Hot Docs has some encouraging news on the eve of this year’s festival. The organization announced today that it has a conditional offer on the sale of Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, which includes a lease back arrangement that will allow the organization to continue operations for the festival and cinema.
Hot Docs temporarily closed the cinema last summer and put it on the market in the fall in an effort to recover a sizable deficit that accumulated throughout the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Events resumed in a limit capacity at the cinema in December with screenings for films like Union, No Other Land, and Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion among hit doc events.
The festival noted that it would not be commenting further at this time until the anticipated close of the sale this summer. The festival kicks off tomorrow with the world premiere of Parade: Queer Acts of Love and Resistance.
Hot Docs’ full statement on the sale is below:
Hot Docs is pleased to announce a conditional offer for Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. The terms of sale include a lease-back arrangement that will allow Hot Docs to continue operating and programming the Cinema year-round.
Hot Docs anticipates the due diligence process to conclude in the summer. Hot Docs will not be offering further comment on the sale until that time.
For now, we are focused on the upcoming Hot Docs Festival, which kicks off with the opening night screening of Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema on April 24.
