The Artist & the Pervert (Germany, 96 min.) Dir. Beatrice Behn and René Gebhardt Artscapes. Program: (North American Premiere) A smack of politically incorrect racial sex play, a spanking of gender-inappropriate kink and a touch of genius entitlement add up to a happy creative marriage in the provocative, warm-hearted film The Artist & The
Nothing Without Us: The Women Who Will End AIDS (USA, 67 minutes) Dir. Harriet Hirshorn Programme: Silence Breakers (International Premiere) Nothing Without Us demands we learn the names of women activists across the globe in the fight to end HIV/AIDS. The fight for visibility, recognition and access to services is impeded by gender, race,
Constructing Albert (Spain/Estonia, 82 min.) Dir. Laura Collado, Jim Loomis Programme: World Showcase (Canadian Premiere) Being crowned the best in the world is an awfully high status to maintain. It’s even harder when one shares the honour with one’s brother. Standing next to the best may prove a point of inspiration though, as Constructing
The Trolley (Canada, 45min) Dir. Stephen Low Programme: Special Events & Big Ideas Series Canadian documentarian Stephen Low is one of those old school IMAX filmmakers, gifted with using the massive canvas of the large-format frame to both engage and enthral often young audiences. His Titanica was a formative film. I’ve still got it
The Silence of Others USA, Spain. 96 Minutes. Dir. Almunena Carracedo, Robert Bahar. Program: The Good Fight (North American Premiere) During the post-War years, Spain had a relatively benign international image, through its tourist-friendly advertising and a military alliance with the Americans. Yet the truth is Franco’s administration was a murderous regime, responsible for
I Used to Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story (Australia, 96 min.) Dir. Jessica Leski Programme: Nightvisions (World Premiere) There is, like, a science to making the perfect boy band. Seriously. Dara, a 33-year-old brand strategist from Australia and proud Take That fangirl, breaks down the factors that define and unite boybands throughout the
Kinshasa Makambo (France, 75 min.) Dir: Dieudo Hamadi Programme: World Showcase Many are the films offering street-level views of the spate of protests that have swept the globe since Occupy and the Arab Spring: The Square, Winter on Fire, Whose Streets?, etc. Add Kinshasa Makambo to that list. The film is about the movement
The Accountant of Auschwitz (Canada, 80 minutes) Dir: Matthew Shoychet Programme: The Good Fight.(World Premiere) Recent studies show that the Nazi slaughter of millions of men, women, children, and even infants is fading from memory, particularly among millennials. Some believe that two million, not six million, Jews were murdered. Many have never heard of
25th anniversaries are ripe occasions for nostalgia and good feelings, and Hot Docs delivers both on its silver anniversary.
Netizens (USA, 97 min.) Dir. Cynthia Lowen Programme: Silence Breakers (International Premiere) Hot Docs spotlights the Silence Breakers this year with a special line-up of films that capture the passion, energy, rage, and impact of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements in the wake of Harvey Weinstein’s precipitous fall that rocked Hollywood and workplace relations