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Daily Archive 2011

Favourite Festival Moments

Get a behind the scenes look at all things Hot Docs with Favourite Festival Moments.

Posted: Fri, May 13, 2011 - 4:49 | #

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN Takes People’s Choice Award, Audience Top Ten Announced

After the final screening yesterday, votes were tallied for the Sundance Channel People’s Choice Award. The winner is SOMEWHERE BETWEEN (D: Linda Goldstein Knowlton, USA), which follows four remarkable Chinese-born adoptees as they come of age between two cultures.

The top ten audience favourites as determined by audience vote are:

  1. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN (D: Linda Goldstein Knowlton, USA)
  2. GIVE UP TOMORROW (D: Michael Collins, USA/UK)
  3. HOW TO DIE IN OREGON (D: Peter D. Richardson, USA)
  4. WILD HORSE, WILD RIDE (D: Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus, USA)
  5. SENNA (D: Asif Kapadia, UK)
  6. BUCK (D: Cindy Meehl, USA)
  7. JIG (D: Sue Bourne, Scotland)
  8. ECO PIRATE: THE STORY OF PAUL WATSON (D: Trish Dolman, Canada)
  9. BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY (D: Constance Marks, Philip Shane (Co-Director), USA)
  10. KORAN BY HEART (D: Greg Barker, USA)

Posted: Mon, May 09, 2011 - 8:48 | #

Box Office Open May 9 & 10 for Doc Soup Subscriptions and Docs For Schools Special Promotion

The Hot Docs documentary Box Office will remain open Monday, May 9 and Tuesday, May 10 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Purchase Doc Soup subscription at the special discounted Festival rate! Make a donation of $10 or more towards Docs For Schools and get any piece of Hot Docs merchandise for free!

Posted: Sat, May 07, 2011 - 9:53 | #

Special Encore Screenings Added for 2011 Award Winners

Special encore screenings have been added on Sunday, May 8, for FAMILY PORTRAIT IN BLACK AND WHITE, winner of the Best Canadian Feature Award, and DRAGONSLAYER, winner of the Best International Feature Award.

Posted: Sat, May 07, 2011 - 5:20 | #

Hot Docs 2011 Award Winners Announced

Tonight, at a reception hosted by Jian Ghomeshi (CBC Radio One’s Q) at the Windsor Arms Hotel, nine awards and over $72,000 in cash prizes were presented to Canadian and international filmmakers, including awards for Festival films in competition and those recognizing emerging and established filmmakers.

Best Canadian Feature
FAMILY PORTRAIT IN BLACK AND WHITE (D: Julia Ivanova; P: Boris Ivanov, Mike Jackson)
Sponsored by the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and Documentary Organization of Canada, the award includes a $15,000 prize courtesy of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation.

Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature (tie)
AT NIGHT, THEY DANCE (D: Isabelle Lavigne, Stéphane Thibault; P: Lucie Lambert)
and
THE GUANTANAMO TRAP (D: Thomas Selim Wallner; P: Thomas Kufus, Amit Breuer, Marcel Hoehn, Christoph Jorg)
Sponsored by the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and Documentary Organization of Canada, the award includes a $10,000 prize courtesy of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation.

The Canadian Features Jury also acknowledged the film WIEBO’S WAR (D: David York, P: David York, Nick Hector, Bryn Hughes, Bonnie Thompson; EP: David York, David Christensen) with an honourable mention.

Best International Feature
DRAGONSLAYER (D: Tristan Patterson; P: John Baker, EP: Christine Vachon)
Sponsored by A&E, the award includes a $10,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

Special Jury Prize – International Feature
THE CASTLE (D: Massimo D’Anolfi, Martina Parenti; P: Massimo D’Anolfi, Martina Parenti; EP: Massimo D’Anolfi, Martina Parenti)
Sponsored by the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the award includes a $5,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

The International Features Jury also acknowledged the films GRANDE HOTEL (D: Lotte Stoops; P: Ellen De Waele, Co-Producer Denis Vaslin, Volya Films; EP: Ellen De Waele) and HELL AND BACK AGAIN (D: Danfung Dennis; P: Mike Lerner, Martin Herring; EP: Dan Cogan, Karol Martesko Fenster, Gernot Schaffler, Thomas Brunner, Maxyne Franklin) with honourable mentions.

Best Mid-Length Documentary
OUR NEWSPAPER (D: Eline Flipse; P: Eline Flipse; EP: Eline Flipse)
Sponsored by Canada Council for the Arts, the award includes a $3,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

The Short and Mid-Length Films Jury also acknowledged the film PEOPLE I COULD HAVE BEEN AND MAYBE AM (D: Boris Gerrets; P: Pieter van Huystee) with an honourable mention.

Best Short Documentary
FLYING ANNE (D: Catherine van Campen; P: Joost Seelen)
The award includes a $3,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

The Short and Mid-Length Films Jury also acknowledged the film SOMETHING TO TELL YOU (D: Pete Gleeson; P: Pete Gleeson; EP: Yvette Coyne) with an honourable mention.

