Hot Docs Forum
At the 2024 Festival, 19 Forum projects representing 18 countries and 21 filmmakers, 15 of whom are women and 11 of whom are BIPOC, pitched to international decision makers.
A huge thank you to Hot Docs Forum producer Dorota Lech and to this year’s Selection Committee: Yoko Imai, Jeff Seelbach, and Abby Sun.
ANATOMY OF A LIFE
Production Company: Anatomy of a Life LLC (USA)
Director: Emma Francis-Snyder
Producers: Tiffany Fisher Love
Anatomy of a Life is a hybrid film that explores the end of life, as imagined by the dying and as experienced by the ones they are leaving behind.
ARREST THE MIDWIFE (WT)
Production Company: Underdog Films, Inc. (USA)
Director: Elaine Epstein
Producers: Elaine Epstein, Robin Hessman, Ruth Ann Harnisch
The arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities spurs an unlikely group of activists to join the fight for reproductive rights.
AUTUMN OF THE PATRIARCH
Production Companies: Piraya Film AS (Norway), Little Big Story (France), IV Films (Finland), Nukleus Film (Croatia)
Director: Anna Bogoliubova
Producers: Torstein Grude Ruwê Yuxinawá, Oddleiv Vik, Raphael Pëlissou, Valérie Montmartin, Iikka Vehkalahti, Sinisa Juricic
A documentary dystopia that explores the survival strategies of people who live inside the modern Russian dictatorship which itself has become a formidable force of mass murder.
BA’S BOOK
Production Company: Intuitive Pictures Inc. (Canada)
Director: Ashley Da-Lê Duong
Producer: Ina Fichman
As a father writes a memoir to his daughter about his harrowing experiences of both the Vietnam War and the Iranian Revolution, the daughter responds by making a film. Through their creative dialogue, this hybrid documentary offers a disarming look at the legacy of war.
IMAGO
Production Companies: Triptyque Films SARL (France), Need Productions SPRL (Belgium)
Director: Déni Oumar Pitsaev
Producers: Alexandra Mélot, Anne-Laure Guégan, Géraldine Sprimont
I was offered land in Pankisi, Georgia, on the other side of Chechnya, my homeland. I contemplate building a house in this secluded region, known as the "Jihadists' valley."
JARIPEO
Production Companies: Jaripeo Documentary LLC (USA), BHD Films (Mexico)
Directors: Rebecca Zweig, Efraín Mojica
Producers: Sarah Strunin, Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig
At the rural rodeos in Michoacán, México, a hypermasculine tradition is rife with hidden queer encounters. Guided by director Efraín, Jaripeo follows two rancheros as they navigate desire, machismo, and mass migration from one rodeo season to the next.
LANDSCAPES OF MEMORY
Production Companies: Space Time Films LLC (USA), Meerkat Media LLC (USA)
Director: Leah Galant
Producer: Elijah Stevens
Who do our memories belong to? Weaving personal essay and intimate character studies, Landscapes of Memory explores the weaponization of Holocaust memory, and those fighting against it.
POWER & LIGHT
Production Company: Actual Films (USA)
Director: Kelly Duane de la Vega
Producers: Jessica Anthony, Justine Nagan, Jon Shenk
In Miami, Power & Light follows two journalists embroiled in a top-secret investigation exposing how the state’s largest utility ruthlessly undermined democracy and stalled climate action to protect profits.
POWER, ELAINE (WT)
Production Companies: Poppy Pictures doo (Serbia), Survivance (France)
Director: Mila Turajlić
Producers: Mila Turajlić, Carine Chichkowsky
Tracing more than half a century of the rise and fall of progressive struggle, Elaine Mokhtefi revisits her days of radical activism across the Third World in this memoir documentary.
