FAQ: Industry Conference & Market

Registration

• I have registered but have not received a confirmation email. Should I be concerned?

  You should receive an email within 24 hours of submitting your registration form. If you have not received your confirmation email, please contact Hot Docs registration.

• Will I receive a receipt/invoice for my registration fee?

  Yes. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email. Your receipt will be attached to that email.
  
   

• If I’ve submitted a film to the Festival, do I still have to pay for my pass?

  Applicants will be notified by email in early March if their work has been selected to screen at the Festival. If your film has been selected, you will receive three complimentary passes. If you are able to attend the Festival in-person, we will upgrade your pass accordingly.

• I am unable to attend. Can I transfer my pass to a colleague or receive a refund?

  If you are unable to participate in Hot Docs, you may transfer your pass to a colleague until April 1. Full refunds are available until April 28. All pass transfers and refund requests must be formally submitted by email to [email protected].

• I usually get a press pass. Do I still need to register online?

  Yes. Visit the Media section of this website and apply for media accreditation.

• Where do I pickup my industry pass?
  Hot Docs Industry LIVE and SCREENING passes must be picked up in person. Pick up your delegate package at TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West, on Thursday, April 28 - Friday, May 6 from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. You will need to show your pass to access in-person sessions and events. 

Watching Films

• Can I use my industry pass for Festival film tickets?
  LIVE and SCREENING pass holders can use their passes to obtain in-cinema screening tickets for any films at the 2022 Hot Docs Festival. A block of passholder tickets is held in reserve for online redemption.
  
  Industry tickets can be obtained beginning at 8:00 am the day prior to the screening. Use the email address you used to register to log in and select tickets. If you do not know your password, please use the "Forgot Password" function to reset it.
  
  After 8:00 am on the day of the screening, the passholder block of tickets will be released and online redemption is not available.
• Can I get tickets online or at the cinemas?
  Industry tickets can be obtained beginning at 8:00 am the day prior to the screening. Use the email address you used to register to log in and select tickets. If you do not know your password, please use the "Forgot Password" function to reset it.
  
  After 8:00 am on the day of the screening, the passholder block of tickets will be released and online redemption is not available.
  
  We strongly encourage passholders to obtain their tickets online. Day-of tickets can be obtained at the screening venue's box office, subject to availability. 
• Can I use my industry pass to stream Festival films?
  All industry pass holders can stream a selection of 2022 Festival films in The Doc Shop industry viewing library. You can access The Doc Shop via the Swapcard online event platform >> 
  
  Access to The Doc Shop ends on May 31. Decision Makers have extended access to The Doc Shop until April 1, 2023.
• What are the health and safety policies for in-cinema screenings?
  Mask-wearing is mandatory for all Festival attendees and staff. Proof of vaccination is not required to attend public in-cinema screenings, but is highly recommended. Health & Safety protocols >> 
  
  If you are feeling unwell or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please stay home or at your hotel. In the event of exposure, please contact the Hot Docs COVID officer at [email protected].

Swapcard Online Event Platform

• How do I access the online event?

  All industry passholders will receive an email with log in details the Swapcard online event platform. Click on the button in the email to connect to the online platform. Your username for the platform is the email you used to register for the event.
  
  If you did not receive an email, you can access the platform HERE >>

  Please note that user accounts are limited to a single user and will be locked if shared with multiple users.

• What do I do if my magic link expires?

  The magic link is an email with a security token personalized for your email address. It expires in one hour or once you use it. If your magic link has expired, you can send yourself a new one from the login page.

  If you ar still unable to login, please contact us at [email protected].

• How do I see and edit my profile?

  Once you are in the home menu, click on My Profile in the menu or “Edit” beside your profile image. You can add or remove your personal details here.

• What information in my profile is accessible to other members?

  Public profile information that is accessible by all members of the event includes first and last name, company, biography, social networks (if completed), and skills (if completed).

  
  Private information is accessible by those members with whom you are connected, meaning you either sent/received and accepted a meeting request. Information available to connections includes first and last name, company, biography, social networks (if completed), skills (if completed, email, telephone number (if completed) and address (if completed).

• I can’t find myself in the attendee list. Why not?

  You will not appear to yourself when viewing the attendee list. If you would like to view or edit your profile, click on My Profile in the menu or “Edit” beside your profile image. You can add or remove your personal details here.

• What if I don’t want to be visible in the attendee list?

  You can make yourself visible or invisible at any time. To manage your visibility, go to Attendees and adjust the Visibility button according to your preference.

• Is there a list available of everyone participating at Hot Docs?

  Industry pass holders can browse the attendees list and contact fellow delegates in the Swapcard online event platform.

• Do I need a particular device or bandwidth to attend the event?

  You will need an internet connection and a web browser (recommended: Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari). We recommend high-speed internet for a better visual experience.

• Can I access the event on my phone or tablet?

  Yes. You will need to download the Swapcard app on the App Store or Google Play.

• What if I’m having streaming or playback issues on Swapcard?

  Please note that Swapcard works best with Chrome or Firefox. If you are experiencing blank pages, streaming issues or app latency, please switch to one of these two browsers if you have been working on another browser. Internet Explorer does not support Swapcard.

