Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival announced its full film line-up for the upcoming 21st edition, April 24–May 4, at a press conference this morning at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto. From 2,435 film submissions, this year’s slate will present 197 titles from 43 countries in 12 screening programs.
“We are so proud to be showing these incredible films and combining them with amazing live events and experiences.” says Hot Docs director of programming Charlotte Cook. “We truly hope it will be a festival of ideas, discussion and amazement and we’re looking forward to bringing the best filmmaking in the world to the world’s greatest audience.”
In addition to the opening night international premiere of Brian Knappenberger’s THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ, an inspiring and emotional portrait of a young Internet visionary, other notable films in the Special Presentations program include: Pavel Loparev and Askold Kurov’s CHILDREN 404, a firsthand account of LGBT youth in Russia; Anthony Baxter’s A DANGEROUS GAME, an explosive tale of everyday heroes battling against Donald Trump’s development plans; Chad Walker and Dave LaMattina’s I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY, a big-hearted tale of the man behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch; Jesse Moss’ THE OVERNIGHTERS, depicting a local pastor risking everything to welcome the desperate men migrating to a small North Dakota community; Cynthia Hill’s PRIVATE VIOLENCE, a beautifully crafted story exploring the fact that the most dangerous place for a woman is her home; Igal Hecht’s THE SHEIK, a personal and emotional tale of Olympic wrestler and pop culture icon the Iron Sheik; and Joe Berlinger’s WHITEY: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. JAMES J. BULGER, which strips away the myths surrounding infamous Boston gangster and FBI informant James “Whitey” Bulger.
In the competitive Canadian Spectrum program, notable films include: Thomas Wallner’s BEFORE THE LAST CURTAIN FALLS, a stunning portrayal of the tumultuous off-stage lives of six aging Belgian transvestites and transsexual performers; Vic Sarin’s THE BOY FROM GEITA, the story of a young Tanzanian boy with albinism surviving a brutal attack and given hope with the promise of surgery in Canada; Ray Klonsky and Marc Lamy’s DAVID & ME, following a tenacious filmmaker’s quest to prove a man’s innocence 28 years after his incarceration; Julia Kwan’s EVERYTHING WILL BE, a heartwarming and cinematically stunning ode to a Vancouver community in transition; Tony Girardin’s MARINONI, the story of Canada’s most revered bicycle craftsman attempting a world cycling record at 75 years old; John Kastner’s OUT OF MIND, OUT OF SIGHT, which follows the filmmaker’s return to the Brockville Mental Health Centre to capture patients struggling for control of their lives; and Amar Wala’s THE SECRET TRIAL 5, the shocking story of five Muslim men imprisoned without charge under Canada’s controversial security certificates policy.
In the competitive International Spectrum program, notable films include: Robert Greene’s ACTRESS, a present-tense portrait of The Wire’s Brandy Burre trying to balance the demanding roles of mother, lover, wife and performer; Gabriel London’s THE LIFE AND MIND OF MARK DEFRIEST, a look at the legendary Florida jailbreaker who is determined to escape the violence and despair of prison; Helen Simon’s NO LULLABY, a powerful film about three generations of a family that are silenced by a horrific secret; Adam Weber and Jimmy Goldblum’s TOMORROW WE DISAPPEAR, the story of Delhi’s famed “tinsel slum” performers who use every trick in their arsenal when their neighbourhood is illegally sold; and Eliza Kubarska’s WALKING UNDER WATER, a magical look at the last compressor diver from the Badjao tribe in Malaysian Borneo imparting his wisdom to a young student.
In the World Showcase program, notable films include: Ryuji Otsuka’s THE BEIJING ANTS, a cautionary tale about capitalism and customer service in modern China; Ryan Murdock’s BRONX OBAMA, the story of a true doppelgänger of Barack Obama who finds that life as the president isn’t always easy; Tony Shaff’s HOTLINE, an intimate portrait of the strangers who connect to save lives, predict futures and satisfy lust via telephone hotlines; David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg’s THE IMMORTALISTS, about two free-thinking biologists on a quest to find the cure for mortality and reverse the aging process forever; Andrea Kalin and Oliver Lukacs’ RED LINES, the story of two unlikely activists who struggle to create one free, democratic Syrian village; Stephanie Wang-Breal’s TOUGH LOVE, a rare glimpse inside the American child welfare system; and Ibtisam Mara’ana Menuhin’s WRITE DOWN, I AM AN ARAB, a heart-breaking film about the rich life of Palestine’s national poet Mahmoud Darwish.
The Made In Denmark program includes: Karen Stokkendal Poulsen’s THE AGREEMENT, an undiplomatically comic exposé in which Serbia and Kosova representatives face off over a co-existence agreement; Ulrik Wivel’s A DIFFERENT KIND OF BOY, the story of an autistic 18-year old and his brother on a road trip to Barcelona and independence; and Elvira Lind’s SONGS FOR ALEXIS, about a talented transgender musician and his girlfriend navigating their love story and its place in the world.
The Next program includes: Lina Plioplyte’s ADVANCED STYLE, an invigorating portrait of New York’s most stylish elderly women; Andrew Napier’s MAD AS HELL, about Cenk Uygur’s rise from public access TV to being the creator of the most popular online news show in the world; and Dennis Mohr’s MUGSHOT, a fascinating investigation into how mug shots have been repurposed as art and historical evidence.
The Nightvision program includes: Adam Rifkin’s GIUSEPPE MAKES A MOVIE, a portrait of the ultimate independent filmmaker completing his 30th feature in just two days; and William Westaway’s THE WRITER WITH NO HANDS, the story of a propaganda expert discovering the US military’s involvement in Hollywood.
The Love, Factually program includes: Doug Block’s 112 WEDDINGS, a revealing look into what keeps couples together after marriage; Philip Cox and Hikaru Toda’s LOVE HOTEL, an intimate glimpse into the unique world of love hotels in Japan; and Geeta V. Patel and Ravi V. Patel’s MEET THE PATELS, the story of a first-generation Indian-American letting his parents find him a wife.
The Mystery, Myth & Legend program includes: Dave Jannetta’s LOVE AND TERROR ON THE HOWLING PLAINS OF NOWEHERE, about the effect a violent death and unsolvable mystery has on a Twin Peaks-esque community; and Jessica Oreck’s THE VANQUISHING OF THE BABA YAGA, which reimagines the centuries-old Slavic fable of Baba Yaga within a dreamlike, anthropological portrait of modern-day life.
The Redux program will highlight five films that deserve another outing on the big screen.
Additionally, Hot Docs is pleased to present two retrospective programs: Focus On John Zaritsky, a mid-career retrospective of the filmmaker’s work; and the Outstanding Achievement Award Retrospective, honouring the influential work of English documentary filmmaker and journalist Adam Curtis.
Also a premier documentary conference and market, Hot Docs will be welcoming over 2,000 industry delegates who will partake in a wide array of industry events and services, including conferences sessions, receptions and parties, Hot Docs Deal Maker, The Doc Shop and the Hot Docs Forum, April 30 and May 1.
Hot Docs 2014 will screen documentaries in the following programs:
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Award-winning films, celebrated filmmakers, high-profile subjects and special events.
CANADIAN SPECTRUM
Sponsored by TVO
A competitive program of compelling Canadian stories and perspectives.
FOCUS ON JOHN ZARITSKY
Showcasing the work of the Academy Award-winning Canadian filmmaker.
INTERNATIONAL SPECTRUM
A curated competition of diverse works from around the world.
WORLD SHOWCASE
Sponsored by documentary
A popular global selection of the year’s finest docs.
MADE IN DENMARK
Supported by the Danish Film Institute
A selection of films celebrating the region’s finest contemporary non-fiction cinema.
LOVE, FACTUALLY
Showcasing stories about love, passion and matters of the heart.
MYSTERY, MYTH & LEGEND
Highlighting the power of legends and the mysteries of the real world.
NEXT
A dedicated celebration of the arts, creativity and pop culture.
NIGHTVISION
A program that highlights future cult classics and diverse, creative approaches to filmmaking.
REDUX
A rare chance to see films that deserve another outing on the big screen.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RETROSPECTIVE HONOURING ADAM CURTIS
A retrospective celebrating the documentary filmmaker and journalist’s distinguished career.
