Hot Docs 2011 Coverage

The festival came and is now gone in it's 11 days and many films glory. There are so many more films I had hoped to see this year (Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, Fightville, Jig and Project Nim to name just a few), but I still had the chance to see lots of amazing films at the festival. Every year I'm impressed by the quality and selection of films and each year there is an every growing audience population that's energetic and enthusiastic. Another great year at the festival!

Film Reviews
At Night, They Dance
Dolphin Boy
Family Instinct
Future is Now!, The
Housing
Imagining Emanuel
Inside Lara Roxx
My Barefoot Friend
Simple Rhythm, A
Superheroes

Pre-Festival Coverage
Festival Preview
Movie Moxie Podcast 35: Hot Docs Preview
Movie Moxie Podcast 36: Hot Docs Wrap Up
Hot Docs Preview Reviews (Part 1)
Hot Docs Preview Reviews (Part 2)

Daily Coverage
Day 6: Tuesday May 3, 2011
Day 8: Thursday May 5, 2011

Q&A's (Audio)
Dolphin Boy Q&A with directors Dani Menkin and Yonatan
Housing Q and A with director Federica Di Giacomo
Inside Lara Roxx Q&A w director Mia Donovan and Lara Roxx
My Barefoot Friend with director Seong-gyou Lee

Post-Festival Coverage
Awards



Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival ran from April 28 - May 8, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hot Docs 2011 Awards

Ballots have been counted and juries have decided and the Hot Docs Awards for 2011 have been announced. Here are the results:

Sundance Channel People's Choice Award winner is Somewhere Between (Dir: Linda Goldstein Knowlton)

The top ten audience favourites as determined by audience vote are:
Somewhere Between (Dir: Linda Goldstein Knowlton)
Give Up Tomorrow (Dir: Michael Collins)
How to Die in Oregon (Dir: Peter D. Richardson)
Wild Horse, Wild Ride (Dir: Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus)
Senna (Dir: Asif Kapadia)
Buck (Dir: Cindy Meehl)
Jig (Dir: Sue Bourne)
Eco Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson (Dir: Trish Dolman)
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (Dir: Constance Marks, Philip Shane (Co-Director))
Koran by Heart (Dir: Greg Barker)

Best Canadian Feature: Family Portrait in Black and White (Dir: Julia Ivanova; P: Boris Ivanov, Mike Jackson)

Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature (tie): At Night, They Dance (Dir: Isabelle Lavigne, Stéphane Thibault; P: Lucie Lambert) and The Guantanamo Trap (Dir: Thomas Selim Wallner; P: Thomas Kufus, Amit Breuer, Marcel Hoehn, Christoph Jorg)
Honourable Mention: Wiebo's War (Dir: David York, P: David York, Nick Hector, Bryn Hughes, Bonnie Thompson; EP: David York, David Christensen)

Best International Feature: Dragonslayer (Dir: Tristan Patterson; P: John Baker, EP: Christine Vachon)

Special Jury Prize – International Feature: The Castle (Dir:Massimo D'Anolfi, Martina Parenti; P: Massimo D'Anolfi, Martina Parenti; EP: Massimo D'Anolfi, Martina Parenti)
Honourable Mentions: Grande Hotel (Dir: Lotte Stoops; P: Ellen De Waele, Co-Producer Denis Vaslin, Volya Films; EP: Ellen De Waele) and Hell and Back Again (Dir: Danfung Dennis; P: Mike Lerner, Martin Herring; EP: Dan Cogan, Karol Martesko Fenster, Gernot Schaffler, Thomas Brunner, Maxyne Franklin)

Best Mid-Length Documentary: Our Newspaper (Dir: Eline Flipse; P: Eline Flipse; EP: Eline Flipse)
Honourable Mention: People I Could Have Been and Maybe Am (Dir: Boris Gerrets; P: Pieter van Huystee)

Best Short Documentary: Flying Anne (Dir: Catherine van Campen; P: Joost Seelen)
Honourable Mention: Something to Tell You (Dir: Pete Gleeson; P: Pete Gleeson; EP: Yvette Coyne)

HBO Documentary Films Emerging Artist Award: Michal Marczak for the film At the Edge of Russia (P: Marianna Rowinska)

documentary’s Don Haig Award: Rama Rau

Lindalee Tracey Award: Alexandre Hamel

Also, the festival itself has been nominated for an award! The 2011 Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts which "recognizes the outstanding achievements of artists and arts organizations and their contributions to arts and culture in Ontario over a significant period of time". The winners will be announced on Thursday June 9, 2011. I'll be thinking happy Hot Docs thoughts for the festival and keep my fingers crossed for them. Good luck!

