Hot Docs

  • Review: Hot Docs provides new perspectives on familiar subjects (Includes first-hand account)

    Anyone looking for a film festival’s top offerings need to look no further than its “Special Presentations” section. At the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, organizers collect all the films with high profile directors and/or subjects here with 34 selections this year. From celebrities from all walks of life to controversial issues to prolific documentary filmmakers, this programme has it all. We look at three films from this category: Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World, My Scientology Movie and Trapped.

  • Review: Not all Hot Docs’ films are traditional documentaries (Includes first-hand account)

    In most film festivals, there are a number of films that don’t easily fit into other categories. At the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, those movies are put in the “Nightvision” programme. It’s here that audiences can find bizarre tales of horror, sex and outlandishness. We look at two films from this programme: Fear Itself and Nuts!

  • Review: Control is a major theme at Hot Docs 2016 (Includes first-hand account)

    In addition to the standard programmes, the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival always includes a few unique categories that group films with similar themes. This year, “Command + Control” is a collection of documentaries that deal with people and countries who exert control over others, as well as the protagonists and filmmakers who attempt to investigate and provide some command over the situation. We’ve looked at four films from this programme: Credit for Murder, Holy Hell, Tickled and Under the Sun.

  • Review: Hot Docs’ ‘World Showcase’ provides new takes on war & violence (Includes first-hand account)

    The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival’s “World Showcase” program includes selections that are not only produced outside of Canada, but that also address global issues. There are countless subjects that affect more than one community or country even though filmmakers may be forced to limit their focus. Two key topics highlighted in this section are violence and war. The following three documentaries are based on specific incidences, but the implications of their subjects are much broader.

  • Review: Hot Docs’ ‘Screen on Screen’ puts movies at the forefront (Includes first-hand account)

    Going to the cinema is generally considered a form of escape. Just this month, audiences sat shotgun with the team in Fast 7, fell in love for the first time in The Longest Ride, and saw the world through the eyes of acclaimed photographer Sebastião Salgado in The Salt of the Earth. But there are so many ways to experience film; the audience’s experiences will differ widely from the experiences of the actors and crew who made the picture. At the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, the “Screen on Screen” program investigates people’s relationships with movies. One of this year’s selections discusses the deliverance some cinephiles found in American productions, while another examines the effects of being a star in the Hollywood system.

  • Review: ‘Canadian Spectrum’ is Hot Docs’ salute to home (Includes first-hand account)

    Every worldly festival also pays homage to its home nation, showcasing the best local creators have to offer. The “Canadian Spectrum” program at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival features stories produced by Canadians, though many of the subjects reach beyond the country’s borders. Within this year’s selections, filmmakers examine a betrayal of trust on a personal and global scale, one man’s status as both savior and abuser, and the latest industry to covertly attack the world’s population.

  • Review: Hot Docs’ ‘Special Presentations’ demands your attention (Includes first-hand account)

    If you’re a festival goer seeking high-profile, high-interest fair, the first place to look is the “Special Presentations” section. Even though some of the selections may fit into other programs, the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival has thoughtfully singled out these movies because they have a certain quality. In some cases the picture is associated with a celebrity or well-known filmmaker, it could already be the subject of considerable buzz prior to its premiere, or the topic could be very timely at present. In the case of the four films listed below, the latter is most true.

  • Review: Hot Docs’ ‘Show me the Funny’ showcases stand-up & sketch comedy (Includes first-hand account)

    Almost everyone loves to laugh. Studies even show there are health benefits to a regular chuckle. There are entire television networks dedicated to broadcasting humorous content. It’s a mystery why some people are professional-grade funny and others are less so; it’s often a practiced craft, but for some it just comes naturally. The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival serves audience’s appetites for comedy with the program, “Show me the Funny.” Amongst this year’s selections is a film about three men who persevere in a struggling industry and another is a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most famous comedy troupes.

  • Review: What’s ‘Next’ at this year’s Hot Docs (Includes first-hand account)

    By understanding a society’s culture, one can learn a lot about its history and values. The “Next” program at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival reflects on trends, music and the arts, using one form of creativity to explore other modes of creativity. Focusing on contemporary pop culture and looking back at notable moments, events and figures makes this category one of the festival’s most appealing. This year one film revisits a special television exclusive that saved a struggling network, while another features the surprising top-selling genre in literary fiction.

  • Review: Hot Docs’ ‘Nightvision’ pushes film subjects to the outer limits (Includes first-hand account)

    The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival shares a variety of pictures rooted in real-life. From biopics to in-depth investigations, the featured films shock, reveal and entertain audiences. But what of the less traditional subjects that don’t easily fit into a specific category? For the adventurous moviegoer seeking films with a more unique appeal, Hot Docs created the “Nightvision” program. Offering documentaries for genre fans, this category is the go-to for the strange and unusual. Two films included in this year’s program couldn’t be more different from one another, yet still fit perfectly in the offbeat group.