Hot Docs is also pleased to present the following special events:
SCOTIABANK BIG IDEAS SERIES
Additional support by the Government of Ontario and the Canada Arts Presentation Fund at Canadian Heritage
An opportunity for audiences to experience five thought-provoking documentaries and hear from the films’ notable subjects and experts on the issues.
HOT DOCS LIVE! SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER
Hot Docs and E1 Entertainment present the Canadian premiere of SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER, featuring the directors and the iconic rock star onstage for a live Q&A. Cineplex Entertainment’s Front Row Centre program will simulcast the event to 46 Cineplex theatres across the country.
THE MEASURE OF ALL THINGS LIVE DOCUMENTARY
A live documentary experience inspired by the Guinness World Records book, featuring Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Green and live soundtrack by New York band The Quavers.
DOCS AT DUSK
A free outdoor screening of HARMONTOWN with live music on the University of Toronto campus.
Many of Hot Docs’ official selections are world, international or North American premieres and the majority of filmmakers will be in attendance to participate in post-screening discussions, as well as other Festival events.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TO SHOWCASE AWARD-WINNING DIRECTORS, STAR SUBJECTS AND SPECTACULAR STORIES
Opening Night Film
THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ
D: Brian Knappenberger | USA | 2014 | 105 min | International Premiere
An inspiring and emotional portrait of Internet visionary and activist Aaron Swartz explores how one of the most promising minds of a generation found himself staring down a government prosecuting him under the very laws he was fighting against.
THURSDAY, APRIL 24 | 10:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 2:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 6:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA - Scotiabank Big Ideas screening
CAPTIVATED: THE TRIALS OF PAMELA SMART
D: Jeremiah Zagar | USA, UK | 2014 | 102 min | International Premiere
Delving into the infamous To Die For Pamela Smart murder trial, this expertly crafted film explores one of the world’s biggest media frenzies and the role of the media, the psychology of the observer and public opinion in shaping the trial’s outcome.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 9:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 11:00 AM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 11:00 AM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
CHILDREN 404
D: Pavel Loparev, Askold Kurov | Russia | 2014 | 70 min | World Premiere
An intimate firsthand account of how Russian LGBT youth are fighting with extreme courage against President Vladimir Putin’s law forbidding “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors.”
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 9:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 3:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 8:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
CONCERNING VIOLENCE
D: Göran Hugo Olsson | Sweden, USA, Denmark, Finland | 2014 | 84 min | Canadian Premiere
Following the success of THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975, Göran Hugo Olsson explores Africa’s independence movements. Based on Frantz Fanon’s famous book, The Wretched of the Earth, the film expertly uses archival material and musician Lauryn Hill’s voiceover to bring Fanon’s text to life.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 4:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 4:15 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 3:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
A DANGEROUS GAME
D: Anthony Baxter | UK | 2014 | 90 min | World Premiere
In this explosive tale, everyday heroes battle against Donald Trump and a cast of greedy Goliaths who want to turn some of the earth’s most precious places into golf courses for the super-rich.
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 6:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 8:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 11:00 AM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
DEMONSTRATION
D: Victor Kossakovsky, 32 film students VVAA | Russia, Spain | 2013 | 70 min | Canadian Premiere
Legendary director Victor Kossakovsky sends 32 film students to document Barcelona’s massive and violent anti-austerity street protest in 2012. Set to an operatic score, his stunning collage transforms into a brilliant crowd-sourced street ballet.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 1:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 8:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 8:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
E-TEAM
D: Ross Kauffman, Katy Chevigny | USA | 2014 | 89 min | Canadian Premiere
Imagine your job is witnessing war crimes, genocide and acts of terrorism. Intrepid cameras follow human rights investigators in Syria and Libya as they risk everything to expose shocking truths in this Sundance award-winner.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 1:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 4:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
EVERYDAY REBELLION
D: Arash T. Riahi, Arman T. Riahi | Austria, Switzerland, Germany | 2013 | 112 min | Canadian Premiere
What do topless Ukrainian women, Syrian dissidents and Wall Street Occupiers have in common? A colourful new tactic—creative non-violent protest. See why and how modern pacifism is winning in this slick tribute to disobedience.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 9:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 10:30 AM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 4:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FED UP
D: Stephanie Soechtig | USA | 2013 | 92 min | International Premiere
Combining the personal stories of three families struggling with weight issues with a provocative and revealing exposé of the food industry, FED UP will turn your perspective on diet, nutrition and health inside out.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 6:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 9:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 3:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
THE GREAT INVISIBLE
D: Margaret Brown | USA | 2014 | 92 min | International Premiere
With unprecedented access, this comprehensive documentary utilizes an investigative eye and a humanizing touch to examine the causes and impacts of 2010’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 6:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 1:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
HAPPINESS
D: Thomas Balmès | France, Finland | 2013 | 80 min | Canadian Premiere
In 1999, TV and the Internet come to Bhutan in an attempt to improve the country’s “gross national happiness.” We see the imminent arrival of these new technologies into the last remaining unconnected village through the eyes of an eight-year-old monk.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 7:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 4:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 11:00 AM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
HAPPY VALLEY
D: Amir Bar-Lev | USA | 2014 | 98 min | International Premiere
This powerful and complex story uses the child sex abuse scandal around former Pennsylvania State University football coach Jerry Sandusky to explore a town divided by sports allegiances and hero worship.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 9:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 7:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A.
D: Barbara Kopple | USA | 1976 | 103 min
This Oscar-winning portrait follows the bitterly violent coal miner’s strike in Kentucky. Presented in partnership with the Cinema Eye Honors as the recipient of their 2014 Legacy Award, the screening will be followed by an in-depth conversation with filmmaker Barbara Kopple.
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 6:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY
D: Chad Walker, Dave LaMattina | USA | 2014 | 85 min | World Premiere
With an incredible archive of home videos, the story of Caroll Spinney reveals how a big heart and unstoppable talent created two of the world’s most beloved Sesame Street Muppets, Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 6:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA - Scotiabank Big Ideas screening
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 11:00 AM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 1:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 1:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 4:00 PM | REVUE
INTERNATIONAL DOC CHALLENGE 2014
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 8:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
LADY VALOR: THE KRISTIN BECK STORY
D: Mark Herzog, Sandrine Orabona | USA | 2014 | 90 min | International Premiere
After decades of fighting for American ideals, decorated Navy Seal Chris Beck discovers a new appreciation of liberty and happiness as he embarks on his most challenging mission: transitioning to Kristin and beginning life as a transgender woman.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 6:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 3:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 4:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
MISSION BLUE
D: Robert Nixon, Fisher Stevens | USA | 2013 | 95 min | Canadian Premiere
The trailblazing career of internationally renowned oceanographer and eco-activist Sylvia Earle is celebrated in this beautifully shot testament to her passionate commitment to saving the world’s oceans and its imperiled inhabitants.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 6:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA - Scotiabank Big Ideas screening
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 11:00 AM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 11:00 AM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
NE ME QUITTE PAS
D: Niels van Koevorden, Sabine Lubbe Bakker | Netherlands, Belgium | 2013 | 105 min | Canadian Premiere
When Marcel’s marriage ends, he leans on best friend Bob, who shares his wicked wit. The two Belgian men commiserate and hit the bottle hard in this unforgettable tragicomic portrait of codependence in alcoholism and friendship.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 9:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 1:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 1:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
NELSON MANDELA: THE MYTH & ME
D: Khalo Matabane | South Africa, Germany | 2013 | 85 min | North American Premiere
Acclaimed filmmaker Khalo Matabane’s very personal, award-winning and somewhat controversial doc explores conflicting points-of-view on the truth and reconciliation process, the quality of life in post-apartheid South Africa and Mandela’s own sainthood status.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 5:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 4:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
THE NOTORIOUS MR. BOUT
D: Tony Gerber, Maxim Pozdorovkin | USA, Russia | 2014 | 94 min | Canadian Premiere
How does a “legitimate businessman” become the world’s most notorious arms dealer, and even the subject of a Nicolas Cage action movie? Bout’s closest frenemies and his own footage thrillingly expose “the merchant of death.”