  Should the video player remain unavailable following a page refresh; it is most likely a security setting on your browser, device, or network blocking access to the content server. We would recommend trying the following.

  1. Try accessing the site from another browser (this gets around any browser settings that could be blocking access) If you are on a PC you should have access to Edge and if on a Mac it will be Safari
  2. Open an Incognito Window and try to access the content through this (this gets around any cached or bad data that could be held in the browser)
  3. Try on a different device (Mobile perhaps, if you are viewing on desktop)
  4. Use a different internet connection, a mobile phone with wifi off so it uses mobile data is a good option (this is a way to bypass corporate network restrictions or VPNs that may be presenting an issue).
• I am trying to start a meeting but I get a blank/black screen with no Audio or Video. How do I fix this?

  This problem usually occurs if there is a firewall that is blocking the streaming connection. Run the Pre-call test in order to determine if the system network is ready for a call.

Sessions, Events & Networking

• What are the health and safety policies for in-person sessions and events?
  Mask-wearing is mandatory for all Festival attendees and staff. 
  
  Proof of vaccination or government of Ontario vaccine exemption is REQUIRED to attend all industry sessions and social events, including the Opening Night Party and Networking Lounge. Proof of vaccination is not required to attend public in-cinema screenings, but is highly recommended.
  
  If you are feeling unwell or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please stay home or at your hotel. In the event of exposure, please contact the Hot Docs COVID officer at [email protected].
  
  The health and safety of our visitors, volunteers, and staff is our top priority. Before attending in-person events, we ask that you review our full Health & Safety protocols >> 
  
   
• Can I build my own personalized schedule?

  Yes, when viewing the schedule, you can add sessions by clicking the calendar icon next to the name of the session/event.

• What time zone is the event in?

  The event schedule displays time according to the time zone of your computer/device.

• How can I see which sessions I have selected to attend?

  Click on “My Event” in the menu. You can then click “My Schedule” to see all the sessions and events that you have added to your schedule.

• Can I add my chosen sessions and meetings to my personal calendar?

  Yes! Please go to “My Event” and you can export it all to your calendar or download them as a PDF by clicking on the appropriate link.

• How can I view sessions or access events?

  From either the main schedule or your personal schedule (My Event), click on the session or event. On demand content can be watch any time after it's inital release.

• Will conference sessions be closed captioned?

  All Hot Docs conference sessions and Micro Meetings will be made accessible to deaf and low hearing delegates with live captioning (CART) or closed captioning.

• How can I connect with other delegates?

  You can view the list of all members under Attendees. Simply click on a member you would like to connect with and send them a connection request or simply press the little add icon next to their image. Each attendee profile should indicate if that person is attending the event in Toronto or only online.

• How can I make an appointment with exhibitors?

  Visit the Marketplace and click on the exhibitor you would like to connect with. You will be able to view their available meeting slots and request a meeting.

• Can I be reminded of my upcoming meetings?

  Automatic notifications are sent when you receive a meeting request, but you will also receive a reminder a few minutes before the meeting starts. If you wish to cancel a meeting, you can do so under My Agenda and My Meetings.

• I am participating in Deal Maker or Distribution Rendezvous. Where can I find those meetings?

  If you are participating in Hot Docs Deal Maker or Distribution Rendezvous, your meetings will be taking place on the Bsquare meeting platform. You will receive an email with your login credentials.

The Doc Shop

• What is The Doc Shop?

  The Doc Shop is Hot Docs' industry viewing library, giving you access to most of the 2022 Festival selections, as well as films available for sales and programming opportunities. During the Festival, you can access The Doc Shop via the Swapcard online event platform >> 
  
  Access to The Doc Shop ends on May 31. Decision Makers have extended access to The Doc Shop until April 1, 2023.

• How do I access The Doc Shop?

  You can access The Doc Shop via the Swapcard online event platform >> Access to The Doc Shop ends on May 31. Decision Makers have extended access to The Doc Shop until April 1, 2023.

• Can I vote for the Hot Docs audience awards and Rogers Audience Award?

  You cannot vote for the audience awards in The Doc Shop. Only ticket holders are eligible to vote.

• What are the technical requirements for The Doc Shop?

  You can watch content on PCs running Windows 7+, and Intel-based Macs running OSX 10.12+. You can also watch films on Android tablets and phones using Chrome, and on iPhones and iPads using Safari.

  Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10
  Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera. We recommend using the latest version of your browser. Internet Explorer is not supported.

  Mac OSX 10.12 or later
  Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Opera. We recommend using the latest version of your browser.

Online Community

• How do I access the Online Community?

  When your registration is processed, industry holders are sent a link to reset your password. Please check your spam folder. If you cannot find the email, let us know at [email protected].

  Once you’ve reset your password, you can access the Online Community here: hotdocsfest.force.com/industrycommunity/s/login/

  Industry pass holders can also access the Online Community from the main menu in Swapcard.

• Where can I access the Guide to Decision Makers?

  All-Access Online Pass holders can access the Guide to Decision Makers in the Online Community.

• I represent a decision maker and would like to be included in the Guide to Decision Makers. How can I do that?

  If you would like to be included in the Guide to Decision Makers, please contact industry programmer Madelaine Russo at [email protected].