an unlikely alliance with a journalist. Nominee – Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film Friday, February 28 / 6:30 PM
The Hottest Docs / Oscars Weekend
SUGARCANE D: Julian Brave, NoiseCat, Emily Kassie | USA, Canada | 107 min | 2024 Oscar-nominated, Sugarcane exposes abuse at a Canadian Indian residential school, sparking a reckoning. Winner – Sundance Film Festival’s US Documentary—Directing Award, San Francisco International Film Festival’s Best Feature Documentary Award, National Board of Review’s Best Documentary Film Award. Nominee – Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film Friday, February 28 / 9:15 PM
The Hottest Docs / Oscars Weekend
SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT D: Johan Grimonprez| Belgium, France, The Netherlands | 150 min | 2024 Oscar-nominated, Soundtrack to a Coup d’État reveals the political intrigue behind Patrice Lumumba’s 1961 assassination. Winner – World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award, Cinematic Innovation, Sundance Film Festival Nominee – Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film Saturday, March 1 / 12:00 PM
The Hottest Docs
THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF IBELIN D: Benjamin Ree | Norway | 104 min | 2024 The secret life of a World of Warcraft gamer is reimagined when his online pals contact his family after his death. Winner – Directing Award, World Cinema, Sundance Film Festival 2024, Audience Award, World Cinema, Sundance Film Festival 2024 Saturday, March 1 / 3:45 PM
Oscars Weekend
FLOW
D: Gints Zilbalodis | Latvia | 85 min | 2024 Oscar-nominated, Flow follows Cat in a flooded world, tackling challenges far beyond his fear of water in this animated gem. Winner – Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Nominee – Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film Sunday, March 2 / 12:00 PM
The Hottest Docs
THE BIBI FILES D: Alexis Bloom | USA | 115 min | 2024 This investigation of Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle provides an unflinching gaze into a private world. Stick around for a post-screening Zoom Q&A with director Alexis Bloom and Hot Docs’ Gabor Pertic. Sunday, March 2 / 2:30 PM
Oscars Weekend
FREE 97th ACADEMY AWARDS BROADCAST
Join Hot Docs Cinema for their annual free broadcast of the 97th Academy Awards! Join Hot Docs Cinema for the preshow at 6 pm and help review the best red carpet looks of the night. Hosted by Hot Docs Cinema’s Neil Armstrong. Sunday, March 2 / 6:00 PM * Tickets are FREE – 4 per person max. All guests must have a ticket to attend.
* Please consider donating via the ticket path or at the box office to imagineNATIVE to support their ongoing work within the Indigenous Cinema communities.
SERIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
Stitches & Scenes FUNNY FACE D: Stanley Donen | USA | 103 min | 1957
Bring your crochet, knitting or embroidery, and stitch away to this classic movie musical starring Audrey Hepburn. The film will be played with house lights on for the duration of the film. Guests can bring their own portable crafting lamps for extra light. BYOC—Bring your own craft: crochet, knitting, or a colouring book. Don’t forget reusable cups and containers for a 10% discount on non-alcoholic beverages and popcorn. Arrive early to participate in a craft supply swap! Have a ball of yarn you haven’t thought about in ages? Paint you bought for that one project you never got around to using? Give your new or lightly used craft supplies a new life and swap them for something old but new to you. Supplies left over at the end of the event will be donated to Creative Reuse Toronto. Saturday, February 22 / 3:30 PM
Spotlight on Imagine
NATIVE
REEL INJUN D: Neil Diamond, Catherine Bainbridge, Jeremiah Hayes | Canada | 88 min | 2009 Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond examines the portrayal of North American Indigenous people throughout a century of cinema. Stick around for a post-screening Q&A with Hot Docs’ Director of Programming Heather Haynes and imagineNATIVE’s Artistic Director Lindsay Monture. Saturday, February 22 / 7:30 PM
* A portion of ticket sales from these screenings will go to support imagineNATIVE’s ongoing work in delivering the best in Indigenous cinema.
Service Industry Night
WAITING
D: Rob McKittrick| USA | 94 min | 2005 Calling bartenders, servers, stage managers, PAs, chefs and dishwashers—come put your feet up at Hot Docs Cinema and enjoy a Service Industry Night screening of Waiting, the raunchy comedy following a day in the lives of restaurant employees navigating work drama, customer antics and their own existential dilemmas. Service Industry Night is presented with Community Partner Collective Arts. Sunday, February 23 / 9:00 PM
Special Event
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW D: Jim Sharman | UK, USA | 100 min | 1975
“Let’s do the Time Warp Again!” Cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show is back! Toronto’s own shadow cast, Excited Mental State, will be performing their own satirical, comedic version of the film for audiences while adhering to all health and safety protocols. Friday, March 14 / 9:30 PM * Tickets: General: $20 / Members: $18
Author Talks
EMMA DONOGHUE ON THE PARIS EXPRESS Emma Donoghue hits the Hot Docs stage to discuss The Paris Express, a historical thriller you can’t put down. Loosely inspired by an 1895 disaster that went down in history when it was captured in a series of surreal, extraordinary photographs, The Paris Express is a propulsive novel set on a train packed with a fascinating cast of characters who hail from as close as Brittany and as far as Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania and Cambodia. Books will be available for purchase, with a signing session following the Q&A.
Presented in partnership with Penguin Random House Canada and TYPE Books.
Monday, April 7 / 7:00 PM *Orchestra: $15