PÜLÖ; BLOODSTREAM OF THE KIRIKE
Production Companies: IMBUU Media Limited (Nigeria), Ethnos Snc (Italy)
Director: Christina Ifubaraboye
Producers: Christina Ifubaraboye, Ufuoma Ogagarue, Olawale Ogundein, Elisa Mereghetti, Yvonne Welbon
Pülö means blood and oil. Oil is the blood of Kirike, it keeps the people going. Blood is the stream of life, what happens when this stream is poisoned? The Kirike people, who rely on the island’s water, are under threat!
RECKONING
Production Companies: Insight Film Ltd. (UK), Come on Die Young Films (Brazil)
Director: Mauricio Monteiro Filho
Producers: Charlie Rosser, Clive Patterson, Hugh Davies, Mauricio Monteiro Filho
Reckoning follows a Brazilian federal prosecutor as he leads a landmark investigation into crimes against humanity, perpetrated by the previous Bolsonaro government against the Yanomami people of the northern Amazon.
REHEARSING FOR JUSTICE
Production Companies: Integral film og Litteratur as (Norway), Sirdab Studio Ltd (Palestine)
Director: Dalia Al-Kury
Producers: Ola K. Hunnes, Jørgen Lorentzen, Nefise Lorentzen
What is at stake when one Palestinian filmmaker from the diaspora takes on the challenge of imagining justice and reparations in a free Palestine?
TEA WITH THE TALIBAN
Production Companies: Faction Films Ltd. (UK), Nadcon GmbH (Germany)
Director: Ovidio Salazar
Producers: Rishi Ghosh-Curling, Petra Wersch, Jawed Taiman
Executive Producers: Peter Nadermann, Sylvia Stevens, Peter Day
As Taliban leaders strive to rebuild Afghanistan in their own image, pulled between the demands of The West and their own ideology, pressures mount on the ground for the people.
THERE’S ONLY ONE SHIRLEY
Production Company: That Girl Productions LLC (USA)
Director: Isadora Kosofsky
Producers: Isadora Kosofsky, Amanda Mustard
After three difficult marriages, inimitable octogenarian Shirley engages in internet dating and pursues a successful career in the porn industry. In this ten-year portrait, Shirley defies all conventions on her quest to find the love and meaning she has searched for her entire life.
THIS LAND OF OURS
Production Company: Oya Media Group Inc. (Canada)
Director: Ngardy Conteh George
Producers: Ngardy Conteh George, Alison Duke
The cost of paradise, but for whom?
UNDER THE FLAGS, THE SUN
Production Companies: Cine Mio / Ivana Urízar (Paraguay), MaravillaCine S.R.L. (Argentina), Sabaté Films S.R.L. (Paraguay), Juanjo Pereira (Paraguay)
Director: Juanjo Pereira
Producers: Paula Zyngierman, Ivana Urízar, Gabriela Sabaté, Leandro Listorti, Juanjo Pereira
Using film material found around the world, Under the Flags, the Sun reconstructs Paraguay's untold history, delving into Alfredo Stroessner's dictatorship—among Latin America's longest—with traces still felt today.
UNFILTERED
Production Companies: Intensity Films LLC (USA), Himaphiliac CineLabs LLC (USA), Tell It Media INC (USA)
Director: Chelsi Bullard
Producers: Chelsi Bullard, Hima B., Jacqueline Olive
Generational trauma and unflinching courage collide in Unfiltered, a raw yet joyous coming-of-age story, where 15-year-old Tamia McArthur is determined to disrupt family cycles and reclaim her youth in a world that forces Black girls to grow up too soon.
#WHILEBLACK
Production Companies: Fathom Film Group Ltd. (Canada), WhileBlackFilm LLC (US)
Directors: Jennifer Holness, Sidney Fussell
Producers: Ann Shin, Geeta Gandbhir, Tara Jan
Darnella Frazier, who filmed the death of George Floyd, steps forward in this ground-breaking documentary about viral videos that have ignited global movements. We hear the firsthand stories of Darnella and other citizen journalists as we dive deep into the technology platforms that deliver and profit from these images.
