Hot Docs Film Festival 2014 [FILM]

The 2014 Hot Docs Festival, April 24 to May 4, will feature 197 official selections from 43 countries, and will open with the international premiere of Brian Knappenberger’s The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story Of Aaron Swartz. I have list of another 47 films I want to see this year, notably Advanced Style, You Won't Regret That Tattoo, Ai Weiwei The Fake Case, and The Notorious Mr. Bout.


Find films online, or download a printable version of this year’s screening schedule.


Hot Docs tickets, packages, passes, can be purchased online, by phone at 416.637.5150, or in person at the Hot Docs documentary Box Office, newly located at 2 Bloor Street West (Cumberland Terrace – Lower Level).


For more information on this year’s Festival, visit www.hotdocs.ca.

Hot Docs Film Festival 2013 [FILM]

For its 20th year (that's two decades in decade terms), the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival is pulling out all the stops.

With almost 250 documentaries chosen for this year's slate, the movies feature 44 world premieres and 45 Canadian-made films. From the opening night documentary "The Manor," which focuses on an Ontario strip joint and a family that has worked there for 30-odd years, to the enthralling "12 O'Clock Boys," about a juvenile street gang in urban Baltimore, Maryland, this year's selection offers a variety of topics.

As always, the Hot Docs Festival seeks to make its audience its number-one priority, and is still offering free tickets to daytime screenings for students and seniors. Last year's festival brought in two times the expected audience, and thousands of people around the world descended on Toronto to watch the films.

A special event this year is Hot Docs 20, in celebration of its anniversary, which will feature the top 20 fan favourites and winners from previous years, and will be screening for the five weeks leading up to the festival.

Hot Docs runs from April 25 - May 5, 2013. Single tickets and packages are now available. For complete information including Special Presentations, galas and the complete screening schedule, please visit the Hot Docs official website.

Hot Docs 2012 [FESTIVAL]

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival has announced its lineup for its 19th edition, to run April 26-May 6 in Toronto, Canada. From over 2,000 submissions, the festival set 189 titles from 51 different countries.


The opening night film is the Canadian premiere of Alison Klayman's AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY, an up-close portrait at of the renowned Chinese activist and artist.


A few notable films to look out for include: Bart Layton's THE IMPOSTER, which depicts a lost and found boy who may not be who he claims; James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot's INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE, a look into the lives of video game developers; Lauren Greenfield's THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, a portrait of an eccentric billionaire family facing the economic crisis; Kevin Macdonald's MARLEY, the much anticipated definitive biography of reggae artist Bob Marley. Chris James Thompson's JEFF; a documentary on serial killer/cannibal Jeffrey Dalhmer , which also played at SXSW. Brian Knappenberger's WE ARE LEGION: THE STORY OF THE HACKTIVISTS, a radical collective's fight that redefined civil disobedience. Sean McAllister's THE RELUCTANT REVOLUTIONARY, a portrait of a tour guide caught in the 2011 uprising in Yemen's capital. Guy Davidi and Emad Burnat's 5 BROKEN CAMERAS, a portrait of a West Bank village threatened by an encroaching Israeli settlement; and Petr Lom's BACK TO THE SQUARE, a look at citizens in post-revolution Egypt.

I’m looking also looking forward to checking out Louis Pepe and Keith Fulton's LOST IN LA MANCHA, which captures Terry Gilliam's ill-fated attempt to film the Don Quixote story… which sounds quixotic in itself.

For a full list of movies, ticket information, and show times check out the Hot Docs website HERE.

Toronto International Film Festival 2008

You know summer is winding down when start hearing about TIFF, and this year is no different. Taking place over a course of week from September 6-15 the city of Toronto will be swarmed with press, stars, and film aficionados. I am actually really excited about this years festival, as there are films presentations from some of my favourite directors including Canada native Atom Egoyan, and Madonna's husband Guy Ritchie. Going through the the some of the over 300 films I have picked out a few that I will hopefully get some tickets for.

• Adoration
• Burn After Reading
• Gomorra
• Religulous
• RocknRolla