Hot Docs 2025 Awards and Prizes
Hot Docs announced today that over CAD 126,000 in cash will be awarded to filmmakers at the 2025 Festival. These encompass a variety of accolades, including juried awards for films in competition, audience awards determined by ballot, industry prizes recognizing top works-in- progress projects and other special awards categories. The 2025 Hot Docs Festival will take place April 24 to May 4 in Toronto.
All awards for films in competition will be decided by Hot Docs Festival Juries, with the winners set to be unveiled during the Hot Docs Awards Presentation on Friday, May 2.
Unless otherwise noted, all prizes are awarded to the director of the winning film.
Films in Competition
HOT DOCS BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Awarded to an exceptional feature-length documentary in the International Competition program. Hot Docs is pleased to present the winner with a $10,000 cash prize.
HOT DOCS BEST CANADIAN FEATURE DOCUMENTARY AWARD
Awarded to an exceptional feature-length documentary in the Canadian Spectrum Competition program.
Hot Docs is pleased to present the winner with a $10,000 cash prize.
Supported by Telefilm Canada.
HOT DOCS JOAN VANDUZER SPECIAL JURY PRIZE-INTERNATIONAL FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Awarded to a feature-length documentary in the International Spectrum Competition program that the jury feels is deserving of special recognition.
Hot Docs is pleased to present the winner with a $5,000 cash prize.
Supported by Makeway Foundation-Harbinger Fund in memory of Joan VanDuzer.
HOT DOCS DGC SPECIAL JURY PRIZE-CANADIAN FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Awarded to a feature-length documentary in the Canadian Spectrum Competition program that the jury feels is deserving of special recognition. The award comes with a $5,000 cash prize.
Sponsored by DGC National and DGC Ontario.
HOT DOCS EMERGING INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER AWARD
Given to a first or second-time international filmmaker with a feature film in the International Competition program. The award includes a $3,000 cash prize.
Supported by Donner Canadian Foundation.
HOT DOCS EARL A. GLICK EMERGING CANADIAN FILMMAKER AWARD
Given to a first- or second-time Canadian filmmaker with a feature film in the Canadian Spectrum Competition program. The award, supported by Earl A. Glick, includes a $3,000 cash prize.
HOT DOCS BILL NEMTIN AWARD FOR BEST SOCIAL IMPACT DOCUMENTARY
The Award will recognize the producers of a film from the Canadian and International features that has the greatest potential to create social impact, in other words to change attitudes, behaviours and/or policy. The nominees include Writing Hawa, Heightened Scrutiny, Mundurukuyü – The Forest of the Fish Women, Life After, Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance and KHARTOUM.
The $10,000 cash prize accompanying the award will help enable the winning film team to optimize the impact of the documentary through outreach and marketing activities.
Supported by the Bill Nemtin Legacy Fund.
HOT DOCS BEST MID-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
Awarded to an exceptional documentary between 41 and 65 minutes in length. Hot Docs is pleased to present the winner with a $3,000 cash prize.
Sponsored by Mubi.
HOT DOCS BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Awarded to an exceptional international documentary up to 40 minutes in length. Hot Docs is pleased to present the winner with a $3,000 cash prize.
Sponsored by TVO Docs.
HOT DOCS BETTY YOUSON AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Awarded to an exceptional Canadian documentary up to 40 minutes in length. Hot Docs is pleased to present the winner with a $2,000 cash prize courtesy of John and Betty Youson.
Supported by John and Betty Youson.
Special Awards Categories
HOT DOCS DON HAIG AWARD
The Don Haig Award will be awarded annually to an outstanding Canadian independent producer with a film in the Festival. The Award recognizes creative vision and entrepreneurship as reflected in the work being showcased at Hot Docs, as well as a track record for nurturing emerging Canadian filmmakers. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of the Don Haig Foundation.
View past recipients >>
LINDALEE TRACEY AWARD
The award honours an emerging Canadian filmmaker working in the spirit of Lindalee Tracey, whose films reflect a passionate point of view, a strong sense of social justice and “a joie de vivre.” The winner will be awarded $5,000 by White Pine Pictures.
Audience Awards
HOT DOCS AUDIENCE AWARDS
Awarded to the feature/mid-length documentary and the short documentary that receive the highest rating in an audience poll. Announced after the close of the Festival.
HOT DOCS ROGERS AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN DOCUMENTARY
Awarded to the top Canadian feature documentary in an audience poll. The winner will receive a $50,000 cash prize courtesy of Rogers, announced at a special encore screening on the Festival's final night.
HOT DOCS DOCS FOR SCHOOLS STUDENT CHOICE AWARD
Awarded to the documentary that receives the highest rating in the student audience poll. Announced at the end of the Docs for Schools program. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize.
2025 Industry Pitch Prizes
HOT DOCS first look AWARDS FOR WORKS-IN-PROGRESS
Hot Docs first look is a curated access program for philanthropic supporters and documentary-loving investors that grants them behind-the-scenes access to new projects in development and the world of documentary pre-production and production financing. This year Hot Docs first look participants will award a minimum of $10,000 at our Works-In-Progress industry event.