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 28 - May 8, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Poll Results: Hot Docs is Upon Us! Are You Attending the Festival?

I'm excited that so many people are interested in Hot Docs but surprized so few were able to attend! Hopefully the "I wish I was"'ers will make it to the festival in 2012!

Poll Results:
53% - No, but I wish I was
23% - No
15% - Yes! For the First Time
7% - Yes! It's a yearly tradition

Thanks for voting!

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 28 - May 8, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hot Docs 2011: Inside Lara Roxx & Dolphin Boy

Thursday night was all about World Premieres and seeing two head to head with Inside Lara Roxx and Dolphin Boy, both of which played to packed houses at The Bloor. I have to say it's pretty freaking amazing to attend two World Premieres in a row, especially 1 week into the festival and to top it all off both had directors and special guests in attendance. It certainly was another very exciting night at Hot Docs.


Q&A of Inside Lara Roxx screening with Senior Canadian Programmer Lynne Fernie (left), director Mia Donovan (centre) and Lara Roxx (seated)

Inside Lara Roxx
Dir: Mia Donovan
Canada

Inside Lara Roxx follows the roller coaster journey of Lara Roxx, after the cool down of media hype over being one of three women who tested positive for HIV after having unprotected sex with a male adult film star in LA. The film takes a very personal approach as we visit Lara during various health and addiction management moments, as well as a huge emotional journey to tackle dealing, expressing and confronting not only the ordeal of testing positive, but also a lot of the history that brought her to the decision to go to LA to try and make it industry before that dream was stopped short in just a few brief months. I found it to be a very brave and raw film, especially when she returns back to LA to see and connect with many people from her past who responses were everything from callous to comforting. In fact, the responses she receives from people inside and outside the industry are varied to say the least from extreme compassion to almost shocking dismissal. It was great to see the support that she did receive throughout the filmmaking, and even more exciting was that she was in attendance at the screening along with director Mia Donovan who brought this important and brave story to a fuller light.

Listen to the Inside Lara Roxx Q&A w director Mia Donovan and Lara Roxx here:

Dolphin Boy
Dirs: Dani Menkin and Yonatan Nir
Israel

Dolphin Boy is one of those films where you think "Oh, inspiring!" and then realize that sometimes getting to the inspiring means going through more than a little harshness. This is very much the case here as we follow Morad, who becomes almost completely unresponsive after a brutal beating while being kidnapped. Lack on progress from several types of treatment, his doctor recommends a 4 week dolphin therapy program on the Dolphin Reef of the Red Sea, and his father is more than willing to give it a try. It's quite amazing to see the effect of the dolphins and the way that Morad can connect to them, but it is truly heartbreaking the circumstance that brought him to need that kind of therapy. It was absolutely beautiful to see the powerful love his family & family friends have for him and the commitment they have not only to his health but also in non-violent retaliation against the people who hurt him. A truly powerful story of not only strength but also the fragility of the human spirit. The audience was overwhelmed by the power of the story and I know this is a film is one that will resonate with many people. I really hope people continue to get a chance to see this film, and considering this was the first ever screening it feels like it's only just the beginning. Keep your eye on this one!

Listen to audio of the Dolphin Boy Q&A with directors Dani Menkin and Yonatan here:

Dolphin Boy directors Dani Menkin and Yonatan Nir



Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 28 - May 8, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hot Docs 2011: Housing & My Barefoot Friend

On Tuesday I finally had a chance to see a few films at real live screenings at Hot Docs. Woohoo! It was a rainy day (there is always at least one), but it was still awesome. Caught up with films from around the world including Italian film Housing centred on people who literally live in fear that their public housing apartments will be taken over by squatters and also a South Korean film set in India about ricksaw driver. As a bonus, both films had the filmmakers there! That is one of the amazing treats of festivalling and led to a festival first, during the screening of Housing there was a lovely translator during the Q&A who only had to translated audience questions in Italian back to the audience in English! I was thankful she was there and it was great to hear not only the director's responses but also the question as well.