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 1:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THE OVERNIGHTERS
D: Jesse Moss | USA | 2013 | 100 min | International Premiere
When a small community in North Dakota attracts a massive migration of unemployed men seeking six-figure salaries in the oil fields, a local pastor risks everything to welcome the desperate down-and-out-of-towners to his flock.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 1:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
POINT AND SHOOT
D: Marshall Curry | USA | 2014 | 82 min | International Premiere
Baltimore native Matthew VanDyke shares extraordinary visual tales of his adventures motorcycling across the Middle East and North Africa—including when he joins forces with Libyan rebels to oust Moammar Gadhafi, is captured and held in solitary confinement for six months.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 6:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 4:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:15 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
PRIVATE VIOLENCE
D: Cynthia Hill | USA | 2014 | 81 min | International Premiere
Exploring the fact that the most dangerous place for a woman is her home, PRIVATE VIOLENCE is a beautifully crafted story of two women tirelessly trying to change the lives of the women they encounter, and society at large.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 7:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 4:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 6:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
RETURN TO HOMS
D: Talal Derki | Syria, Germany | 2013 | 87 min | Canadian Premiere
Filmed over the course of two years, Sundance World Cinema Grand Jury Prize-winner Return to Homs takes us into the lives of two friends caught in the middle of the raging civil war in Syria.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 4:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 6:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 1:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
RICH HILL
D: Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos | USA | 2014 | 92 min | International Premiere
In a small rural town, three young residents find themselves dreaming big but living small in this achingly beautiful, Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning depiction of adolescence.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 4:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 12:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
SACRO GRA
D: Gianfranco Rosi | Italy, France | 2013 | 93 min | Canadian Premiere
Following the stories and endeavours of citizens living and working along the giant ring road that encircles Rome, this Venice Golden Lion winner paints an enchanting portrait of everyday moments in The Eternal City.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 3:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 9:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THE SHEIK
D: Igal Hecht | Canada | 2014 | 95 min | World Premiere
Every hero needs a villain. Without the Iron Sheik there could be no Hulkamania. Khosrow Vaziri’s transformation from Olympic wrestler to American pop culture icon is a personal and emotional tale that will “make you humble.”
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:15 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 4:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 6:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SILENCED
D: James Spione | USA | 2014 | 100 min | International Premiere
Behind world-changing headlines are those men and women who risk everything to speak truth to power. Led by world-renowned national security and human rights attorney Jesselyn Radack, three of the world’s most important government whistleblowers speak for the first time in one film.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 3:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:30 PM | REGENT
SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER
D: Reginald Harkema, Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn | Canada | 2014 | 86 min | Canadian Premiere
Alice Cooper’s onstage encounter with a chicken in Toronto in 1969 catapulted him from rock star to rock legend. This dizzying blend of archive materials and rock opera follows the evolution of a preacher’s son to glam metal godfather.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 9:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 9:50 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 11:00 AM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
TO BE TAKEI
D: Jennifer Kroot, Bill Weber | USA | 2014 | 93 min | Canadian Premiere
Star Trek’s inter-galactic helmsman George Takei explores his private and public personas—from being William Shatner’s nemesis to being a gay sex symbol—as he prepares his dream project: a musical based on his childhood inside a Japanese-American internment camp.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 6:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA - Scotiabank Big Ideas screening
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 1:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
UKRAINE IS NOT A BROTHEL
D: Kitty Green | Australia, Ukraine | 2013 | 80 min | Canadian Premiere
Ukraine’s gorgeous group of topless feminist activists, FEMEN, take off their shirts to take on their government, exposing gender inequality and government corruption through their provocative public protests.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 1:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 12:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
WATCHERS OF THE SKY
D: Edet Belzberg | USA | 2014 | 120 min | Canadian Premiere
Through the forgotten story of Raphel Lemkin, the inventor of the word “genocide,” Oscar-nominated director Edet Belzberg presents an artistic and intellectually rigorous film on the history of genocide and those fighting for justice and global action for its victims.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 7:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 12:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 6:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
WE ARE THE GIANT
D: Greg Barker | USA, UK | 2014 | 90 min | International Premiere
Profiling a group of Arab Spring activists, director Greg Barker (SERGIO) offers incredible insight into what it means to be at the forefront of a call to action—and the repercussions. We hear firsthand the experiences of these brave young people taking on governments and dictators.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 1:45 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 3:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 7:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
WHITEY: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. JAMES J. BULGER
D: Joe Berlinger | USA | 2014 | 107 min | International Premiere
Oscar-nominated director Joe Berlinger strips away the myths surrounding infamous Boston gangster and FBI informant James “Whitey” Bulger, exposing the truth behind his criminal empire and revealing shocking new allegations of government corruption and complicity.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 9:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 1:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 9:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
CANADIAN SPECTRUM DIRECTORS SPOTLIGHT HOME-GROWN STORIES AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
THE BACKWARD CLASS
D: Madeleine Grant | Canada | 2014 | 91 min | World Premiere
Intent on breaking out of the cycle of poverty, the Dalit students of Shanti Bhavan school in India prepare to make history by becoming the first from their “untouchable” caste to take high-school graduation exams.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 9:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 5:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 6:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
BEFORE THE LAST CURTAIN FALLS
D: Thomas Wallner | Germany, Belgium | 2014 | 86 min | World Premiere
Stunning cinematography and soaring music unite the tumultuous off-stage lives of six aging Belgian transvestite and transsexual performers with scenes from their European ballet Gardenia into a profoundly human portrait of love—and a masterpiece of documentary art and contemporary dance cinema.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 8:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 4:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 12:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THE BOY FROM GEITA
D: Vic Sarin | Canada | 2014 | 79 min | World Premiere
A young Tanzanian boy with albinism survives a brutal attempt to steal his body parts; witch doctors claim a potion made from them will bestow good fortune. The promise of surgery in Canada offers him hope.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 8:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 1:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 4:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
DAVID & ME
D: Ray Klonsky, Marc Lamy | Canada | 2014 | 69 min | World Premiere
In 1985, a Brooklyn teen is convicted of pre-meditated murder based on questionable testimonies. A tenacious filmmaker has taken up his cause, presenting compelling new evidence aimed at freeing him after 28 years of incarceration.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 9:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 3:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 4:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR AN EXECUTION
D: Bahman Tavoosi | Canada | 2013 | 60 min | Toronto Premiere
Jahangir Razmi’s Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of political prisoner executions in post-revolution Iran was so powerful, he hid his identity for 27 years to avoid life-threatening repercussions. His reemergence prompts an Iranian-Canadian artist to recreate the photo using actors.
Screening with GUN PORN
D: Brahm Rosensweig | Canada | 2013 | 10 min | World Premiere
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 8:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 5:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
EVERYTHING WILL BE
D: Julia Kwan | Canada | 2014 | 86 min | World Premiere
Vancouver’s once-thriving Chinatown is disappearing as hip new ventures move into vacant storefronts to the astonishment of the many elderly denizens. Sundance award-winning director Julia Kwan crafts a heartwarming and cinematically stunning ode to a community in transition.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 1:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 1:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
GUIDELINES
D: Jean-François Caissy | Canada | 2014 | 76 min | North American Premiere
From the tense confines of the principal’s office to the lawless outdoors, a series of tableaux illustrates defining teen moments and the daily trials of adolescents at a rural Quebec secondary school.
Screening with JUTRA
D: Marie-Josée St-Pierre | Canada | 2014 | 13 min | Toronto Premiere
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 6:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 4:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 4:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
I’VE SEEN THE UNICORN
D: Vincent Toi | Canada | 2014 | 61 min | World Premiere
On the tiny island nation of Mauritius, a determined young fisherman sets his eye on becoming a champion jockey in a legendary horse-racing event that’s an evocative reminder of the country’s colonial past.
Screening with FLOR DE TOLOACHE
D: Jenny Schweitzer | USA, Canada | 2014 | 4 min | Canadian Premiere
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 8:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 12:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 4:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
JOY OF MAN’S DESIRING
D: Denis Côté | Canada | 2014 | 70 min | Toronto Premiere
From machinists to garment makers, this cinematic essay captures the energies and rituals of labour that relies on routine and repetition. Director Denis Côté is a master craftsman in this philosophical study of our need to work.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 7:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 7:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
JUST EAT IT: A FOOD WASTE STORY
D: Grant Baldwin | Canada | 2014 | 75 min | World Premiere
If our culture is so food obsessed, why do we toss away nearly 50 per cent of it? Two filmmakers quit grocery shopping, surviving on discarded food as they explore consumable waste from farm to fridge.
