Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema will begin reopening for the public. The festival announced today via a release that the theatre would resume “third party rentals and select partner screening events” later this month. This news comes as many Toronto independent film festivals prepare for their runs throughout the fall season.
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema paused operations in June as the festival embarked on an organizational overhaul. This process included the appointment of Janice Dawe as interim director and a scaled down three-person working board. Hot Docs noted that it will begin to welcome new governance in the fall and seek a new executive director.
The gradual reopening of the cinema means that some of the employees who experienced temporary layoffs will soon return to work.
Hot Docs experienced a tumultuous year in 2024 with the mass resignation of its programmers the night before the festival line-up was announced. This was followed by the departure of the festival’s artistic director and a roller-coaster of headlines, including news of a sizable deficit and mounting pressure from protesters to either cut ties with sponsor Scotiabank or demand the sponsor divest from weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems. The 2024 festival itself was generally considered a success despite the many challenges it faced with audience number surpassing targets, while many Canadian and international films made headlines.
This summer saw the departure of Hot Docs president Marie Nelson and all but three members of the board of directors as Hot Docs reviewed operations.
Hot Docs also noted that plans are in the works for a 2025 festival while managing the organization’s deficit. This includes “implementing plans to right-size the organization, reducing operating costs and prioritizing core programming and initiatives in our future planning.”
The festival added that it is meeting with sponsors, partners, and public funders to plan the year ahead, noting that “many have confirmed their ongoing support.” Details on when the cinema will resume full operations have not yet been released.
