I have to say that Hot Docs was quite the experience! Never have I seen that many documentaries in such a short period of time: 20 films in about a week. It was clear that the fans love their documentaries as there was always energy in the theatre and healthy rush lines. Let's take a look at some of the stand out films:
Artistic work of wonder: Man on Wire, it is amazing to see someone with such a strong, singular artistic vision. Absolutely astounding.
Most Haunting: Men of the Lake
Most Inspiring: Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, a beautiful film and well deserved of receiving a standing ovation
Quintessentially Canadian: Passage, where some moments reminded me of Canadian Heritage Minutes.
Best Day: Day 7, all the films were fantastic: Passage, Man on Wire and Bigger, Stronger, Faster *
Best Line: "Mindblowing!" - Shot in Bombay
Best experience & audience: Anvil! The Story of Anvil, the audience was so pumped, there were Anvil fans all about and the band & director were present for the Q&A. Tons of fun.
Best Q&A's: Eleven Minutes with Jay McCarroll and directors Rob Tate and Michael Selditch. Very entertaining.
Still has me thinking: Corridor #8, Mechanical Love, The Unbearable Whiteness of Being, Second Skin and Bigger, Stronger, Faster *
The weird and bizarre: Green Porno, Isabella Rossellini as various bugs delightfully bizarre.
Favourite Short: I'm including two, Peter and Ben because it was the cutest film I've seen in ages and Kids + Money for it's shocking insight to LA kids and their relationship with money
Almost to hard to watch: Be Like Others. I can't imagine what it would be like to be faced with having a sex change operation to hopefully lead to being accepted for who you are.
Wasn't expecting: TTC Strike! Totally through a wrench in the works for the final weekend, and leads right into .....
Wish I hadn't missed: Planet B-Boy, Dreams with Sharp Teeth and Blast!
Unexpectedly loved: Bigger, Stronger, Faster *. Although I'm not American and it's been years since I lifted weights I felt very connected to the common experience of growing up watching wrestling and action movies.
Fullest Screenings: Passage, Man on Wire, The Unbearable Whiteness of Being and Be Like Others
Most Enthusiastic Crowd: Eleven Minutes, Man on Wire
The festival experience was more than the films, but full of film lovers too. I got catch up with Bob from Eternal Sunshine of the Logical Mind as well as meet James from Toronto Screen Shots and Milton.
Hot Docs 2008 ran from April 17-27/08 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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