Screening with 米花糕 (OR THE CHINESE RICE KRISPIES SQUARE)
D: Xavier-Justin Nagy | Canada | 2013 | 5 min | World Premiere
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 9:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, APRIL 29 | 4:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
KUNG FU ELLIOT
D: Matthew Bauckman, Jaret Belliveau | Canada | 2013 | 91 min | Canadian Premiere
Elliot “White Lightning” Scott wants to become Canada’s first action hero by starring in his own low-budget karate epic, BLOOD FIGHT. This Slamdance award-winning documentary follows Scott’s production as he realizes his dreams “by any means necessary.”
Screening with WILL THE REAL DAVE BARBER PLEASE STAND UP?
D: Dave Barber | Canada | 2014 | 4 min | Toronto Premiere
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 6:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 3:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 9:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
MARINONI
D: Tony Girardin | Canada | 2014 | 90 min | World Premiere
Giuseppe Marinoni is Canada’s most revered bicycle craftsman. At 75, he still builds bikes, tends his chickens and forages for mushrooms. He’s also attempting a world cycling record, even if it kills him.
Screening with HART
D: Nicolas-Alexandre Tremblay, Coussot Regis | Canada | 2014 | 11 min | World Premiere
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 7:30 PM | THE ROYAL
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 1:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 7:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
OUT OF MIND, OUT OF SIGHT
D: John Kastner | Canada | 2014 | 88 min | World Premiere
With unprecedented access, multiple Emmy award-winner John Kastner returns to the Brockville Mental Health Centre to capture patients struggling for control of their lives in the face of a society that fears and demonizes them for their violent acts.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 6:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 1:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 1:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THE SECRET TRIAL 5
D: Amar Wala | Canada | 2014 | 84 min | World Premiere
The film tells the shocking story of Canada’s security certificates, an unusual policy mechanism used to imprison five Muslim men without charge for nearly 30 years combined, while the evidence against them remains secret.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:45 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 1:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 4:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
SELF (LESS) PORTRAIT
D: Danic Champoux | Canada | 2014 | 98 min | Toronto Premiere
In an era when social media is redrawing the boundaries between private and public, 50 people reveal their most intimate thoughts to camera in this funny and inventive montage exploring the diversity of human existence.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 6:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 8:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 3:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SLUMS: CITIES OF TOMORROW
D: Jean-Nicolas Orhon | Canada | 2013 | 81 min | Toronto Premiere
Challenging conventional thinking, first-person stories from slum dwellers on four continents and brilliant analysis by such critics as Robert Neuwirth make the case that slums—home to a billion people worldwide—are the solution and not the problem.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 5:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 10:30 AM | ROM THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 9:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THE SOWER
D: Julie Perron | Canada | 2013 | 77 min | Toronto Premiere
Driven to safeguard rare and forgotten vegetable varieties for the sake of biodiversity, Patrice Fortier works with painstaking perseverance to create a remarkable seed company based in rural Quebec.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 6:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 2:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 1:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THE THEORY OF HAPPINESS
D: Gregory Gan | Canada | 2014 | 82 min | World Premiere
Deep in the Ukrainian countryside, a small but passionate commune attempts to discover a recipe for happiness through mathematical formulas and political poetry. Will their utopian dreams turn into a veritable nightmare?
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 7:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 1:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 2:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
HOT DOCS’ INTERNATIONAL SPECTRUM TO SHOWCASE 13 FILMS FROM 11 COUNTRIES
ACTRESS
D: Robert Greene | USA | 2014 | 87 min | International Premiere
The Wire’s Brandy Burre returns to acting after starting a family, but can she balance the demanding roles of mother, lover, wife and performer? A present-tense portrait of a dying relationship and a woman re-born.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 6:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 3:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 7:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
BUGARACH
D: Ventura Durall, Salvador Sunyer, Sergi Cameron | Spain, Germany | 2014 | 90 min | North American Premiere
A tiny village in the South of France becomes the focus of global attention when a mysterious news story suggests it’s the only place on Earth destined to survive the Mayan doomsday prophecy.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 9:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 4:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 4:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
THE ENGINEER
D: Juan Passarelli, Mathew Charles | El Salvador, UK | 2013 | 93 min | Canadian Premiere
In this unflinching look at a fearless man on a macabre mission, El Salvador’s only criminologist, Israel Ticas, pursues his life’s work of finding hundreds of missing victims of the country’s brutal gang war.
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 6:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 3:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 3:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THE LIFE AND MIND OF MARK DEFRIEST
D: Gabriel London | USA | 2014 | 96 min | World Premiere
Incarcerated for 30 years, legendary Florida jailbreaker Mark DeFriest is determined to escape the violence and despair of prison. Now the doctor responsible for his imprisonment makes a startling admission that could change Mark’s life forever.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 12:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 10:00 PM | THE ROYAL
LIVING STARS
D: Gastón Duprat, Mariano Cohn | Argentina | 2013 | 65 min | Canadian Premiere
This perfectly composed and endlessly entertaining love letter to dancing introduces us to Argentines of all ages and talent levels performing dance numbers in their homes and workplaces with unabashed, grin-inducing honesty.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 1:45 PM | SCOTIABANK
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 11:59 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 9:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
NO LULLABY
D: Helen Simon | Germany | 2014 | 72 min | World Premiere
In this powerful film, three generations of a German family are silenced by a horrific secret, but when a mother and daughter find the courage to come forward they pay the ultimate price.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 9:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 4:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 2:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SEE NO EVIL
D: Jos de Putter | Netherlands, Belgium | 2014 | 75 min | North American Premiere
A former movie star, a brilliant scientist and a fragile, injured senior reflect on days gone by while passing time in their simian retirement communities. A poetic look at apes past their prime.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 7:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 3:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THE SONGS OF RICE
D: Uruphong Raksasad | Thailand | 2014 | 75 min | North American Premiere
Winner of the Fipresci Award at the Rotterdam film festival, SONGS OF RICE is a kaleidoscopic homage to the staple food, rice. Through the window of rice cultivation in Thailand, we see how harvest celebrations, bullfights, music and firework displays intertwine with the land and its traditions.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 6:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 3:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 4:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TOMORROW WE DISAPPEAR
D: Adam Weber, Jimmy Goldblum | USA | 2014 | 85 min | International Premiere
When their neighbourhood is illegally sold to real-estate developers, the magicians, acrobats and puppeteers of Delhi’s famed “tinsel slum” use every trick in their arsenal to fight against their own disappearing act.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 3:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 1:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
TOUR OF DUTY
D: Kyoung-tae Park, Dong-ryung Kim | South Korea | 2013 | 150 min | Canadian Premiere
A dark, strikingly beautiful portrait of the remnants of a US military camp in South Korea through words of the women left inside it, TOUR OF DUTY delivers an artistic and empowering account of an atrocity yet to be atoned for.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 5:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 1:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 5:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
VIRUNGA
D: Orlando von Einsiedel | UK | 2014 | 92 min | Canadian Premiere
A Belgian conservationist and a team of Congolese rangers work tirelessly to protect the world’s last mountain gorilla population against a drug-addled armed militia, violent poachers and sinister rebels, all vying for control over Virunga National Park’s lucrative natural resources.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 3:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 8:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
WAITING FOR AUGUST
D: Teodora Ana Mihai | Belgium | 2014 | 88 min | North American Premiere
When her mother moves to Italy to find work, 15-year-old Georgiana is left in charge of taking care of her six siblings, abruptly catapulting the Romanian teen from adolescence into adulthood.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 9:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 4:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 3:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
WALKING UNDER WATER
D: Eliza Kubarska | Poland, Germany, UK | 2014 | 76 min | World Premiere
The last compressor diver from the Badjao tribe in Malaysian Borneo imparts his wisdom and diving techniques to a young student in this magical look at tall tales, tradition, tree spirits and tourism.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 9:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 6:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
HOT DOCS’ WORLD SHOWCASE ASSEMBLES A COMPELLING ARRAY OF GLOBAL STORIES
ABOVE ALL ELSE
D: John Fiege | USA | 2014 | 95 min | International Premiere
A retired acrobat risks everything to prevent the Keystone XL pipeline from crossing his property. In this brave first-person account of American justice, individual civil liberties are pushed aside by corporate bullies and government interests.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 9:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 4:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 1:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
ABSENCES
D: Carole Laganière | Canada | 2013 | 75 min | Toronto Premiere
As her mother gradually succumbs to Alzheimer’s, two-time Hot Docs award-winner Carole Laganière weaves her own experience of separation with three other deeply personal stories in this elegant exploration of absence and loss.