WHO MOVES AMERICA (WT)
Production Company: Sidereal Time LLC (USA)
Director: Yael Bridge
Producers: Yael Bridge, Jeremy Flood, Yoni Golijov, Mars Verrone
Weaving together intimate character-driven verité and essayistic narration, Who Moves America elucidates the theory and practice of solidarity through the organizing efforts of the Teamsters labor union.
The Hot Docs Forum wishes to thank 2024 Presenting Forum Partner Canada Media Fund and Founding Partner Telefilm Canada. The Hot Docs Forum receives additional support from Banff World Media Festival, Blue Ice Pictures, C21 Media, Canadian Media Producers Association, CBC, European Film Promotion, Front Row Insurance, Gardiner Roberts LLP, Italian Trade Commission, National Film Board of Canada, Netflix, Ontario Creates, Playback, Realscreen, Rogers, Scotia Wealth Management, SODEC, the City of Toronto, and Variety.
Deal Maker
At the 2024 edition of Hot Docs Deal Maker,
40 documentary projects representing 31 countries pitched to international decision makers.
#NunsToo
Director: Lorena Luciano
Producer: Filippo Piscopo
Production Company: Film Take Productions, Inc. (USA)
Acid: Who Stopped the Rain?
Director: Victoria Lean
Producers: Victoria Lean, Jonas Prupas
Executive Producer: Michael Kronish
Associate Producer: Jade Blair
Production Companies: Parrhesia Films (Canada), Muse Entertainment (Canada)
Barbara Forever
Director: Brydie O'Connor
Producer: Elijah Stevens
Executive Producers: Christine Vachon, Claire Edelman
Production Companies: Barbara Forever LLC (USA), Space Time Films (USA), Killer Films (USA), Kartemquin Films (USA)
Breaking The Cycle
Directors: Aekaphong Saransate, Thanakrit Duangmaneeporn
Producers: Komtouch Napattaloong, Tanwarat Sombawattana
Production Company: Pop Pictures (Thailand)
Breaking the Wall
Director: Weichao Xu
Producer: Yiqian Zhang
Production Company: Touchstone Productions Inc. (Canada)
Brücher. Unheard of Botanical Chronicle
Directors: María Camila Menéndez, Mariana Elena Guzzante
Producers: Silvana Diaz Coppoletta y Cristina Escobar
Production Companies: Curandero Producciones (Argentina), El Gatoverde Producciones SRL. (Spain)
Curl Power
Director: Josephine Anderson
Producers: Mike Johnston, Josephine Anderson
Executive Producers: Mike Johnston, Josephine Anderson, Ken Tsui
Associate Producers: Diana Parry, Andy Alvarez, Martin Calvo, Alex Bohs, Claire Sanford
Production Companies: Studio 104 Entertainment Inc. (Canada), Secret Bench Films Inc. (Canada)
Dreams of the Wild Oaks
Director: Marjan Khosravi
Producers: Milad Khosravi
Co-Producer: Stephanie von Lukowicz
Executive Producers: Milad Khosravi, Stephanie von Lukowicz
Production Companies: Seven Springs Pictures (Iran), Lukimedia, sl (Spain)
En Garde
Director: Mateusz Wajda
Producers: Paweł Ziemilski, Łukasz Długołęcki, Mateusz Wajda
Production Company: MX35 Wajda Ziemilski sp. j. (Poland)
Girl Island: The Sandy Stone Story
Director: Marjorie Vecchio
Producers: Susan Stryker, Marjorie Vecchio
Executive Producer: Zackary Drucker
Consulting Producer: Marc Smolowitz
Production Companies: MJV Productions, LLC (USA), 13th Gen, Inc (USA)
Holder of the Sky
Director: Tsanavi Spoonhunter
Producers: Ciara Lacy, Cristina Costantini
