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Pitch teams meeting with decision makers
Photo by Joseph Michael Howarth

Hot Docs Deal Maker is a one-on-one pitch meeting program for producers seeking financing and distribution from the international marketplace.

The most compelling projects will be pre-selected for these valuable meetings with key broadcasters, online platforms, funds and foundations, distributors and sales agents, and other financiers.

NEW THIS YEAR: Projects at all stages—development, production and post-production—can apply to Deal Maker.

Deal Maker will take place in Toronto: 

  • May 2: 3-6pm 
  • May 3: 2:40-4pm
  • May 4: 9am-1pm 
Online pitches will take place on May 11. 



PLEASE NOTE: Distribution Rendezvous has merged with Deal Maker. Projects that wish to meet with distributors and sales agents, and have not yet closed financing, should apply to Deal Maker.

Applications for the 2023 Festival are closed.

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How It Works

Selected projects will participate in a series of 20-minute pitch meetings with the decision makers with whom they have matched.

Selected participants will request meetings with participating decision makers. Decision makers will review requests and accept those that are appropriate for their mandates. The Hot Docs industry team will also provide some curated matchmaking.

History

During the 2022 Festival, 35 projects representing 21 countries and territories were pitched in 800+ Deal Maker meetings with over 90 decision makers. Of those 35 projects, 25 directors were BIPOC and 23 projects were directed or co-directed by women. Four projects were directed by first-time filmmakers.

Since its inception, 469 projects and 637 filmmakers have pitched in almost 5000 Deal Maker meetings. 

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