Screening with SUNDAY, WE’LL SEE
D: Sophie B. Jacques | Canada | 2013 | 19 min | Toronto Premiere
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 6:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 1:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THE BEIJING ANTS
D: Ryuji Otsuka | China | 2014 | 88 min | World Premiere
In 2013, rents in Beijing reached the equivalent of $11,000 per square metre, far too expensive for a young family who moves to the suburb of Tongzhou, in this cautionary tale about capitalism and customer service in modern China.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 9:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 1:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 4:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
BINTOU
D: Simone Catharina Gaul | Germany | 2014 | 64 min | North American Premiere
An enterprising young dressmaker from Burkina Faso yearns to show on Paris runways. But while catering to white ex-pat clients, her emotional past threatens her glamorous dreams in this insightful portrait of a modern African working woman.
Screening with THE WORLD OF ADRIEN
D: Katerine Giguère | Canada | 2013 | 11 min | Toronto Premiere
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 9:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 1:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 6:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
BRONX OBAMA
D: Ryan Murdock | USA | 2014 | 91 min | International Premiere
Louis Ortiz, a true doppelgänger of Barack Obama, finds that life as the president isn’t always easy. Though the charismatic Bronx resident works hard as a presidential impersonator, he struggles to make ends meet.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 7:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 12:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 1:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THE CONDEMNED
D: Nick Read | Russia, UK | 2013 | 80 min | North American Premiere
Hidden in a forest as large as Germany, Russia’s maximum-security prison exclusively for murderers has been impenetrable—until now. With unprecedented access to 260 fearsome killers, THE CONDEMNED offers a chilling study of punishment.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 7:15 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 11:00 AM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 3:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
DIVIDE IN CONCORD
D: Kris Kaczor | USA | 2013 | 82 min | World Premiere
A fiery octogenarian spends her golden years cold-calling constituents and attending city council meetings in her hometown of Concord, Massachusetts. Can one little old lady make history by banning single-serve plastic water bottles?
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 1:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 11:00 AM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
EARTH’S GOLDEN PLAYGROUND
D: Andreas Horvath | Austria | 2013 | 108 min | North American Premiere
The Yukon ushers in another Gold Rush as these unstable economic times push a new wave of amateur prospectors, treasure hunters and adventure seekers on a quest for the fabled mother lode.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 9:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 10:30 AM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 12:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
EVAPORATING BORDERS
D: Iva Radivojevic | USA, Cyprus | 2014 | 73 min | Canadian Premiere
Poetically guided by the filmmaker’s experiences and reflections, this beautifully told visual essay examines how tolerance, identity and nationalism collide over migration issues on the island of Cyprus, one of the easiest entry points to Europe.
Screening with ADRIFT
D: Frederik Jan Depickere | Belgium, Colombia | 2013 | 9 min | Canadian Premiere
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 7:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 11:00 AM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 7:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FOCUS ON INFINITY
D: Joerg Burger | Austria | 2014 | 78 min | International Premiere
This visually breathtaking exposition questions astronomers, physicists and church leaders on the origins of the universe and the condition of our environment, taking us to astronomical projects, archeological sites and UFO-sighting locations in Chile, Armenia and the US.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 7:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 10:30 AM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 1:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 7:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
THE HOMESTRETCH
D: Anne de Mare, Kirsten Kelly | USA | 2014 | 90 min | World Premiere
Three exceptional teens engage in a high-stakes fight to stay in school while facing the incredible obstacle of being homeless. Struggling with abandonment, isolation and instability, can they build the future they dream of?
Screening with STEVE
D: Jesse McCracken | Canada | 2013 | 8 min | World Premiere
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 3:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 3:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 7:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
AN HONEST LIAR
D: Justin Weinstein, Tyler Measom | USA | 2014 | 91 min | International Premiere
Famed magician James “The Amazing” Randi, enraged at seeing self-proclaimed psychics and faith healers using his cherished illusions dishonestly, commits his life to exposing lying profiteers, but ultimately has to confront a secret of his own.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 9:15 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 6:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
HOTLINE
D: Tony Shaff | USA | 2014 | 80 min | World Premiere
Eavesdrop on the private exchanges that fill telephone hotlines, where strangers connect to save lives, predict futures and satisfy lust. Hotline exposes the inner workings of suicide, psychic and sex lines, revealing intimate portraits of those who call and those who answer.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 7:15 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 1:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 9:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THE IMMORTALISTS
D: David Alvarado, Jason Sussberg | USA | 2014 | 80 min | International Premiere
Live forever or die trying. That’s the motto of two free-thinking biologists on a quest to find the cure for mortality and reverse the aging process forever. Intriguing ethical debates echo in their personal lives.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 7:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 3:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 9:30 PM | FOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 9:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
IN COUNTRY
D: Mike Attie, Meghan O’Hara | USA | 2014 | 80 min | International Premiere
War is hell, so why spend your weekends there? In Oregon, reenactors shockingly recreate not WWII or the Civil War, but Vietnam. A “platoon” of unlikely men searches frontline fantasies for meaning, therapy and unsettling truths.
Screening with REHEARSAL
D: Tom Rosenberg | USA | 2013 | 11 min | Canadian Premiere
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 8:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 12:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 6:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 4:00 PM | REGENT
THE JOE SHOW
D: Randy Murray | USA | 2014 | 101 min | International Premiere
Media stunts and a great marketing team keep infamous Arizonian sheriff Joe Arpaio in office despite his habit of sidestepping the law. He even brought back chain gangs. At 81, Arpaio is America’s quintessential “Teflon” politician.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 6:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 11:00 AM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 6:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
JUDGMENT IN HUNGARY
D: Eszter Hajdu | Canada, Germany, Portugal, Hungary, Switzerland, Israel, Netherlands, UK, USA, France | 2013 | 107 min | North American Premiere
This tense, sobering courtroom saga, following the two-year trial of four men accused of murderous attacks on the Roma community in a Hungarian town, reveals systemic corruption, negligence and apathy.
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 5:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 11:00 AM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 3:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
KHRUSHCHEV DOES AMERICA
D: Tim Toidze | France, USA, Canada | 2013 | 59 min | North American Premiere
At the peak of the Cold War, a surreal and unbelievably fleeting love affair developed between Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and the American public. This pre-Glasnost road movie is a kaleidoscopic collage of archival footage and Khrushchev’s voice recordings.
Screening with CONTROVERSIES
D: Ryan McKenna | Canada | 2014 | 17 min | Toronto Premiere
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 9:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 10:30 AM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 9:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
KINGS OF THE WIND & ELECTRIC QUEENS
D: Cédric Dupire, Gaspard Kuentz | France | 2014 | 56 min | North American Premiere
This chaotic portrait reflects the vivid sights of India’s Sonepur Fair on the first day of Diwali, subtly using tarot card figures as a framework for this hypnotic exploration of Bihari culture.
Screening with THROUGH THE FIRE
D: Cédric Dupire, Gaspard Kuentz | France | 2014 | 56 min | North American Premiere
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 7:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 4:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THE LAST SEASON
D: Sara Dosa | USA | 2014 | 78 min | International Premiere
Hundreds of mushroom hunters search the woods of Southeast Oregon each fall for elusive matsutake mushrooms. This season, two former soldiers find an unlikely connection and the means to heal the deep wounds of war.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 6:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 3:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 6:30 PM | REVUE
LIFE AFTER DEATH
D: Joe Callander | USA, Rwanda | 2013 | 74 min | International Premiere
In Rwanda, Kwasa seems allergic to work. So when wealthy Texans offer him Christian guidance and job opportunities, he takes their help and maybe more. Humour guides this fresh critique of both aid and the aided.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 9:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 4:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THE MALAGASY WAY
D: Nantenaina Lova | France, Madagascar | 2014 | 84 min | North American Premiere
The people of Madagascar make things from nothing by recycling materials and repurposing household objects. Their ingenuity and conservationist lifestyle makes perfect sense in the midst of the global economic crisis. But will the world pay attention?
