The 31st edition of Canada’s influential Hot Docs Film Festival, which gets underway Thursday, could very well be the last.
For the past month, the Toronto festival, one of North America’s largest dedicated to documentaries, has been roiled by staff and funding turmoil. On March 25, artistic director Hussain Currimbhoy and 10 of the fest’s programmers abruptly exited their posts. That was followed by Hot Docs president Marie Nelson issuing an “urgent appeal” for more funding. But the Canadian government declined to provide funding for the doc fest in the federal budget unveiled April 16. The budget added more $88 million in funding for the screen sector, including $17 million over three years for the larger Toronto International Film Festival.
The mass exodus of staff and lack of much-needed government funding has put the future of Hot Docs in serious jeopardy. Fest organizers indicated as much after the federal budget was unveiled.
For the past month, the Toronto festival, one of North America’s largest dedicated to documentaries, has been roiled by staff and funding turmoil. On March 25, artistic director Hussain Currimbhoy and 10 of the fest’s programmers abruptly exited their posts. That was followed by Hot Docs president Marie Nelson issuing an “urgent appeal” for more funding. But the Canadian government declined to provide funding for the doc fest in the federal budget unveiled April 16. The budget added more $88 million in funding for the screen sector, including $17 million over three years for the larger Toronto International Film Festival.
The mass exodus of staff and lack of much-needed government funding has put the future of Hot Docs in serious jeopardy. Fest organizers indicated as much after the federal budget was unveiled.
- 4/24/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
The ten film programmers who led a mass exodus this week out of Canada’s Hot Docs Film Festival have said a “toxic workplace” environment was the central issue behind their public exit.
In a joint statement shared across social media platforms, the ten programmers, including Senior International Programmer Myrocia Watamaniuk, said: “We consider ourselves to be one of the most principled, process-driven programming teams in the business, and we were unable, this year, to carry out that process.”
They continued to say the “once welcoming programming environment” at Hot Docs had “recently turned into a toxic workplace” due to “a lack of respect for business communication, team members voices not being heard and/or being dismissed, and contracts breached across various programmes.”
“We were expected to work in an ever-changing, chaotic, unprofessional and discriminatory environment,” the letter read.
The signatories said that programming team members “approached Hr, Senior Management,...
In a joint statement shared across social media platforms, the ten programmers, including Senior International Programmer Myrocia Watamaniuk, said: “We consider ourselves to be one of the most principled, process-driven programming teams in the business, and we were unable, this year, to carry out that process.”
They continued to say the “once welcoming programming environment” at Hot Docs had “recently turned into a toxic workplace” due to “a lack of respect for business communication, team members voices not being heard and/or being dismissed, and contracts breached across various programmes.”
“We were expected to work in an ever-changing, chaotic, unprofessional and discriminatory environment,” the letter read.
The signatories said that programming team members “approached Hr, Senior Management,...
- 3/27/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Dawn Porter’s “Luther: Never Too Much” will open the 31st edition of Hot Docs, which on Tuesday announced its full slate of 168 films — including 120 features — from 64 countries, screening across an array of returning and new programming configurations from April 25 to May 5.
“Luther,” which also launches Hot Docs’ Pop / Life sidebar of films about music and musicians, is a bio-doc about singer Luther Vandross. Warmly received at its Sundance premiere this year, the film “exposes some uneasy truths about the music industry and the media we may now know,” according to Variety’s review.
Excitement around Hot Docs’ official lineup announcement was dampened by the hot revelation Sunday evening on the social media feed of Myrocia Watamaniuk that she and nine other festival programmers had decided as a group “to exit the 2024 Hot Docs Festival.” No specific reasons for the exit were given in the post nor were they forthcoming.
“Luther,” which also launches Hot Docs’ Pop / Life sidebar of films about music and musicians, is a bio-doc about singer Luther Vandross. Warmly received at its Sundance premiere this year, the film “exposes some uneasy truths about the music industry and the media we may now know,” according to Variety’s review.
