European Film Promotion (EFP) and Hot Docs announced March 26 the nine titles selected for this year’s annual Changing Face of Europe programme which once again seeks “to illustrate and examine a new and contemporary Europe from a cultural, social, geo-political and economic perspective.”
In addition to festival screenings and access to a comprehensive industry programme, the directors and producers of the films will be part of on-site and online events orchestrated by EFP, including networking sessions and one-on-one meetings with key distributors, buyers, and festival programmers from North America, organisers underline.
“The European documentary scene is keeping its tradition strong, crafting some truly visionary non-fiction films, and these nine docs are the cream of the crop,” comments Hot Docs President Marie Nelson. “Entering our seventh year of collaboration with European Film Promotion, we eagerly await the opportunity to present these exceptional films at the 2024 Festival, poised to inspire and ignite the imaginations of Toronto audiences.“
EFP Managing Director Sonja Heinen adds: “It’s our mission to bring European stories to the world. Many thanks to Hot Docs for the chance to highlight the strength and diversity of European documentary filmmaking and provide our filmmakers with an inspiring range of opportunities to network with the North American industry. The diversity of perspectives is all the more important as dialogue and exchange are at the heart of the Changing Face of Europe.“
World premiere (with notes supplied by European Film Promotion)
- Kelly – Someone Else’s Dream (Estonia, France) follows Estonian freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru. She was just 13 years old when she won a gold medal at the 2016 Winter X Games in Aspen. After breaking numerous other records, she broke her silence and accused her father and coach of abuse. Her candid behaviour sets courageous standards in the world of professional sport. Helen Löhmus’ and Leana Jalukse’s entry celebrates its World Premiere at Hot Docs.
International premieres
- In Norwegian Democrazy (Norway), directors Fabien Greenberg and Bård Kjøge Rønning approach the leader of the Islamophobic hate group “Stop the Islamisation of Norway“ (SIAN), Lars Thorsens, and provide an eye-opening glimpse of provocation for provocation’s own sake, which is laid bare in a battle for democracy on the streets.
- Woman of God (Slovenia) by Maja Prettner follows the evangelical pastor Jana. Torn between her family, her faith and her own traumas, she searches for a path to freedom.
North American premieres
- Limits of Europe (Czech Republic, France, Slovakia) by Apolena Rychlíková, is about well-known Czech journalist Saša Uhlová who goes undercover for two years as a travelling worker. She reveals what life is really like for economic migrants who are forced to leave their children and families.
- Laszló Csaki’s Pelikan Blue (Hungary), a droll animated film, reveals the little-known story of how three young Hungarians forged train tickets in the late 1980s so that an entire generation was able to discover the western world.
- Edoardo Morabito’s second feature film The Outpost (Italy, Brazil), is a cinematic approach to Christopher Clark, a Scottish eco-warrior who has dedicated his life to saving the Amazon rainforest. To achieve his ambitions and force the government to act, Chris always comes up with unconventional ideas, such as organising a Pink Floyd concert in the heart of the forest. Is he serious?
- In Stray Bodies (Greece, Switzerland, Italy, Bulgaria) director Elina Psykou raises big existential questions about life and death. More and more people are travelling to other European countries to escape their national laws in order to keep control of their own bodies, whether in terms of euthanasia, abortion or artificial insemination.
Canadian Premieres
- Echo of You (Denmark). In her sensuous and life-affirming portrait, director Zara Zerny tenderly portrays nine elderly Danish people who talk about what it is like to carry on living without their beloved ones by their sides. They share their heartaches and express their loneliness and describe with great sensitivity and beauty what it means to live with memories.
- In Such A Resounding Silence (France), that celebrates its Ontario premiere, French actress, Emmanuelle Béart, reveals her own abuse. Joined by three other survivors, Béart co-directs this skilful critique of how France’s laws and social ethics enable a national child abuse crisis.
Hot Docs – Canadian International Documentary Festival, takes place 25 April – 5 May 2024.