Screening with FLOTSAM & JETSAM
D: Jan Bednarz | UK, Bahamas | 2013 | 7 min | World Premiere
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 3:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 4:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:15 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
MY PLACE
D: Emmanuel Moonchil Park | Canada, South Korea | 2013 | 77 min | International Premiere
Tensions arise when the director’s sister decides to become a single mom in Canada. Far from South Korea where her more traditional parents live, the family is forced to straddle two worlds in order to raise the child.
Screening with CHEVETTE 83
D: Luis Oliva | Canada | 2013 | 4 min | Toronto Premiere
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 4:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 2:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 7:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
OLGA - TO MY FRIENDS
D: Paul-Anders Simma | Finland, Norway, Sweden | 2013 | 58 min | Canadian Premiere
In the Russian tundra a young girl lives alone in a reindeer herdsman’s cabin guarding her storage of provisions, the only food supply during the summer months. A portrait of a girl navigating loneliness in a landscape she loves.
Screening with MOM
D: Lidia Sheinin | Russia | 2013 | 28 min | North American Premiere
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 7:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 7:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
PENTHOUSE NORTH
D: Johanna St Michaels | Sweden | 2014 | 80 min | International Premiere
Beauty queen has-been Agneta will do anything not to lose her New York City penthouse. But holding onto her high-flying past may come at the cost of her sanity in this (un)real estate tragic-com.
Screening with HOW I LIVE, AS YOU WANTED TO KNOW
HOW I LIVE, AS YOU WANTED TO KNOW is also part of this year’s Made in Denmark program.
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 6:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 9:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 6:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
PIPELINE
D: Vitaly Mansky | Russia, Czech Republic, Germany | 2013 | 117 min | Canadian Premiere
Cross seven borders and even more social classes as cameras follow the route of a Russian natural gas pipeline from Siberia to sunny Europe. Eccentric people, quirky locales and ever-Westernizing political climates astound in this award-winning visual road trip.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 1:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:45 PM | THE ROYAL
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 6:30 PM | REGENT
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 3:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
RED LINES
D: Andrea Kalin, Oliver Lukacs | USA | 2014 | 98 min | World Premiere
With no nation coming to Syria’s rescue, two unlikely activists take to the ground with an unthinkable plan: create one free, democratic Syrian village. Intrepid cameras capture their death-defying struggle to map a blueprint for freedom.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 6:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 1:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 7:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
THE STARFISH THROWERS
D: Jesse Roesler | USA | 2014 | 83 min | Canadian Premiere
When a five-star chef, a retired teacher and a sixth-grade girl make a simple gesture to feed the poor, they unexpectedly ignite a movement in the fight against hunger, and prove that individuals can make an enormous difference.
Screening with 3 ACRES IN DETROIT
D: Nora Mandray | France, USA | 2013 | 12 min | Canadian Premiere
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 3:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 10:30 AM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THULETUVALU
D: Matthias von Gunten | Switzerland | 2013 | 98 min | International Premiere
In the North Atlantic, Thule’s melting icecaps are raising sea levels for the South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, forcing inhabitants of these diverse locales to abandon their traditional ways of life and face an uncertain future.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 7:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 4:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 7:30 PM | THE ROYAL
TOUGH LOVE
D: Stephanie Wang-Breal | USA | 2014 | 85 min | International Premiere
An addict father and a teenaged mother each lose their kids to foster care, but in this rare glimpse inside the American child welfare system, they tirelessly fight poverty, prejudice and crushing bureaucracy for a second chance.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 1:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
VELVET TERRORISTS
D: Peter Kerekes, Ivan Ostrochovský, Pavol Pekarcík | Slovakia, Czech Republic, Croatia | 2013 | 87 min | North American Premiere
Three men who fought against communist power in Czechoslovakia paid the price when they were sentenced as terrorists. Reenacting their intended acts of armed resistance, the film employs playful flights of fancy to allow us a glimpse into their past and present lives.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 6:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 4:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
VESSEL
D: Diana Whitten | USA | 2014 | 88 min | International Premiere
In this galvanizing voyage, a Dutch physician works with activists to exploit maritime law to provide safe medical abortions in areas where they’re otherwise illegal, while facing threats from hostile governments and violent protestors.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 6:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 1:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 9:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WHAT IS LEFT?
D: Gustav Hofer, Luca Ragazzi | Italy | 2013 | 74 min | International Premiere
The directors of Hot Docs hit ITALY: LOVE IT, OR LEAVE IT return with another cheeky, personal and hilarious look at contemporary Italian society, this time examining the current state of Italy’s fabled socialist and communist parties.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 7:00 PM | THE ROYAL
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 4:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 9:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WHERE I’M FROM
D: Claude Demers | Canada | 2014 | 78 min | North American Premiere
Two boys discover their world between the magical banks of the Saint Lawrence River and the working class streets of Verdun. Clothing the hard knocks of poverty in memories of adventure, the film renders childhood trauma into cinematic poetry.
Screening with CHRISTMAS WITH DON CHERRY
D: Wade Vroom | Canada | 2014 | 13 min | World Premiere
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 8:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 3:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 6:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WONDER WORLD OF ICE
D: Ilkka Rautio | Finland | 2013 | 52 min | International Premiere
Chinese ice sculptors arrive in Finland’s largest ski resort to create a wonderland made of ice. Accompanying them is a young Chinese student who is to become the resort’s panda mascot. A blend of culture, craft and calling to a better life.
Screening with THE SUPREME
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 7:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 2:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 3:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WRITE DOWN, I AM AN ARAB
D: Ibtisam Mara’ana Menuhin | Israel, Palestine | 2014 | 73 min | World Premiere
Mahmoud Darwish was Palestine’s national poet and considered one the most influential writers in the Arab world. His brilliant and controversial works have inspired millions, and his rich life is beautifully documented in this comprehensive and heart-breaking film.
Screening with SMILE, AND THE WORLD WILL SMILE BACK
D: al-Haddad family, Ehab Tarabieh, Yoav Gross | Israel, Palestine | 2014 | 20 min | North American Premiere
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 7:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 1:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 1:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
HOT DOCS ANNOUNCES COMPLETE MADE IN DENMARK SELECTIONS
THE AGREEMENT
D: Karen Stokkendal Poulsen | Denmark | 2013 | 58 min | International Premiere
Be in the room as representatives of Serbia and Kosovo face off over a co-existence agreement. An EU negotiator must battle two fierce opponents, juvenile antics and one bloody history in this undiplomatically comic exposé.
Screening with AN IRANIAN NINJA
D: Marjan Riahi | Iran | 2013 | 24 min | World Premiere
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 6:15 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 1:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 12:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
AI WEIWEI THE FAKE CASE
D: Andreas Johnsen | Denmark | 2013 | 79 min | North American Premiere
Out on probation after 81 days of solitary confinement, outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei returns home to Kafkaesque police surveillance, house arrest and a pending lawsuit. Yet he finds creative new ways to provoke government authorities.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 4:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 1:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 6:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
PINE RIDGE
D: Anna Eborn | Denmark | 2013 | 77 min | Canadian Premiere
As summer passes on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre, its young inhabitants endure the uncertain future of life on the margins, still haunted by the turbulent past of their Sioux ancestors.
Screening with SOLITARY PLAINS
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 6:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 1:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 4:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
A DIFFERENT KIND OF BOY
D: Ulrik Wivel | Denmark | 2013 | 54 min | International Premiere
Eighteen and autistic, Alexander is moving away from home. To celebrate, his brother takes him on a road trip to Barcelona. This is the beginning of his journey to independence.
Screening with LOUIS THE FERRIS WHEEL KID
D: Tara Fallaux | Netherlands | 2013 | 18 min | Canadian Premiere
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 7:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 5:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 2:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
FOUR LETTERS APART - CHILDREN IN THE AGE OF ADHD
D: Erlend E. Mo | Denmark | 2013 | 87 min | International Premiere
Victor, Martine and Marino struggle with the symptoms and stigma associated with their Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But through their school’s alternative treatment project, which replaces drugs with physiotherapy, they discover something else: self-esteem and self-awareness.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 3:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 9:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 6:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SONGS FOR ALEXIS
D: Elvira Lind | Denmark | 2014 | 75 min | World Premiere
Two passionate teenagers are stuck in suburbia navigating their love story and its place in the world. When 16-year-old Alexis’ parents disapprove of her 18-year-old boyfriend Ryan, the talented transgender musician wonders if he’ll be left all alone.
