Hot Docs announced April 1 2020 the 21 projects that will be presented during this year’s online edition of the Hot Docs Forum, six of which are European.
Selected from over 463 submissions, this year’s overall selection represents 18 different countries, with women making up 17 of the 26 directors. Four of the 6 European projects have female directors attached.
Recognized as North America’s premier market for international documentary, the Hot Docs Forum will take place May 5- 6 2020, despite the postponement of the Hot Docs festival this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are incredibly proud of this year’s slate of films and are humbled by the passion these filmmakers have for bringing their stories forward in our new online format,” says Dorota Lech, Hot Docs industry programmer and Forum producer. “With an overwhelming response from decision makers to participate, this year’s Forum will continue to meet the dynamic needs of our industry and empower storytellers to bring their cinematic visions to life.”
“In the midst of this unprecedented global crisis, Hot Docs industry remains dedicated to the careers and stories told by our valued filmmakers,” adds Elizabeth Radshaw, industry programs director. “The decision to pivot the Hot Docs Forum to a digital offering was a difficult one but as always, we are committed to providing our community and the documentary industry with opportunities to network, pitch, learn, and support each other.”
Due to COVID-19, this year’s projects will pitch online via a remote conferencing service to top decision makers, who will then provide their comments and feedback. Afterwards, the video captured pitches and feedback will be posted on the Doc Shop for All-Access Online Industry pass holders to view.
Participating decision makers confirmed to date include A&E Networks, A24, Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, Al Jazeera English, American Documentary POV, ARD – SWR, ARD – WDR, ARTE France, ARTE G.E.I.E, BBC Storyville, CBC, CNN Films, Catapult, Cinereach, DR, EBS Korea, ESPN, Field of Vision, Ford Foundation, Fork Films, France Télévisions, The Guardian, HBO Documentary Films, Impact Partners, ITVS, Knowledge Network, Lucas Film, National Geographic, Netflix, The New York Times – Op Docs , NHK, SBS, SVT, Sundance Film Institute, TVO, VICE Canada, VPRO, YLE, and ZDF ARTE.
The following projects will be presented at this year’s Hot Docs Forum (starting with European projects):
THE CURRENT
Production Company: Koi Studio LTD (Poland)
Director: Rafał Skalski
DREAMING WALLS
Production Companies: Clin d’oeil films SRL (Belgium); Media International SA(Belgium); Basalt Film BV (The Netherlands); Les films de l’oeil sauvage SARL (France); Momento Film AB (Sweden); Hard Working Movies Inc. (USA).
Director: Amélie van Elmbt
MASHA
Production Companies: ZED SAS (France); Vides filmu studija, SIA (Latvia); VšĮ Moonmakers (Lithuania)
Director: Giedrė Žickytė
THE NEW GREATNESS
Production Companies: Ethnofund NPO (Russia); Nukleus film d.o.o. (Croatia); Roast Beef Productions Limited (Great Britain)
Director: Anna Shishova-Bogolyubova
THE ROULETTE PROJECT
Production Companies: Danish Documentary Production Aps. (Denmark); Motto Pictures Inc. (USA)
Director: Pernille Rose Grønkjær
WARPLAY
Production Company: Tangram Film EA (Sweden)
Director: Hemen Kurda
……………………………….
AN ACT OF WORSHIP
Production Company: Capital K Pictures LLC (USA)
Director: Nausheen Dadabhoy
ALIEN ISLAND
Production Company: Glacier Films SpA (Chile)
Director: Cristóbal Valenzuela Berríos
AMERICAN SAINT
Production Company: Satellite Pictures, Inc. (USA)
Director: Allison Berg
BELLA
Production Companies: 4th Row Films Inc. (USA); Field of Vision (USA)
Directors: Bella Graves, Adam Dietrich
CHILDREN OF THE MIST
Production Company: Varan Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Vietnam)
Director: Hà Lệ Diễm
COMMUTED
Production Company: Commuted Film, LLC (USA)
Director: Nailah Jefferson
CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS
Production Companies: Gandom Production, LLC (Iran); inselfilm produktion UG (Germany)
Directors: Sara Khaki, Mohammad Reza Eyni
DRIVER
Production Companies: Goldfish Films, Inc. (USA); Hedgehog Films (USA)
Director: Nesa Azimi
ENERGYLANDIA
Production Company: Catbird Productions Inc. (Canada)
Director: Kinga Michalska
JUST A BAND
Production Companies: Ink & Pepper Productions, Ltd. (Canada); Afrobubblegum (Kenya)
Directors: Anjali Nayar, Mbithi Masya
IN THE SHADE OF LIGHT
Production Company: Dos Be Producciones Ltda. (Chile)
Directors: Ignacia Merino Bustos, Isabel Reyes
OJIIBIKAAN
Production Companies: Door Number 3 Productions Inc. (Canada); Clique Pictures Inc. (Canada); Earth City Films Inc. (Canada)
Directors: Rémy Huberdeau, Sean Stiller
SPEAK NO EVIL
Production Companies: Osaka Sunset Pictures Inc. (Canada); Submarine Entertainment (USA)
Director: Jason Lapeyre
UNTITLED KRISTI JACOBSON FILM
Production Companies: McGee Media, LLC (USA); Moss Creative, LLC (USA); Catalyst Films, Inc. (USA)
Director: Kristi Jacobson
UNTITLED JIALING ZHANG
Film Production Companies: CineMia LLC (USA); Little Lantern Company, LLC (USA) Director: Jialing Zhang
