The Hot Docs Forum, the central industry event at the Hot Docs Festival in Toronto, recently concluded with its awards announcements this past Wednesday. For the second year in a row, a WMM filmmaker won the First Look Pitch Prize. This year’s winner ARREST THE MIDWIFE, directed and produced by Elaine Epstein, and produced by Robin Hessman and Ruth Ann Harnisch, is supported by WMM’s Production Assistance Program and received a cash prize of 20,000 CAD.
ARREST THE MIDWIFE captures the intense story of three midwives in Amish and Mennonite communities whose arrest triggers a surprising wave of activism for reproductive rights. This compelling narrative was showcased among twenty projects pitched to key funders, decision-makers, and industry professionals over the two-day event.
Additionally, eight films made with the support of the WMM Production Assistance Program premiered at the festival, and WMM Executive Director Debra Zimmerman, Managing Director Kendra Hodgson, and Senior Program Associate Kyra Brands were in attendance. Read more on the films that premiered and pitched on the original blog post.
Congratulations to all the filmmakers!