Screening with THE PINK HELMET POSSE
D: Kristelle Laroche, Ben Mullinkosson | USA | 2013 | 9 min | International Premiere
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 9:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 8:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 7:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
ARTS, CREATIVITY AND POP CULTURE ON DISPLAY IN HOT DOCS’ NEXT PROGRAM
ADVANCED STYLE
D: Lina Plioplyte | USA | 2014 | 72 min | World Premiere
Seven of New York’s most stylish elderly women are profiled in this invigorating portrait about the intersection of aging and beauty, based on the popular blog by renowned fashion photographer Ari Seth Cohen.
Screening with YOU WON’T REGRET THAT TATTOO
D: Angie Bird | Canada | 2013 | 13 min | World Premiere
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 10:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 1:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 1:30 PM | REGENT
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 1:30 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
THE BASEMENT SATELLITE
D: Hyoungju Kim | South Korea | 2013 | 108 min | International Premiere
After five years of all-nighters, a South Korean amateur scientist has built the first-ever civilian satellite, which he hopes to launch in Kazakhstan. Will his dream achieve lift-off? A reflection on failure’s necessary involvement in the creative process.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 6:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 12:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 9:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
COME WORRY WITH US!
D: Helene Klodawsky | Canada | 2013 | 81 min | Toronto Premiere
Can band members rock out on stage one minute and change diapers the next? Jessica and Efrim take their baby on a North American tour with Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra to find out if musicians—especially moms—can have it all.
Screening with THINGS CHANGE
D: Martine Asselin | Canada | 2014 | 3 min | Toronto Premiere
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 6:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 2:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 1:00 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
THE CREATOR OF THE JUNGLE
D: Jordi Morató | Spain | 2014 | 77 min | North American Premiere
Garrell, Catalonia’s own Tarzan and amateur movie star, constructs astounding architectural labyrinths in his roadside jungle paradise. But as forces of modernization raze his structures, he doggedly rebuilds in an unending battle to keep his fantastical world alive.
Screening with STILL LIFE
D: Johannes Krell, Florian Fischer | Germany | 2013 | 12 min | World Premiere
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 3:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 3:15 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE
D: Clare Young | Australia | 2013 | 52 min | North American Premiere
A behind-the-scenes portrait of Jane Campion as she writes and directs her latest project, the series Top of the Lake. With the unusual dynamic of Campion being the filmmaker’s mentor, we gain a special insight into an artist’s creative process.
Screening with THE PIONEER
D: Daniela Abke | Germany | 2013 | 13 min | Canadian Premiere
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 1:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 8:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 3:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
I LOVE KUDURO
D: Mário Patrocínio | Angola, Portugal | 2013 | 95 min | North American Premiere
Born in the discos and raves of Luanda, Kuduro music and dance is a bangin’ mix of house, techno and traditional Angolan rhythms. Discover the history, hot tracks and big stars driving this cultural movement as it spreads raw energy from the big city to the ‘burbs.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 10:00 PM | THE ROYAL
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 3:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 2:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON
D: Alan Hicks | USA | 2014 | 84 min | International Premiere
Ninety-three-year-old jazz legend Clark Terry mentors blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin, but as Terry’s health and sight fade, their relationship deepens. Through their shared passion in music, they find the strength to face their individual challenges.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 6:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 9:45 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 9:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
MAD AS HELL
D: Andrew Napier | USA | 2014 | 80 min | World Premiere
Cenk Uygur is a man determined to change the face of news media, and he’s not afraid to ruffle some feathers along the way. In the unlikely version of the American Dream, Cenk rises from public access TV to become the creator of the most popular online news show in the world.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 7:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 3:15 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 4:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
MATEO
D: Aaron Naar | USA | 2014 | 88 min | International Premiere
“America’s first gringo mariachi singer” Matthew Stoneman is trying to kick his own gimmick and achieve musical greatness. A gold-plated voice trapped inside a hapless dreamer tries to make the big time in this fantastically fun saga.
Screening with THE CHILEAN ELVIS
D: Marcelo Kiwi | Chile | 2013 | 10 min | Canadian Premiere
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 4:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 9:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
MUGSHOT
D: Dennis Mohr | Canada | 2014 | 52 min | World Premiere
What do Justin Bieber, Rob Ford and Conrad Black have in common? They all have cameos in this smart and fascinating investigation into how mug shots, originally intended to keep track of criminals, have been repurposed as art and historical evidence.
For screenings at the Isabel Bader Theatre, audiences are invited before and after the film to view an on-site exhibit of original vintage mug shots, presented in collaboration with the Stephen Bulger Gallery.
Screening with LOVE YA
D: Jessica Pronk, Chris Altorf | Canada | 2013 | 19 min | World Premiere
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 7:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 4:00 PM | ISABEL BADER THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 1:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THE NOSE - SEARCHING FOR BLAMAGE
D: Paul Rigter | Netherlands | 2013 | 53 min | International Premiere
In this olfactory portrait of Alessandro Gualtieri, the vanguard perfumer muses giddily about aroma as he gather smells from across the globe for what he hopes will be his greatest fragrance: Blamage.
Screening with THE FISH TAMER
D: Dani Resines, Roger Gómez | Spain | 2013 | 23 min | Toronto Premiere
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 4:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 9:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 1:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS
D: Edward Lovelace, James Hall | UK | 2014 | 80 min | Canadian Premiere
With inventive craft, gorgeous cinematography and a uniquely evocative tone, this amazing true story follows renowned Scottish musician Edwyn Collin’s road to recovery after a harrowing stroke takes his language and memories from him.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 9:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 1:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 7:30 PM | THE ROYAL
QUE CARAMBA ES LA VIDA
D: Doris Dörrie | Germany | 2014 | 86 min | Canadian Premiere
Mariachi may be an essential part of Mexican culture but it is considered a man’s domain. Follow some of Mexico’s female mariachis as they fight to claim their rightful place singing the music they love.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 3:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 7:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 7:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SHIELD AND SPEAR
D: Petter Ringbom | USA | 2014 | 88 min | World Premiere
In a country with a turbulent past and an uncertain future, progressive South African artists and musicians test the limits of freedom of expression around issues of race, class and history.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 7:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 1:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 9:30 PM | ROM THEATRE
FUTURE CULT CLASSICS AND DIVERSE DOCUMENTARY STYLES MEET IN HOT DOCS’ NIGHTVISION PROGRAM
ART AND CRAFT
D: Jennifer Grausman, Sam Cullman, Mark Becker (Co-Director) | USA | 2014 | 89 min | International Premiere
A talented, eccentric forger with a history of deceiving museums is pitted against an obsessive curator who may have no way of stopping him. This compelling tale paints a picture of the craft and ethics of non-original art.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 9:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 11:59 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 4:00 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 11:00 AM | REVUE
BEYOND CLUELESS
D: Charlie Lyne | UK, Canada | 2014 | 91 min | Canadian Premiere
This surprising and comprehensive visual essay on the modern teen movie genre explores over 200 films from The Craft to Mean Girls that celebrate prom queens, cafeteria cliques and the warm apple pies in between.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 10:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 11:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 12:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
DOC OF THE DEAD
D: Alexandre Philippe | USA | 2014 | 82 min | International Premiere
A love letter to zombies. George Romero, Simon Pegg, Bruce Campbell and other “experts” dig through the guts of an enduring cultural phenomenon, exploring the history of a movie genre that just won’t die.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 11:59 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | :30 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 9:45 PM | THE ROYAL
GIUSEPPE MAKES A MOVIE
D: Adam Rifkin | USA | 2014 | 85 min | World Premiere
The ultimate independent filmmaker, Giuseppe Andrews makes movies in his mobile home. Using the trailer park as a set, homeless friends as actors and a hand-written first draft, he sets out to complete his 30th feature in just two days.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 7:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 11:15 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 6:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
HARMONTOWN
D: Neil Berkeley | USA | 2014 | 101 min | International Premiere
Freshly fired from Community, the cult sitcom he created, the hilariously funny but notoriously difficult Dan Harmon takes his live podcast on a tour across the US.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 11:59 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 3:15 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 9:00 PM | BURWASH QUAD
PULP
D: Florian Habicht | UK | 2014 | 93 min | Canadian Premiere
Alternative rockers Pulp regroup for a reunion show in their hometown of Sheffield after years apart. This exhilarating look at fame and performance through the perspectives of both the audience and band makes stars and “Common People” of us all.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 11:59 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 4:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 7:00 PM | THE ROYAL
THE WRITER WITH NO HANDS
D: William Westaway | UK | 2014 | 85 min | World Premiere
When a propaganda expert becomes determined to solve the suspicious death of notable screenwriter Gary DeVore, he finds himself in the midst of a more sinister issue: the US military’s involvement in Hollywood.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 9:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 8:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 11:15 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
DISCOVER MYSTERY, MYTH & LEGEND IN NEW THEME PROGRAM AT HOT DOCS 2014
AMERICAN INTERIOR
D: Gruff Rhys, Dylan Goch | UK | 2014 | 90 min | Canadian Premiere
Welsh cult musician Gruff Rhys takes us on the funny and fantastical American journey of his 18th-century relative, the explorer John Evans, showing us how myth-making can inspire the human spirit into astonishing pursuits of glory and creativity.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 4:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 7:00 PM | THE ROYAL
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 11:30 PM | BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
THE DARKSIDE
D: Warwick Thornton | Australia | 2014 | 94 min | North American Premiere
This stunning and poignant collection of indigenous ghost tales gathered from across Australia—whether sad, humorous or haunting—are artfully brought to life by some of Australia’s most beloved actors.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 9:00 PM | ROM THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 1:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 9:30 PM | THE ROYAL
FIRE-FOLLOWERS
D: Karolina Bregula | Poland | 2013 | 49 min | North American Premiere
Fear and paranoia engulf a Northern European town that has dealt with numerous fires throughout its history. In a film that blurs the boundaries of truth and fiction, the town hunts for the next arsonist in their midst, as art becomes a burning issue.