HBO Documentary Films Emerging Artist Award
Michal Marczak for the film AT THE EDGE OF RUSSIA (P: Marianna Rowinska)
Sponsored by HBO Documentary Films.

documentary’s Don Haig Award
Rama Rau
Awarded by the Don Haig Foundation, the prize includes a $20,000 cash prize generously sponsored by documentary.

Lindalee Tracey Award
Honouring an emerging Canadian filmmaker with a passionate point of view, a strong sense of social justice and a sense of humour, the award was presented to Alexandre Hamel.
The award winner will receive a $6,000 cash prize and $3,000 in film stock donated by Kodak Canada.

The Hot Docs Board of Directors acknowledged the Terence Macartney-Filgate as the recipient of the 2011 Hot Docs Outstanding Achievement Award, which was presented to the influential Canadian filmmaker at an event earlier in the day.

The Sundance Channel People’s Choice Award and audience top ten favourite films of the 2011 Festival, determined by audience ballot, will be announced on Monday, May 9. Also announced on this day is the Filmmaker Award, determined by ballots cast by Hot Docs 2011 filmmakers.

Posted: Sat, May 07, 2011 - 1:45 | #

Hot Docs Coverage On The Substream

Visit thesubstream.com for the Morgan Spurlock interview on Hot Doc’s Opening Night!

Also check out Rajo’s Hot Docs Diary for more Hot Docs coverage!

Posted: Fri, May 06, 2011 - 10:43 | #

People’s Choice Award Top 20 as of May 4

Voted on by audience ballot, here are are the current top twenty films in the running for the People’s Choice Award (as of May 4, 7:00 pm). The winner will be announced on May 9.

  1. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
  2. BUCK
  3. JIG
  4. ECO PIRATE: THE STORY OF PAUL WATSON
  5. MIGHTY JEROME
  6. BEAUTY DAY
  7. SENNA
  8. KORAN BY HEART
  9. BETTER THIS WORLD
  10. YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED
  11. BLOOD IN THE MOBILE
  12. FAMILY POTRAIT IN BLACK AND WHITE
  13. MAMA AFRICA
  14. MOTHERS OF BEDFORD
  15. ST-HENRI THE 26TH OF AUGUST
  16. BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN
  17. THE TEAM
  18. CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE
  19. WHEN THE DRUM IS BEATING
  20. KUMARE

Posted: Fri, May 06, 2011 - 10:11 | #

Hot Docs In The Headlines

Check out the latest news and reviews:

Posted: Fri, May 06, 2011 - 8:53 | #

Hot Docs Forum Wraps with Over $40,000 in Cash Prizes

The Hot Docs Forum, Hot Docs’ key international co-financing market event, wrapped today after two days of brisk pitching, networking and deal-making. In total, 28 projects representing 12 countries were presented to a panel of over 120 key commissioning editors and other funders.

Over $40,000 in cash prizes were awarded to projects at this year’s Hot Docs Forum.

The Shaw Media-Hot Docs Funds Forum Pitch Prize was awarded to Clear Lake Historical Productions’ DOC POMPUS, a feature documentary about one of America’s great songwriters. Disbursed from the Shaw Media-Hot Docs Funds, the $40,000 cash prize is awarded to the best Canadian pitch at the Forum as voted on by attending international commissioning editors. Shaw Media’s Sarah Jane Flynn presented the award to pitch team member Will Hechter.

The Cuban Hat Award, which offers “real cash, no strings attached” support for powerful and unique projects, was presented to two projects, THE JUNGLE PRESCRIPTION (Nomad Films) and A WHOLE LOTT MORE (Flying V Films/The Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation). Established in 2009 in an impromptu display of collegial support, the Cuban Hat Award is decided from ballots collected from Hot Docs Forum Observers and the cash prize is raised by passing the hat. This year close to $3,500 was raised, which includes a generous $1,000 gift from Jan Rofekamp of Films Transit, a $1,000 gift from Montreal’s EyeSteelFilm, and $500 from the Hot Docs Forum, as well as 924.18 CAD, 100.32 USD, 2 euro 11 cents, 2 Reais Brazil, 1 pence Australian, 1 Shequel, and 1 Toronto transit token. The Cuban hat in which the prize money was collected was presented to BBC’s Nick Fraser (UK), named favourite funder also by Observer ballot. The founders of the Cuban Hat Award, Diego Briceno (Cuibafilms/Pimiento, Montreal) and Giulia Frati (Zelectra Productions, Montreal) announced the winners following the close of this year’s Hot Docs Forum. THE JUNGLE PRESCRIPTION was pitched at the end of the event via the Entertainment One “Mounties’ Hat,” which gives Hot Docs Forum observers the chance to secure a last minute presentation slot.

Posted: Fri, May 06, 2011 - 5:23 | #

Hot Docs and Blue Ice Film Announce $1-Million Production Fund

At this morning’s opening of the Hot Docs Forum it was announced that Hot Docs and Blue Ice Film have partnered to establish the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Film Documentary Fund. The $1-million production fund will provide financial support to independent documentary filmmakers based in developing African countries, with the goal of increasing the quality and quantity of social, cultural and political documentaries produced in the region. Generously established by Toronto-based Blue Ice Film, the Fund will be administered by Hot Docs and disbursements will be made over the next five years.

