Hot Docs Awards

Films in competition include Canadian Spectrum Competition, and International Spectrum Competition selections, as well as short and mid-length works.

Academy Awards® Qualifying Festival
Hot Docs is an Academy Award-qualifying Festival. The winner of the Best International Feature Documentary Award and the winners of the Best Canadian Short Documentary Award and the Best International Short Documentary Award at this year’s Festival will qualify for consideration in the documentary feature and documentary short subject categories of the annual Academy Awards®, respectively, without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

Hot Docs 2026 Awards and Prizes

Hot Docs is proud to announce the winning documentaries from this year’s official competition, and to recognize the outstanding achievements of Canadian and international filmmakers with films screening throughout this year’s Festival.

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.
Supported by Donner Canadian Foundation

HOT DOCS BEST CANADIAN FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
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 the R&M Lang 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 includes a $3,000 cash prize.
Supported by the Earl A. Glick Family.

Bill Nemtin AwardHOT DOCS BILL NEMTIN AWARD FOR BEST SOCIAL IMPACT DOCUMENTARY
The Award recognizes 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. A $10,000 cash prize accompanies the award.
Supported by the Bill Nemtin Legacy Fund.

This year, the nominees for the Hot Docs Bill Nemtin Award for Best Social Impact Documentary are Nekai Walks, Code of Misconduct, The Sandbox, The Seoul Guardians, and American Doctor.

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 $3,000 cash prize courtesy of 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 received a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of the Don Haig Foundation. Don Haig AwardView 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 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 received 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 received a $5,000 cash prize.

2026 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.

CMF-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize
The CMF-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize, presented in partnership with the Canada Media Fund, is a $10,000 cash prize that will be awarded to the best Canadian pitch at the Hot Docs Forum. The prize money is intended to go towards the production and completion of the winning project.

The Hot Docs-Chicken & Egg Special Pitch Forum Prize
The Hot Docs–Chicken & Egg Special Pitch Forum Prize, presented in partnership with Chicken & Egg, a $5,000 cash prize awarded to a top Forum pitch team representing an outstanding documentary project directed by a woman or gender-expansive filmmaker