Screening with WILD BOAR
D: Willem Baptist | Netherlands | 2013 | 26 min | North American Premiere
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 2:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
KALYUG
D: Juri Mazumdar | Italy | 2013 | 74 min | North American Premiere
In this breathtaking debut from director Juri Mazumdar, old folklore tales and legends from the Bhil, an indigenous people living in central India, are interwoven with situations faced by their people today.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 9:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 3:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 3 | 4:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
LOVE AND TERROR ON THE HOWLING PLAINS OF NOWHERE
D: Dave Jannetta | USA | 2014 | 95 min | World Premiere
In a Twin Peaks-esque community, a brilliant mathematics professor disappears without a trace. When his body is discovered three months later, the violent cause of death leaves the locals reeling and we are taken to the heart of an unsolvable mystery.
MONDAY, APRIL 28 | 9:45 PM | HART HOUSE THEATRE
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 | 4:15 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 8:45 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
MIRACULOUS TALES
D: Daniel Vernon | UK | 2013 | 57 min | Canadian Premiere
In a disappearing world of folklore and magic, a 73-year-old former farmer turns writer, documenting people along the Northern Irish border who may possess the keys to potential miracles.
Screening with THE APOTHECARY
D: Helen Hood Scheer | USA | 2013 | 17 min | International Premiere
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 3:00 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 | 9:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 4:30 PM | SCOTIABANK THEATRE
THE VANQUISHING OF THE WITCH BABA YAGA
D: Jessica Oreck | USA | 2014 | 72 min | International Premiere
The centuries-old Slavic fable of Baba Yaga, a ferocious witch who dwells in a forest hut perched on chicken legs, is reimagined within a dreamlike, anthropological portrait of modern-day life.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 | 8:30 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THURSDAY, MAY 1 | 1:00 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
FRIDAY, MAY 2 | 9:45 PM | TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
HOT DOCS OFFERS FREE EVENTS AT 2014 FESTIVAL
Toronto, March 18, 2014 – Hot Docs is pleased to announce three special events available free of charge during the 2014 Festival, taking place April 24 – May 4. These free events will offer the public live music and a screening of a Festival film under the stars, a space for dialogue about the way we consume documentaries and a chance to experience documentary in an innovative inter-disciplinary format.
DOCS AT DUSK returns for a second year with an outdoor screening in Burwash Quad, next to the Victoria College building on the University of Toronto campus, on Thursday, May 1. The evening begins with live music at 8:00 p.m., followed by a 9:00 p.m. screening of HARMONTOWN (D: Neil Berkeley, USA, 2014, 101 min). The film follows the hilariously funny but notoriously difficult Dan Harmon, freshly fired from Community, the cult sitcom he created, as he takes his live podcast on a tour across the US.
New this year, HOT DOCS TALK: Docs Change People. People Change the World. will see social science experts and filmmakers present stories and eye-opening analysis of how audiences are reacting to agenda-focused documentaries. Films, especially documentaries, can have an immense impact on a viewer’s knowledge and beliefs. How does this really work? Imagine if we could measure how our opinions and actions are being influenced by what we watch. HOT DOCS TALK takes place on Friday, April 25, at 4:00 p.m., at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, and is presented in partnership with the Inspirit Foundation.
Festival goers can experience an exclusive large-scale touch-screen version of Ramona Pringle’s AVATAR SECRETS, on display in the main lobby of the TIFF Bell Lightbox from April 25-May 4. The interactive hybrid of documentary, graphic novel and fine art is a new format of storytelling designed for the iPad, exploring human connection, empathy and love in a networked world.
Tickets for free events are first-come first-serve at the venue.
HOT DOCS BY NUMBERS: QUICK FACTS ON THE 2014 FESTIVAL
Hot Docs received a total of 2435 film submissions
Hot Docs 2014 will present 197 documentaries in the following 13 programs:
Special Presentations (33);
Canadian Spectrum (24);
Focus On (4);
International Spectrum (13);
World Showcase (51);
Made In Denmark (10);
Next (21);
Redux (5);
Love, Factually (14);
Mystery, Myth & Legend (9)
Nightvision (7);
Outstanding Achievement Award Retrospective honouring Adam Curtis (5)
The Measure of All Things Live Documentary (1).
Hot Docs will present a total of:
46 world premieres;
50 International premieres;
29 North American premieres;
43 Canadian premiers;
17 Toronto premieres.
Hot Docs selections are drawn from 43 countries. Documentaries were produced and/or co-produced by the following countries:
65 from the USA
49 from Canada
25 from UK
17 from Germany
10 from Denmark
8 from France
7 from Netherlands
6 from Russia
5 from Belgium, Finland
4 from Australia, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland
3 from Austria, Israel, South Korea, Sweden
2 from Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal
1 from Angola, Argentina, Bahamas, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, El Salvador, Iran, Madagascar, Mexico, Norway, Rwanda, South Africa, Syria, Thailand, Ukraine
Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca), North America’s largest documentary festival, conference and market, will present its 21st annual edition from April 24–May 4, 2014. An outstanding selection of 197 documentaries from Canada and around the world will be presented to Toronto audiences and international delegates. Hot Docs will also mount a full roster of conference sessions and market events and services for documentary practitioners, including the renowned Hot Docs Forum, Hot Docs Deal Maker and The Doc Shop. In partnership with Blue Ice Group, Hot Docs operates the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, a century-old landmark located in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood.
The Hot Docs documentary Box Office, located at 2 Bloor Street West, Cumberland Terrace–Lower Level is open for ticket, package, and pass sales and ticket redemption. Tickets can be purchased in person, online at www.hotdocs.ca, or by phone at 416.637.5150. Single tickets to screenings are $14.60 each, and $19.25 each to special events. Late night screenings (after 11:00 p.m.) are $6.20 each or $12.40 for an All-You-Can-Eat Late-Night Pass (one ticket to each of the nine screenings). A Festival 10-Pack is $125, a Festival 20-Pack is $215, and a Bloor Cinema All Access Pass is $130. Hot Docs offers free same day tickets for all screenings before 5:00 p.m. to seniors (60+) and students with valid photo I.D. at the venue box offices (subject to availability).
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