Housing director Federica Di Giacomo with Hot Docs International Programmer Myrocia Watamaniuk

Housing
Dir: Federica Di Giacomo
Italy

In Housing, we follow the lives of several subsidized housing tenants who are in fear of leaving their homes due to the huge number of squatters ready to take over the apartments. Who are the squatters? Not who you'd expect - they are people on the really long waiting lists for the actual public housing. People who are part of the system, a system that appears to frustrate rather than facilitate. A system that requires a mutual agreement for any housing changes, but no support or structure for tenants to connect to each other. I'll admit that all the people they did talk to in bureaucracy land were sympathetic, but didn't have a lot of practical action that could be taken. You can truly feel the weight of the burden on the tenants who don't feel like they can leave their homes, and how some have adapted their lifestyles to become shut in. The stress level on them is really high, but somehow in an amazing way the film also captures with comedy the zaniness the situation can drive people too. Their is a nice variety of people that they follow to connect with, from a constant worried to a hopeless romantic, and some even had different issues with the situation and different desires of how to get out of it. It was a fascinating film, and I was thrilled for the comedic relief as it's a topic that holds so much weight. The thought of being and feeling like a prisoner in your own home is a frightful one, and important issue really is being brought to light. Sadly, during the Q&A it sounds that no progress has been made in the situation at all and many people are still living in fear, not just in Bari but also in other cities in Italy.

Listen to the Housing Q and A with director Federica Di Giacomo here:

My Barefoot Friend director Seong-gyou Lee with Hot Docs International Programmer Gisèle Gordon

My Barefoot Friend
Dir: Seong-gyou Lee
South Korea

Heartfelt human drama documentary My Barefoot Friend follows rickshaw driver Shallim, who pulls a hand rickshaw and runs through the streets of India to try and provide a better life for his family. Wow, this film really got me. Shallim works so hard and the job of a rickshaw driver is a physically demanding and one which isn't often met with a lot of thanks, but that doesn't stop him from keeping to plug away at his dream. We also see insights into a few other rickshaw drivers and their histories, including actual footage from many years past which gives the films an added layer of depth and intimacy. It's a film where it's so easy to sympathize and root for the people in it, to feel for their challenges and to cheer for any victory, big or small, and to be heartbroken when they are faced with what feel like insurmountable challenges. Although the film has a main focus of a certain period of time, it also has the richness of seeing the lives span over years and years, which makes you understand and feel for the people even more. It's a huge eye opener into the life and tribulations of the challenge to make a better life, against all the odds. My Barefoot Friend is a beautiful, insightful film into the human spirit.

Listen to a selection of the Q and A for My Barefoot Friend with director Seong-gyou Lee here:

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 28 - May 8, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Movie Moxie Podcast 35: Hot Docs 2011, Water for Elephants, Repeaters, Art House Film

On this weeks Movie Moxie Podcast Shannon takes a look at Hot Docs 2011 which has come to town and also discusses book to film club selection Water For Elephants, Canadian scifi drama Repeaters, recent doc African Cats and continues the genre exploration by looking at Art House Films. Please note this weeks podcast is a little rough around the edges in light of the fact it's going up at the same time of the election! Thanks for your understanding on the roughness.

0:00 - 1:45 Intro
1:45 - 2:45 News
2:45 - 12:30 Hot Docs!
12:30 - 20:00 Water for Elephants Review
20:00 - 24:00 Repeaters Review
24:00 - 28:45 African Cats
28:45 - 40:50 Art House film as a Genre
40:50 - 46:00 DVD Releases for April 26 2011
46:00 - 48:15 Releases for April 29, 2011
48:15 - 49:25 Outro

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Show Notes:

• I mention being on The Film Bomb Podcast at Fused Film
• See the Hot Docs website for more information about the festival
  
• Hot Docs overview, reviews of Superheroes, Family Instinct, At Night They Dance and A Simply Rhythm, Imagining Emanuel and The Future is Now!
• I mention previous Hot Doc film Hunting Down Memory / Jakten På Hukommelsen
• Book to Film Club
• Water for Elephants film review and book review
• I mention the amazingness of Elephants in Tony Jaa films, (see The Protector and Ong Bak 3)
• I mention previous films of Carl Bessai: Normal and Unnatural & Accidental
• African Cats review
• DVD releases for April 26, 2011
• DVD releases mentioned: IP Man 2, Dinoshark on DVD and BluRay (DVD Review), The Resident DVD/BluRay Combo (DVD Review), I Love You Phillip Morris (DVD review), Somewhere (DVD Review)
• I mention that the current book to film club selection is One Day by David Nicholls.
  

