For more than 30 years, Hot Docs has advanced and celebrated the art of documentary and created production opportunities for filmmakers. We are proud to support Canada’s preeminent documentary film institution and remain committed to delivering an exceptional festival in a few weeks’ time.
Hot Docs and its Board recognize that the recent departures of the artistic director and ten contract Festival programmers have caused concern for members of our filmmaking community, our audiences and other stakeholders who are deeply invested in the organization, as have recent news reports on the situation.
Hot Docs takes its obligation to protect and respect the privacy of both former and current employees and contractors very seriously and is not in a position to discuss specific details related to these departures due to privacy concerns. However, the organization has an established policy and procedures for complaint resolution and investigation, which is made available to all staff.
When issues were raised by the programming team at the end of January, Hot Docs and the Board acted in accordance with these policies and procedures, including conducting a thorough internal investigation, with all due diligence and speed to address their concerns. Despite numerous proposed solutions to seek a path forward, offers to mediate were declined.
In accordance with Hot Docs policies and procedures, a full internal investigation of issues raised by the programmers was conducted by Hot Docs when they were made. A third-party investigation of the issues was proposed following the Festival, and which is still planned.
As the programmers themselves assert in their statement of March 25, there was an effort by all parties to work together to find solutions to address their concerns, until Hot Docs declined their demand to make their issues public due to the organization’s obligations to employees’ privacy.
Hot Docs and the Board recognize and take seriously the responsibility to ensure a safe and respectful work environment, whether physical or virtual, for all employees. The nature of the programming team’s process is that they work remotely and meet virtually until the Festival, when they join the wider staff in producing the event. We want to clarify that any issues that contract programmers may have encountered are not reflective of the wider Hot Docs culture.
The Board supports the actions taken by Hot Docs and will continue to support all parties through the third-party investigation process.
Hot Docs Board of Directors