Press Release
| Toronto, ON – Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is excited to unveil a dynamic lineup of screenings, series and special events running from June 14 to July 19. New release Antidote follows on-the-run investigative journalist and co-founder of Bellingcat, Christo Grozev, and returns to the cinema following its Canadian premiere at the 2025 Hot Docs Festival, where audiences selected it as number three in the Audience Top 20. The film joins The Hobby by Toronto filmmaker Simon Ennis (Lunarcy!), about the massive and diverse subculture of board games, as new releases coming to the cinema screen in June and July. Celebrated and award-winning filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk will present his latest film They Have to Hear Us: Canada’s Duty to Consult Inuit as part of a special event that will also bring Kunuk and producer Sam Cohn-Cousineau to the cinema stage for a post-screening conversation, moderated by Smaro Kamboureli, Avie Bennett Chair in Canadian Literature at University of Toronto. Special screenings include the return of The Encampments following a sold-out screening last month as part of the For Viola series, as well as Exhibition on Screen: Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers and Better Man. NEW RELEASES ANTIDOTE D: James Jones | USA, United Kingdom | 90 min | 2024 Journalist Christo Grozev and activist Vladimir Kara-Murza feature in this riveting doc-thriller about resisting and confronting the Russian regime. Friday, July 11 / 6:00 PM Saturday, July 12 / 5:00 PM Saturday, July 19 / 5:30 PM THE HOBBY D: Simon Ennis | Canada | 92 min | 2024 An affectionate, character-driven portrait of the massive and diverse subculture of board games. On July 5, director Simon Ennis will join us for a post-screening Q&A, moderated by Hot Docs programmer Gabor Pertic. Saturday, July 5 / 3:30 PM Sunday, July 6 / 1:00 PM SPECIAL EVENT THEY HAVE TO HEAR US: CANADA’S DUTY TO CONSULT INUIT D: Zacharias Kunuk | Canada | 127 min | 2024 Zacharias Kunuk (Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner) explores what meaningful consultation in the 21st century means within the context of a large-scale mining expansion on Baffin Island. Join director Zacharias Kunuk and producer Sam Cohn-Cousineau for a post-screening conversation, moderated by Smaro Kamboureli, Avie Bennett Chair in Canadian Literature at University of Toronto. Wednesday, June 18 / 6:30 PM SPECIAL SCREENINGS BETTER MAN D: Michael Gracey | United Kingdom, USA, China, France, Australia | 135 min | 2024 The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey spotlights the dramatic career of beloved British pop superstar Robbie Williams—as a chimpanzee. Sunday, July 13 / 3:00 PM THE ENCAMPMENTS D: Michael T. Workman, Kei Pritsker | USA | 82 min | 2025 An intimate eyewitness account of the student protests at Columbia University, this urgent documentary engages in salient conversations around free speech and protest. Thursday, June 12 / 7:00 PM Friday, July 4 / 6:00 PM EXHIBITION ON SCREEN: VAN GOGH: POETS & LOVERS D: David Bickerstaff | United Kingdom | 90 min | 2025 The only way to see the National Gallery’s acclaimed, sold-out exhibition of the beloved artist’s work. Saturday, July 5 / 12:45 PM Sunday, July 6 / 3:45 PM PRIDE PROJECTED FORBIDDEN LOVE: THE UNASHAMED STORIES OF LESBIAN LIVES D: Aerlyn Weissman, Lynne Fernie | Canada | 85 min | 1992 A compelling, empowering, at times hilarious exploration of queer women’s experiences in Canada in the mid-20th century. Sunday, June 29 / 3:00 PM STAFF PICKS JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS D: Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont | USA | 98 min | 2001 From the pages of Archie Comics and the iconic 70s cartoon, The Pussycats get their big break but discover their record company is controlling teens with subliminal messages. Sunday, July 6 / 6:30 PM THE BLUES BROTHERS – 45TH ANNIVERSARY D: John Landis | USA | 133 min | 1980 Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi’s love letter to American blues, featuring legends like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Cab Calloway, is a joy from start to finish. Sunday, July 13 / 6:30 PM MADE IN CANADA BONJOUR TRISTESSE D: Durga Chew-Bose | Canada | 110 min | 2024 Durga Chew-Bose’s masterful adaptation of the celebrated novel captures the complexity of relationships between women. Saturday, July 5 / 6:45 PM FAMILY SCREENINGS THE GOONIES – 40TH ANNIVERSARY D: Richard Donner | USA | 114 min | 1985 Forty years later, The Goonies still delivers endless fun, bringing out the kid in all of us. Saturday, July 12 / 2:00 PM BACK TO THE BLOOR DEEP BLUE SEA D: Renny Harlin | USA | 105 min | 1999 Action, absurdity and mutant sharks come together in this cult summer classic. Friday, July 4 / 8:45 PM THE MEG D: Jon Turteltaub | USA | 113 min |2018 A giant prehistoric shark traps a team at the bottom of the Pacific – only Jason Statham can save the day! Friday, July 11 / 8:45 PM |