Art House Film Show Notes

Shannon's Art House film definition:

• Films that are off the beaten path, sometimes trying to 'say' something, stylistically rich and the way in which they a story (if there is one) is creative and innovative. What is being said is not as important as how it is as being said. This is one of my favourite genres and when it hits it really hits home but when it misses, oh boy it can be a mess. Experimental, experiential and everything in between.
• I mention the Guy Maddin films: Brand Upon the Brain! and The Saddest Music in the World (see also My Winnipeg)
• Art House Films mentioned: Gerry, Somewhere, Memento, Bubba Ho-Tep, Donnie Darko, In the Mood for Love, Enter the Void, Nashville, Solyaris / Солярис,
  Valhalla Rising and Wild Grass / Les Herbes Folles
  All Art House Film Reviews
• Art House directors mentioned: Guy Maddin, Gus van Sant, Lars von Trier and Wong Kar Wai
  

Hot Docs 2011 Preview: A Simple Rhythm, Imagining Emanuel and The Future is Now!

Professor Steven H Strogatz demonstrates the synchronization of metronomes in Tess Girard's A Simple Rhythm.

A Simple Rhythm
Dir: Tess Girard
Canada

Rarely does a film capture me within the first few moments, but A Simple Rhythm did just that *and* it brought tears to my eyes in the first few minutes. Yep, a film that's about universal rhythm will do that to me. I absolutely loved it. I loved that it drew on experts from many different communities from scientific to artistic to explore rhythm and the patterns it creates, maintains, sustains and relays. I loved how it found and celebrated the beauty in something that could feel so dry, but instead we see it in many different beautiful lights, interpretations and presentations. A beautiful exploration on a fascinating topic and easily my favourite of the festival so far. An exceptional film that I highly recommend.

An image from Tess Girard's "A Simple Rhythm"; a film that combines the dialogue of philosophical and academic conversation on rhythm and synchronization with metaphoric images of the every day.

A Simple Rhythm screenings at Hot Docs:

• Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 7pm at The Royal Cinema
• Sat, May 7, 2011 at 6:30pm at Cumberland 3
• Sun, May 8, 2011 at 3:45pm at The ROM Theatre

Image from Imagining Emanuel

Imagining Emanuel
Dir: Thomas A Østbye
Norway

Imagining Emanuel is an absolutely fascination exploration of identity, history and truth, especially from the point of view of how we actually actually view these things and when we consider them to be 'real'. What is it that make the truth, the truth? When do we definitively know who someone is? Does that change depending on who we are: someone on the street versus a government representative versus a law enforcement officer? Does it change who we are, to question these truths? I loved how this film was put together and it was brilliant it it's exploration of these interesting questions from a theoretical point of view as well as adding a human and personal perspective. Unique in many ways, and well worth checking out.

Imagining Emanuel screenings at Hot Docs:

• Wed, May 4, 2011 at 9:15pm at TIFF Bell Lightbox 4
• Fri, May 6, 2011 at 1:30pm at Cumberland 2

Image from The Future is Now!

The Future is Now!
Dirs: Gary Burns & Jim Brown (Radiant City)
Canada

An exploration of the importance of art and connection with society is seen through the journey of a skeptic with an at arms distance guide who funnels him from interesting thinker to art creator, philosophers and beyond. I love the idea of the film, but I was taking a bit aback as I could tell right away that it's not quite a straight up documentary (it was a strong familiarity with Canadian actors that gave it away), but in all fairness it also feels intentional. The Future Is Now! has a very direct and clear tone to get it's message across, but it also feels like it might be preaching to the converted. I hope not just the converted, because the message is great as well as the journey structure that hopefully can and will open people up to considering new ideas, reflecting on their own opinions and foster new ways of thinking. I think anything that can achieve these goals and has an optimistic attitude to boot, is a welcome endeavour and an great source of inspiration.

The Future is Now! screenings at Hot Docs:

• Thu, May 5, 2011 at 9pm at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1
• Sat, May 7, 2011 at 1pm at Cumberland 3

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 28 - May 8, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hot Docs 2011 Preview: Superheroes, Family Instinct & At Night, They Dance

Superheroes
Dir: Michael Barnett
USA

Every wonder what it would be like to be real life superhero? I think most of us have had at least one time pondered what it would be like but the focus of this film is people who took that beyond thinking and into action and have become real life superheroes. Patrolling the streets, fighting crime, scaring off baddies and occasionally... stopping for a beer? Superheroes makes it clear that although there may not be tons of real life superheroes out there, and most come from the place of wanting to help the helpless, they have varying ways of doing so and even more so varying levels of competency doing so. Some are high trained in martial arts & parkour, where as others you wonder how their suit is even kept together, but all feel very strongly about stepping up and fighting injustice, and I loved how the film focused on that sensibility when it at times could have easily gone for humour. It's respectful and intelligent, talking to numerous superheroes as well as experts in the field from psychologists to likely the biggest expert in the field: Stan Lee. The superheroes themselves are the real stars of the screen, and they both suprize and inspire the viewer. Well worth checking out.

