HOT DOCS 2007

Hot Docs' runs public screening programmes as well as industry programming making it an essential market for the international documentary industry. The industry programmes consist of a variety of professional development programmes, market events, and networking opportunities as well as the Toronto Documentary Forum, Hot Docs'.

Hot Docs screened documentary films in the following programs at this festival:

• Canadian Spectrum: selection of the best Canadian documentary films;
  
• International Showcase: selection of the best international documentary films from 14 countries;
  
• Outstanding Achievement Retrospective: a tribute to Kevin McMahon;
  
• Special Presentations including Doc It! a showcase for youth
  
• World Showcase;
  
• Spotlight on Central & Eastern Europe
  
• Made in Brazil;
• Doc the Vote: films about civic engagement and the democratic vote.

Reviews

The opening gala was the Canadian premiere of David Sington's, In The Shadow of the Moon ( U.K. 2006, 106 minutes ). The Shadow told the first hand testimony of American astronauts who had travelled to the moon and survived to talk about it. The film contained testimonies from such surviving crew members as Jim Levell, Dave Scott, John Young, Gene Cernan, Mike Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Edgar Mitchell, Charlie Duke and Harrison Schmitt and re-mastered original NASA material. The film discusses the conspiracy that they never travelled to the moon but discounts it. The crew also appreciates the beauty of earth upon their return and makes a case for the environment. This film would be popular in America because it describes better NASA days; however, it ignores the issues of the militarization and commercialization of space.

EAT THE SUBURBS: is an interesting 9 minute short by Australian director, writer, editor Tanya Durnow about a group of young activates in Melbourne who, one garden at a time, are converting suburban lawns into tiny organic farms to help reduce future dependence on oil the production of which is expected to peak in 2010. This is a must see - I am planning my organic garden now!

THE SUICIDE TOURIST: is an amazing documentary about the controversial Swiss non-profit Dignitas (run by civil rights lawyer Ludwig Minelli ) which is the only place in the world where, regardless of nationality, those seeking suicide can legally be helped to die. Ludwig Minelli believes that death by choice to be a basic human right. The film focuses on two couples in which the man is unhealthy ( in once case with Lou Gehrig's disease and another with terminal heart disease ) and the wife wants to end her life at the same time. This film is a must see!

the Awards

The highlight of the festival is the awards! The Hot Docs 2007 Award Winners are:

• Best Canadian Feature Documentary: THE BODYBUILDER AND I, Bryan Friedman (Canada, 90min), this director look at his complicated, estranged relationship with his elderly, body-building father.
• The Special Jury Prize in the Canadian Feature Documentary: DRIVEN BY DREAMS Serge Giguère, director (Canada, 83 min), "an inspiring look at a group of seniors who've embraced their twilight years with passion and a lust for life."
• The Best International Feature Documentary: LOSERS AND WINNERS ( Ulrike Franke and Michael Loeken ) (Germany, 96min) " ... this is an examination of the collision of cultures and the impact of globalization as a German smelting plant is painstakingly disassembled to be rebuilt in China's new industrial heartland."
• The Special Jury Prize in the International Feature Documentary: WITHOUT THE KING ( Michael Skolnik, dir. USA, 84 min) - a revealing look at the growing civil unrest in the impoverished nation of Swaziland, Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy.
• The Best Mid-Length Documentary Award: FORGIVENESS: STORIES FOR OUR TIME ( Johanna Lunn, Canada, 56 min) - " a powerful and personal exploration of anger, grief and the process of forgiveness through four people whose lives have been ripped apart by murder and terrorism."
• The Best Short Documentary Award: MAN UP ( Arturo Cabanas, USA, 11 min) - "... a shocking snapshot of a father who, through belittlement and punishment, is attempting to raise his son to be a soldier."
• The Don Haig Award: Toronto-based filmmaker Hubert Davis, whose work includes the Academy Award nominated short documentary HARDWOOD ( see past events Hotdocs 2005 ) and the fiction film ARUBA.
• The Lindalee Tracey Award: Edmonton-based Trevor Anderson whose work includes the short films RUGBURN and ROCK POCKETS.
• Outstanding Achievement Award: Dutch director Heddy Honigmann.
• The OMNI Prize for Best Third Language/Ethno-Cultural Pitch: 1001 PERFORMANCES, pitched by Josh Miller of Panacea Entertainment.
• The CBC Newsworld Camera Prize: SOUNDS LIKE A REVOLUTION - pitched by - Summer Preney of Deltatime Productions.
• The NBC News Archive Prize GRANNY POWER - pitched by - Isabelle Couture of Les Films de L'Isle.
• The Hot Docs Audience Award: WAR/DANCE - Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine

Documentary films are now hot! Why? Is it because of films like Supersize Me or Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11 or perhaps it's because the mainstream television news is failing us and these films are filling that void. Whatever the reason, this year's HOT DOCS was HOT! Mark your calendar for next year! I know I will.

Bryan Friedman

Brett Hendrie, Managing Dir. Hot Docs; Director, David Sington, In the Shadow of the Moon

Simonee Chichester, Chichester's Choice

Italian Delegates

Johanna Lunn

Hubert Davis

Hubert Davis