Excitement around Hot Docs’ official lineup announcement was dampened by the hot revelation Sunday evening on the social media feed of Myrocia Watamaniuk that she and nine other festival programmers had decided as a group “to exit the 2024 Hot Docs Festival.” No specific reasons for the exit were given in the post nor were they forthcoming.
- 3/26/2024
- by Jennie Punter
- Variety Film + TV
The 10 Hot Docs programmers who abruptly resigned from the Canadian documentary festival this week have explained their departure, claiming they “were expected to work in an ever-changing, chaotic, unprofessional and discriminatory environment”.
The programmers issued the statement on social media on Tuesday morning more than an hour before the festival unveiled the programme for the 2024 edition running April 25-May 5.
The programmers noted three reasons that turned the “once welcoming programming environment… into a toxic workplace”. The reasons were “a lack of respect for business communication; team voices not being heard and/or being dismissed; and contracts breached across various programmes...
The programmers issued the statement on social media on Tuesday morning more than an hour before the festival unveiled the programme for the 2024 edition running April 25-May 5.
The programmers noted three reasons that turned the “once welcoming programming environment… into a toxic workplace”. The reasons were “a lack of respect for business communication; team voices not being heard and/or being dismissed; and contracts breached across various programmes...
- 3/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
Hussain Currimbhoy, the artistic director of Canadian documentary festival Hot Docs, departed on March 20 for “personal reasons”, according to the festival.
In a statement, organisers said Currimbhoy was “fundamental in programming this year’s festival”, adding, “Festival Director Heather Haynes will lead the programming department in preparations for this year’s festival” – which runs April 25-May 5.
The line-up is scheduled to be announced later today (March 26).
The festival also addressed the shock exits of 10 members of the programming team, saying ““regrettably, some members of the programming team have decided not to participate in this year’s Festival. We thank them for their contributions”.
Yesterday,...
In a statement, organisers said Currimbhoy was “fundamental in programming this year’s festival”, adding, “Festival Director Heather Haynes will lead the programming department in preparations for this year’s festival” – which runs April 25-May 5.
The line-up is scheduled to be announced later today (March 26).
The festival also addressed the shock exits of 10 members of the programming team, saying ““regrettably, some members of the programming team have decided not to participate in this year’s Festival. We thank them for their contributions”.
Yesterday,...
- 3/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
Artistic director Hussain Currimbhoy and several programmers have stepped down ahead of this year’s edition of Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary festival.
Festival director Heather Haynes will now lead the programming department.
A statement from the Toronto-based event said: “Hot Docs has announced that Hussain Currimbhoy stepped down from his role as Artistic Director on March 20th due to personal reasons. Hussain was fundamental in programming this year’s Festival. Festival Director Heather Haynes will lead the programming department in preparations for this year’s Festival, April 25-May 5. Regrettably, some members of the programming team have decided not to participate in this year’s Festival. We thank them for their contributions. We look forward to celebrating this year’s films with our audiences and bringing them together with filmmakers to share their important stories.”
In a statement posted on Facebook, senior international programmer Myrocia Watamaniuk wrote: “I...
Festival director Heather Haynes will now lead the programming department.
A statement from the Toronto-based event said: “Hot Docs has announced that Hussain Currimbhoy stepped down from his role as Artistic Director on March 20th due to personal reasons. Hussain was fundamental in programming this year’s Festival. Festival Director Heather Haynes will lead the programming department in preparations for this year’s Festival, April 25-May 5. Regrettably, some members of the programming team have decided not to participate in this year’s Festival. We thank them for their contributions. We look forward to celebrating this year’s films with our audiences and bringing them together with filmmakers to share their important stories.”
In a statement posted on Facebook, senior international programmer Myrocia Watamaniuk wrote: “I...
- 3/26/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Update: [7:45 Pm Et]: Hot Docs announced that the festival’s artistic director Hussein Currimbhoy stepped down from his role on March 20 “due to personal reasons,” the festival told IndieWire in a statement following the mass exodus of programmers on Monday.
The festival said Currimbhoy was “fundamental in programming this year’s Festival” and that Heather Haynes, festival director, will lead the programming department ahead of the festival next month.
The statement said merely, “Regrettably, some members of the programming team have decided not to participate in this year’s Festival. We thank them for their contributions.” It did not mention any of the individuals by name.
“We look forward to celebrating this year’s films with our audiences and bringing them together with filmmakers to share their important stories.”
Currimbhoy, who had stints at Sundance, Sheffield DocFest, the Melbourne Film Festival, and more, was named artistic director in November 2023 shortly after...
The festival said Currimbhoy was “fundamental in programming this year’s Festival” and that Heather Haynes, festival director, will lead the programming department ahead of the festival next month.
The statement said merely, “Regrettably, some members of the programming team have decided not to participate in this year’s Festival. We thank them for their contributions.” It did not mention any of the individuals by name.
“We look forward to celebrating this year’s films with our audiences and bringing them together with filmmakers to share their important stories.”
Currimbhoy, who had stints at Sundance, Sheffield DocFest, the Melbourne Film Festival, and more, was named artistic director in November 2023 shortly after...
- 3/25/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Updated, 3:55 p.m.: Without acknowledging them by name, a spokesperson for leading documentary festival Hot Docs has confirmed the departure of “some members of the programming team,” as well as recently appointed Artistic Director Hussain Currimbhoy.
“Hot Docs has announced that Hussain Currimbhoy stepped down from his role as Artistic Director on March 20th due to personal reasons. Hussain was fundamental in programming this year’s Festival,” wrote a spokesperson in a statement to Deadline.
Clarifying that “Festival Director Heather Haynes will lead the programming department in preparations for this year’s Festival, April 25-May 5,” the spokesperson added that “regrettably, some members of the programming team have decided not to participate in this year’s Festival. We thank them for their contributions.”
Wrapping up their statement, rep for Hot Docs said, “We look forward to celebrating this year’s films with our audiences and bringing them together with...
“Hot Docs has announced that Hussain Currimbhoy stepped down from his role as Artistic Director on March 20th due to personal reasons. Hussain was fundamental in programming this year’s Festival,” wrote a spokesperson in a statement to Deadline.
Clarifying that “Festival Director Heather Haynes will lead the programming department in preparations for this year’s Festival, April 25-May 5,” the spokesperson added that “regrettably, some members of the programming team have decided not to participate in this year’s Festival. We thank them for their contributions.”
Wrapping up their statement, rep for Hot Docs said, “We look forward to celebrating this year’s films with our audiences and bringing them together with...
- 3/25/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Update: In a shock move, 10 Hot Docs programmers are exiting the Canadian documentary festival en masse ahead of this year’s edition which is due to begin on April 25.
Later on Monday afternoon the festival confirmed the news and added that artistic director Hussain Currimbhoy departed on March 20 for “personal reasons”.
Samah Ali, Vivian Belik, Jesse Cumming, Angie Driscoll, Margaret Pereira, Gabor Pertic, Kaitlynn Tomaselli, Myrocia Watamaniuk, Mariam Zaidi, and Yiqian Zhang announced they were leaving on social media on Monday.
The 2024 edition of the largest documentary festival in North America runs in Toronto from April 25-May 5 and festival director...
Later on Monday afternoon the festival confirmed the news and added that artistic director Hussain Currimbhoy departed on March 20 for “personal reasons”.
Samah Ali, Vivian Belik, Jesse Cumming, Angie Driscoll, Margaret Pereira, Gabor Pertic, Kaitlynn Tomaselli, Myrocia Watamaniuk, Mariam Zaidi, and Yiqian Zhang announced they were leaving on social media on Monday.
The 2024 edition of the largest documentary festival in North America runs in Toronto from April 25-May 5 and festival director...
- 3/25/2024
- ScreenDaily
Toronto’s Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary film festival, has appointed Hussain Currimbhoy as its artistic director. He replaces Shane Smith, who left the organization in June, and will assume his role immediately.
Currimbhoy has worked as a film producer, director and film curator since 2002. He is an executive producer on feature documentaries such as “And, Towards Happy Alleys”, “Praying for Armageddon” (Cph:dox), “Tomorrow’s Freedom” (Sheffield DocFest) and “The Beloved” (Melbourne Film Festival).