The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Film Documentary Fund will disburse six to ten grants each year to successful applicants for projects in various stages of production. Grants will range from $10,000 to $40,000. In addition to financing, the initiative will also offer valuable resources and industry connections. Through an accompanying mentorship program, selected African producers will team with international production partners to bring their projects to international markets, festivals, broadcast and online audiences.

The first application deadline for the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Film Documentary Fund will be in the fall of 2011 and guidelines will be available in September. The five-member selection committee will consist of representatives from Hot Docs and Blue Ice Film, in addition to other international industry professionals.

Posted: Wed, May 04, 2011 - 3:00 | #

Distribution Deals Announced for 2011 Official Selections

With the 2011 festival, conference and market in full swing, Hot Docs is pleased to draw your attention to recently announced distribution deals for films in this year’s official selection:

Posted: Wed, May 04, 2011 - 2:00 | #

Last Call For The Hot Docs Soap Box

We are still seeking participants for Friday’s Hot Docs Soap Box, our annual town-hall discussion. Not just another film festival panel, this popular session is a feisty speaker-a-thon in which delegates present their five-minute (or so) manifestos, pontifications, mastications or defenestrations on the state of things, documentary-wise. Please send your a short blurb describing your short presentation to Tina Zafreen Alam. The panel takes place this Friday, May 6, at 2:00 pm at the Rogers Industry Centre.

Posted: Wed, May 04, 2011 - 3:31 | #

People’s Choice Award Top 20 as of May 2

Voted on by audience ballot, here are are the current top twenty films in the running for the People’s Choice Award (as of May 2, 7:00 pm). The winner will be announced on May 9.

  1. ECO PIRATE: THE STORY OF PAUL WATSON
  2. JIG
  3. BEAUTY DAY
  4. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
  5. MIGHTY JEROME
  6. GNARR
  7. WADAN’S WORLD
  8. WHEN THE DRUM IS BEATING
  9. MAMA AFRICA
  10. SUPERHEROES
  11. FAMILY POTRAIT IN BLACK AND WHITE
  12. BETTER THIS WORLD
  13. MOTHERS OF BEDFORD
  14. BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN
  15. THE TEAM
  16. CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE
  17. BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD
  18. FLYING ANNE
  19. KUMARE
  20. BECOMING SANTA

Posted: Wed, May 04, 2011 - 3:00 | #

Ford Focus @ The Festival

Check out the all new 2012 Ford Focus at the Hot Docs Festival!

Ford Focus - Fuel Efficiency

Ford Focus - Technology

Posted: Tue, May 03, 2011 - 5:21 | #

Flash Mob at Hot Docs! Singing In The Rain - Hot Docs The Musical

You know the song “Dancing in the Street” but have you heard “Doc-u-men-ta-ries”? Check out these talented singers serenading the rush line outside the Bloor Cinema on Sunday night.

Flash Mob at Hot Docs

Flash mob organized by We Love Documentary

Posted: Mon, May 02, 2011 - 5:43 | #

Favourite Festival Moments

Get a behind the scenes look at all things Hot Docs with Favourite Festival Moments.

Posted: Mon, May 02, 2011 - 3:24 | #

People’s Choice Award Top 20 as of May 1

Voted on by audience ballot, here are are the current top twenty films in the running for the People’s Choice Award (as of May 1, 7:00 pm). The winner will be announced on May 9.

  1. BEAUTY DAY
  2. MIGHTY JEROME
  3. MAMA AFRICA
  4. MOTHERS OF BEDFORD
  5. BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN
  6. BECOMING CHAZ
  7. KUMARE
  8. THE GUANTANAMO TRAP
  9. BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
  10. MY REINCARNATION
  11. THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975
  12. BECOMING SANTA
  13. THE BENGALI DETECTIVE
  14. POM WONDERFUL PRESENTS: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD
  15. FIGHTVILLE
  16. PIT NO. 8
  17. BOY CHEERLEADERS
  18. GRINDERS
  19. SIRA - SONGS OF THE CRESCENT MOON
  20. 75 WATTS

Posted: Mon, May 02, 2011 - 12:36 | #

Favourite Festival Moments

Get a behind the scenes look at all things Hot Docs with Favourite Festival Moments.

Posted: Sun, May 01, 2011 - 2:42 | #

Hot Docs In The Headlines

Check out the latest news and reviews:

Posted: Sun, May 01, 2011 - 2:18 | #

Restrepo Screening Added in Tribute to Tim Hetherington; Sebastian Junger to Attend

National Geographic Films, Hot Docs and Realscreen magazine are uniting to pay tribute to filmmaker Tim Hetherington, with a special one-off charity screening of the late director’s Academy Award-nominated Afghanistan war documentary RESTREPO on Saturday, May 7, at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Co-director Sebastian Junger will attend the screening, paying tribute to Tim, his friend and collaborator, and will host a Q&A session after the film. Buy tickets here.

Posted: Thu, April 28, 2011 - 7:54 | #

Hot Docs in the Headlines

Check out the latest news and reviews:

Posted: Tue, April 26, 2011 - 10:25 | #

The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

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