Superheroes screenings at Hot Docs:

• Mon, May 2, 2011 at 9pm at the Bloor Cinema
• Wed, May 4, 2011 at 4pm at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2
• Sun, May 8, 2011 at 7pm at The Royal Cinema

Zanda, in Family Instinct

Family Instinct
Dir: Andris Gauja
Latvia

One of the things I always look for at film festivals is to see if there is any Latvian film, as it's a rare to find and being of Latvian heritage myself it's a treat to see. This wasn't quite what I'd imagine to be regular everyday Latvian life, but it's a very intimate look at one particular family. Family Instinct follows a family of quite an unusual make up, we see it centred on Zanda whom we see during a time of absence from Valdis - the father of her children (and also her brother). That's only one of the many strange and almost unbelievable things in the film, which we see from a fly on the wall perspective as the strange, but apparently everyday, life as it rolls out day by day. From crazy binge drinking to uninvited guests, many of which strongly seem to favour Zanda's company while Valdis is away. The film is an eye opener on many levels, and I absolutely couldn't tear myself away from it.

Family Instinct screenings at Hot Docs:

• Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 9:45pm at Cumberland 3
• Sat, Apr 30, 2011 at 4:30pm at Cumberland 3
• Tue, May 3, 2011 at 11am at Isabel Bader Theatre

Hind, dancing against all the odds in At Night, They Dance

At Night, They Dance
Dir: Isabelle Lavigne & Stéphane Thibault
Canada

I'm always up for a dance film, but was a little hesitant although still very curious about At Night, They Dance which follows belly dancers in Cairo. I have to say that the dancing elements are low, and even dancing seems to be most of the times a generous way to put is as the young women are mostly on stage with a live band and at times dancing or moving for an all male crowd. The gender dynamics and tension in this film are rough, the male dominated industry is bridged by Reda, who is a former dancer herself and the mother of several daughters who dance are likely more who will dance in the future. It's interesting to see it from the perspective of almost a participant, as we are brought full force into the world without context and live through the lives of the dancers and their handlers through the long nights and various celebrations and events. It wasn't what I expected but it was wild to see this portrait on a lifestyle from such an intimate point of view.

At Night, They Dance screenings at Hot Docs:

• Tue, May 3, 2011 at 9pm at TIFF Bell Lightbox 4
• Fri, May 6, 2011 at 1:15pm at The ROM Theatre

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 28 - May 8, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hot Docs 2011 Preview

Spring Film Festival Season is in Toronto in full force with Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival opening this week and it's your sure fire way to satisfy all your documentaries needs. The festival kicks off with an film made entirely through advertising with the Opening Night Screening of POM Wonderful Presents: the Greatest Movie Ever Sold at the Winter Garden Theatre on Thursday April 28, 2011 at 6:30 pm with an introduction from filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me). That is some heavy hitting documentary goodness!

One of the things I love about Hot Docs is the wide variety of films to choose from and two of the ones I'm most curious about couldn't be more different: Fightville, centred on MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. I mean, any festival that has high profile film on puppets and martial arts is a winner in my book.

More films on my radar include the club culture film Limelight, inspirational Dolphin Boy, Project Nim from James Marsh director Oscar winning film Man on Wire from Hot Docs 2008, and self-explanatory titled Boy Cheerleaders and Jig. So many films to look forward to over the festival 11 day run here in Toronto and I'm really looking forward to diving in.

Be sure to check back here at Movie Moxie for more Hot Docs previews and festival coverage.

The festivals has so much to offer, and you can check out more information on the individual programs, browse by subject (Sports & Competition, Performance & Performers and Animals & Wildlife are all categories I have my eye on) or see the festival schedule online at the Hot Docs website.

Festival Passes & Tickets are available for purchase and with many popular titles it's always wise to check the Rush Only Screenings if you are planning on heading down to the festival and taking your chances at the door. Need to know where you are heading? Check out the festival venue information. For more information on ticketing and box office check here on the Hot Docs website.

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 28 - May 8, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada