Toronto/CMEDIA: HotDocs is reportedly thrilled to welcome intriguing film subjects, filmmakers and special guests to its 2025 Festival, taking place in Toronto April 24 to May 4.
Special guests include Academy Award-winner Marlee Matlin, artist Rashaad Newsome, investigative journalist and co-founder of Bellingcat Christo Grozev, Israeli stand-up comedian and activist Noam Shuster-Eliassi, Head of the NATO Liaison Office to the United Nations Dylan P White, Afghanistan Ambassador to Austria Manizha Bakhtari, and Olympic luge athlete Mirza Nikolajev.
Featured guests are listed below. In most cases, the guests will be present at one or more screenings.
Christo Grozev from ANTIDOTE (D: James Jones | P: James Jones | United Kingdom | 2024 | 90 min) — investigative journalist and co-founder of Bellingcat.
Rashaad Newsome from ASSEMBLY (D: Rashaad Newsome, Johnny Symons | P: Rashaad Newsome, Johnny Symons | USA | 2025 | 99 min) — Multidisciplinary artist known for his provocative work exploring representations of race, power, gender, and beauty.
Noam Shuster-Eliassi from COEXISTENCE, MY ASS! (D: Amber Fares | P: Rachel Leah Jones, Amber Fares, Valérie Montmartin | USA, France | 2025 | 95 min) — Israeli stand-up comedian and activist, who performs in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.
Dylan P White from FACING WAR (D: Tommy Gulliksen | P: Anne Marte Blindheim, Danielle Turkov Wilson | Norway | 2025 | 100 min) — Head of the NATO Liaison Office to the United Nations.
Manizha Bakhtari from THE LAST AMBASSADOR (D: Natalie Halla | P: Peter Drössler, Arash T. Riahi, Sabine Gruber, Natalie Halla | Austria | 2025 | 80 min) — Afghanistan Ambassador to Austria, leading one of Afghanistan’s most significant diplomatic representations.
Marlee Matlin from MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE (D: Shoshannah Stern | P: Robyn Kopp, Justine Nagan, Bonni Cohen, Shoshannah Stern | USA | 2025 | 97 min) — Pioneering Deaf performer and Academy Award winner (Children of a Lesser God).
Mirza Nikolajev from THE TRACK (D: Ryan Sidhoo | P: Ryan Sidhoo | Canada | 2025 | 90 min) — Olympic athlete in luge for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The 2025 Festival will also host over 150 of the world’s top documentary filmmakers and producers to introduce their films and participate in post-screening audience Q&As. Among those filmmakers in attendance are those listed below.
Rashaad Newsome (announced above) and Johnny Symons, directors of ASSEMBLY (D: Rashaad Newsome, Johnny Symons | P: Rashaad Newsome, Johnny Symons | USA | 2025 | 99 min)
Amber Fares, director of COEXISTENCE, MY ASS! (D: Amber Fares | P: Rachel Leah Jones, Amber Fares, Valérie Montmartin | USA, France | 2025 | 95 min)
Ryan White, director of COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT (D: Ryan White | P: Jessica Hargrave, Ryan White, Tig Notaro, Stef Willen | USA | 2025 | 104 min)
Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, directors of CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS ( ازواU رللاوی) ( D: Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza Eyni | P: Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki | Iran, USA, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Qatar, Chile | 2025 | 95 min)
Seth Scriver, director of ENDLESS COOKIE (D: Seth Scriver, Peter Scriver | P: Daniel Bekerman, Chris Yurkovich, Alex Ordanis, Jason Ryle, Seth Scriver | Canada | 2024 | 97 min)
Ried Davenport, director of LIFE AFTER (D: Reid Davenport | P: Colleen Cassingham | USA | 2025 | 99 min)
Chase Joynt and Julietta Singh, directors of THE NEST (D: Chase Joynt, Julietta Singh | P: Alicia Smith, Justine Pimlott | Canada, | 2025 | 89 min)
Noam Gonick, director of PARADE: QUEER ACTS OF LOVE & RESISTANCE (D: Noam Gonick | P: Justine Pimlott |Canada | 2025 | 96 min)
Matt Gallagher, directors of SHAMED (D: Matt Gallagher | P: Cornelia Principe | Canada | 2025 | 90 min)
Julien Elie, director of SHIFTING BASELINES (D: Julien Elie | P: Andreas Mendritzki, Aonan Yang, Julien Elie | Canada | 2025 | 100 min)
Sinakson Trevor Solway, director of SIKSIKAKOWAN: THE BLACKFOOT MAN (D: Sinakson Trevor Solway | P: Coty Savard | Canada | 2025 | 77 min)
Najiba Noori, director of WRITING HAWA (D: Najiba Noori, Rasul Noori (co-director) | P: Christian Popp, Hasse van Nunen, Renko Douze | France, Netherlands, Qatar, Afghanistan | 2024 | 85 min)