He has worked with the Chicago Media Project as their director of investment and global strategy, and lead for the Shifting Voices Film Fund, Cmp’s program designed to elevate and support feature documentary works by marginalized filmmakers.
As a film programmer, Currimbhoy has worked for film and industry events including Sundance Film Festival, Sheffield DocFest, Melbourne Film Festival, Nordisk Panorama Film Festival, Doc 10 and the Red Sea Film Festival. In 2023, he created and launched the Gåsebäck Film Festival,...
Currimbhoy has worked as a film producer, director and film curator since 2002. He is an executive producer on feature documentaries such as “And, Towards Happy Alleys”, “Praying for Armageddon” (Cph:dox), “Tomorrow’s Freedom” (Sheffield DocFest) and “The Beloved” (Melbourne Film Festival).
He has worked with the Chicago Media Project as their director of investment and global strategy, and lead for the Shifting Voices Film Fund, Cmp’s program designed to elevate and support feature documentary works by marginalized filmmakers.
As a film programmer, Currimbhoy has worked for film and industry events including Sundance Film Festival, Sheffield DocFest, Melbourne Film Festival, Nordisk Panorama Film Festival, Doc 10 and the Red Sea Film Festival. In 2023, he created and launched the Gåsebäck Film Festival,...
- 11/13/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Last year, during an online panel at Hot Docs film festival featuring Ukrainian documentary filmmakers who were staying in place, Oksana Karpovych told attendees how she’d gained knowledge working alongside foreign media crews covering the war, and was now applying that to her own creative documentary projects.
This year, at the festival’s 30th anniversary edition, Karpovych attended the in-person Forum market event to pitch “Intercepted” — her observational doc exploring the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — which ended up winning the 2023 Cmf-Hot Docs Canadian Pitch Prize.
With Ukraine in the spotlight at Hot Docs this year, both audiences and industry attendees are getting wide exposure to the films and ideas of leading Ukrainian documentary creators. The timing of this programming is perfect, said Hot Docs programmer Myrocia Watamaniuk, not only for the obvious reason.
“Ukrainian documentary cinema has grown in lockstep with the documentary community around the world,...
This year, at the festival’s 30th anniversary edition, Karpovych attended the in-person Forum market event to pitch “Intercepted” — her observational doc exploring the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — which ended up winning the 2023 Cmf-Hot Docs Canadian Pitch Prize.
With Ukraine in the spotlight at Hot Docs this year, both audiences and industry attendees are getting wide exposure to the films and ideas of leading Ukrainian documentary creators. The timing of this programming is perfect, said Hot Docs programmer Myrocia Watamaniuk, not only for the obvious reason.
“Ukrainian documentary cinema has grown in lockstep with the documentary community around the world,...
- 5/8/2023
- by Jennie Punter
- Variety Film + TV
Arianna Bocco, David Magdael among mentors.
The Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) has announced the filmmakers for the 2018 New Works-in-Progress Forum supporting emerging talent, including four feature projects, two documentaries and two narratives from three countries.
The projects in the Forum, now in its second year, are: Bijon Imtiaz’s Paradise (pictured), a documentary from Bangladesh; Sarah Brennen Kolb’s Good Ol Girl, a documentary from the Us; and from Israel, Yona Rozenkier’s The Dive, and Limor Shmila’s Hanging.
This year’s documentary industry mentors include publicity veteran David Magdael, film journalist Amy Nicholson, and Hot Docs Canadian...
The Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) has announced the filmmakers for the 2018 New Works-in-Progress Forum supporting emerging talent, including four feature projects, two documentaries and two narratives from three countries.
The projects in the Forum, now in its second year, are: Bijon Imtiaz’s Paradise (pictured), a documentary from Bangladesh; Sarah Brennen Kolb’s Good Ol Girl, a documentary from the Us; and from Israel, Yona Rozenkier’s The Dive, and Limor Shmila’s Hanging.
This year’s documentary industry mentors include publicity veteran David Magdael, film journalist Amy Nicholson, and Hot Docs Canadian...
- 5/9/2018
- by Jenn Sherman
- ScreenDaily
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