2012 Hot Docs announces guests, directors in attendance

HOT DOCS TO WELCOME INTRIGUING FILM SUBJECTS AND A RECORD NUMBER OF GUEST DIRECTORS AT FESTIVAL SCREENINGS

Toronto, April 19, 2012 – Hot Docs is honoured to welcome a number of guest subjects, including rock star Rick Springfield, director Jennifer Lynch, video game creator Phil Fish, war photographer Don McCullin, artist and Pee-wee’s Playhouse puppeteer Wayne White, and Dahmer-case detective Pat Kennedy, who are featured in films at the upcoming Festival, April 26 to May 6. In addition to guest subjects, 146 directors - a record number - will be in attendance at the Festival to introduce their films and participate in post-screening audience Q&As.

Featured guests are listed below. In most cases, the guests will be present at one or more screenings.

Rick Springfield from AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART (D: Sylvia Caminer | USA | 94 min) – Rock star Rick Springfield is well known for pop mega-hits like “Jessie’s Girl” and from his stint as General Hospital’s Noah Drake.

Wayne White from BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING (D: Neil Berkeley | USA | 91 min) – Wayne White began as a humble puppeteer and went on to become a co-creator of Pee-wee’s Playhouse and a celebrated artist.

Karen Winther from THE BETRAYAL (D: Karen Winther |UK, Norway | 64 min) – Winther turns the camera on herself in a first-person exposé of her  darkest moments.

Fredrik Gertten from BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!* (D: Fredrik Gertten | Sweden | 88 min) –Gertten chronicles the lawsuit led by a multi-national food giant that attempted to quash the release of his film BANANAS!*

Stacy Peralta from BONES BRIGADE: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY (D: Stacy Peralta | USA |110 min) – The Bones Brigade, a ‘80s skateboarding team that included director Stacy Peralta, revolutionized skateboarding.

Qi Moxiang from CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT (D: Yung Chang | Canada, China |89 min) – A state boxing coach, Qi Moxiang searches for young boys with raw talent who he hopes to shape into champions.

Aruna Papp from CRIMES WITHOUT HONOUR (D: Raymonde Provencher | Canada |69 min) – Aruna Papp counsels Canadian men and women who are trapped in cultures that extol honour and shame.

Jennifer Lynch from DESPITE THE GODS (D: Penny Vozniak | Australia | 85 min) – Daughter of cult film auteur David Lynch, director Jennifer Lynch’s Bollywood/Hollywood production puts her to the test.

Dawn “Godiva” Maetas from GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING (D: Brett Whitcomb | USA | 76 min ) – Appearing in seasons three and four, Godiva is one of Glow’s gorgeous ladies of wrestling.

Nina Conti from HER MASTER’S VOICE (D: Nina Conti | UK |61 min) – An acclaimed ventriloquist and comedian, Nina Conti receives news that her mentor has bequeathed to her his collection of dummies.

Jackie Sumell from HERMAN’S HOUSE (D: Angad Singh Bhalla | Canada| 81 min) – Artist and activist Jackie Sumell asks imprisoned Black Panther Herman Wallace to collaborate on an art project by imagining his dream house.

Phil Fish from INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE (D: James Swirsky, Lisanne Pajot | Canada | 96 min) – The creator of video game Fez, Phil Fish is a gifted game-maker from Montreal.

Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi from ITALY LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT (D: Gustav Hofer, Luca Ragazzi | Italy, Germany |75 min) – These two filmmakers take a six-month road trip across Italy.

Pat Kennedy from JEFF (D: Chris James Thompson | USA | 75 min) – When brought in for questioning, infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer confessed to Detective Kennedy.

Ewan MacKinnon from THE KID AND THE CLOWN (D: Ida Grøn | Denmark | 53 min) – Better known as Angus the Clown, Ewan MacKinnon brings joy to hospital patients.

Frank Lee and Corey Lee from LEGEND OF A WARRIOR (D: Corey Lee | Canada |78 min) – Filmmaker Corey Lee trains with his father, Frank, a martial arts master, to better understand his Chinese heritage.

Ben Peter from LIFE IN STILLS (D: Tamar Tal | Israel | 58 min) – Ben join forces with his grandmother to save his grandfather’s photographic legacy.

Don McCullin from MCCULLIN (D: Jacqui Morris | UK | 89 min) – To many, Don McCullin is the greatest living war photographer.

Tiffany Sudela-Junker from MY NAME IS FAITH (D: Tiffany Sudela-Junker, Jason Banker, Jorge Torres-Torres |USA | 82 min) – Director Tiffany Sudela-Junker tackles the seemingly impossible task of helping her adoptive daughter overcome past traumas.

Sami Helle, Pertti Kurikka, and Toni Välitallo from THE PUNK SYNDROME (D: Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi | Finland |85 min) -  Bassist Sami Helle , guitarist Pertti Kurikka and drummer Toni Välitallo are three quarters of the punk rock band Pertti Kurikka’s Name Day.

Radioman from RADIOMAN (D: Mary Kerr | UK | 75 min) – A fixture on NYC film sets, Radioman is a celebrity’s celebrity.

Brian White from SMOKE TRADERS (D: Jeff Dorn, Catherine Bainbridge | Canada | 51 min) – Brian White is a former tobacco runner from Akwesasne.

Wu Tsang from WILDNESS (D: Wu Tsang | USA |74 min) – Director and L.A. performance artist Wu Tsang co-founded the popular weekly party called Wildness.