Six films supported by our Production Assistance Program and four films from current WMM filmmakers and past Program alum are premiering at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival — North America’s largest doc festival, conference, and market! The festival will include in-person screenings in Toronto and select films streaming nationwide in Canada from April 27 to May 7.
The following films made with the support of our Production Assistant Program will premiere at this year’s festival:
- EAT BITTER (dir. Ningyi Sun, Pascale Appora-Gnekindy)
- INVISIBLE BEAUTY (dir. Bethann Hardison, prod. Lisa Cortés)
- IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL (dir. Alexandria Bombach, prod. Kathlyn Horan)
- MILISUTHANDO (dir. Milisuthando Bongela, prod. Marion Isaacs)
- POLARIS (dir. Ainara Vera)
- RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE (dir. Katja Esson, prod. Ann Bennett)
We are also excited to see new films from WMM filmmakers past and present. Don’t miss THE MIRROR from Mimi Chakarova, director of WMM release THE PRICE OF SEX and MEN A LOVE STORY, and the following new films from program alums: LOVE AND COUNTRY (dir. Laura Gabbert), THE ETERNAL MEMORY (dir. Maite Alberti), and YOU WERE MY FIRST BOYFRIEND (dir. Cecilia Aldarondo).
We are also thrilled to see five projects from WMM filmmakers selected to pitch at the 2023 Hot Docs Forum and Deal Maker Meetings! WMM-sponsored projects INTERCEPTED (dir. Oksana Karpovych), UNTITLED DWARFISM PROJECT (dir. Julie Wyman) and EMERGENT CITY (dir. Kelly Anderson, Jay Arthur Sterrenberg, prod. Brenda Avila-Hanna) will all be pitching. And Kimberlee Bassford (dir. WINNING GIRL and PATSY MINK: AHEAD OF THE MAJORITY) will be pitching two new projects: I OF THE WATER and IRIS CHANG: POWER OF ONE (working title).
Last but not least, two WMM-sponsored films that will be a part of selective programs for projects in development: THE SANDBOX (dir. Kenya-Jade Pinto, prod. Shasha Nakhai) was 1 of 5 films accepted into the Hot Docs Incubator and MOTHER VERA (dir. Cécile Embleton, Alys Tomlinson) is 1 of 6 films that will be presented in the Works-in-Progress Screenings.
Congratulations to all – we wish you all the very best and can’t wait to see your films!
Executive Director Debra Zimmerman and Managing Director Kendra Hodgson will be in attendance at the festival and participating in the Forum and Deal Maker Meetings.
Learn more about Hot Docs and selected films here.