Line Producer: Christian Lee Collins
Production Company: Mahebe Media LLC (USA)
Holloway
Directors: Daisy-May Hudson, Sophie Compton
Producers: Alice Hughes, Polly Creed
Executive Producer: Claire O'Neill
Production Companies: Beehive Films Limited (UK), Power Play Productions CIC (UK)
Kind Ones
Director: Max Lowe
Producers: Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, Ann Rogers
Production Companies: Fishbowl Films (USA), Humble Heart Films (USA)
La Pietà
Directors: Pepe Andreu, Rafa Molés
Producers: Pepe Andreu, Rafa Molés, Ólafur Rögnvaldsson, Arunas Matelis
Production Companies: SUICA Productions S.L. (SUICAfilms) (Spain), Axfilms ehf (Iceland), Ultra nominum, UAB (Studio Nominum) (Lithuania)
Land of My Dreams
Director: Nausheen Khan
Producer: Nausheen Khan
Production Company: Nausheen Khan
Matininó
Director: Gabriela Díaz Arp
Producers: Karla Claudio Betancourt, Wendy Muñiz, Guillermo Zouain
Production Companies: Matininó, LLC. (USA, Puerto Rico), Rabbit Raccoon (USA), Viewfinder (Dominican Republic)
Memento Mori
Directors: Briar March, Alyx Duncan
Producers: Briar March, Alyx Duncan
Executive Producer: Alex Behse
Production Companies: On the Level Productions Limited (New Zealand), Monsoon Pictures International Ltd (New Zealand)
Mexican Dream (Sueño Mexicano)
Director: Laura Plancarte
Producer: Laura Plancarte
Production Companies: LP Films S.A de C.V (Mexico), LP Films LTD (UK), F&F Partners S.A de C.V (Mexico)
My Dream to Fly
Director: Asmaa gamal Elgafrie
Producer: Asmaa gamal Elgafrie
Production Company: REC & Roll
Saints and Warriors
Director: Patrick Shannon
Producers: Michael Grand
Executive Producers: Patrick Shannon, Vinay Virmani, Scott Moore
Production Companies: Grand Scheme Productions Inc. (Canada), Ball is Life Entertainment Inc. (Canada), First Take Entertainment Ltd. (Canada)
The Sharp Edge of Peace
Director: Roya Sadat
Producers: Leslie Thomas, Ana Ramic, Christy Denes, J. Matthew Jacob, Aziz Deldar, Alka Sadat
Executive Producers: John Ptak, Jamie Wolf
Co-Executive Producer: Nathalie Seaver
Production Companies: MIRA Studios LLC (USA), Roya Film House (Afghanistan/USA), Foothill Productions (USA)
Singing Back the Buffalo
Director: Tasha Hubbard
Producers: Tasha Hubbard, George Hupka, Jason Ryle
Executive Producer: Bonnie Thompson
Production Company: Buffalo Song Productions Inc. (Canada)
Streets Loud with Echoes
Director: Katerina Suvorova
Producers: Aruan Anartayev, Viktoriya Kalashnikova
Production Company: Tihiy Svet (Quiet Light) (Kazakhstan)
The Art of War (El Arte de la Guerra)
Directors: Grecia Barbieri, Gonzalo Benavente Secco
Producer: Carolina Denegri
Executive Producers: Grecia Barbieri, Gonzalo Benavente Secco, Carolina Denegri, Jaén Mujica Coronado
Production Companies: Autocinema SAC (Peru), Animalita EIRL (Peru)
The Golden Door
Director: Robinder Uppal
Producer: Marc Serpa Francoeur
Production Company: Lost Time Media Inc.
The Good Man of Pachalum (working title)
Director: Renato Borrayo Serrano
Producer: Inés Nofuentes, Jorge Lopez, Nacho LaCasa
Executive Producer: Inés Nofuentes
Associate Producer: Mo Scarpelli
Production Companies: Curuxa Cinema SL. (Spain), Cronopio Cinema (Guatemala), Capitán Araña (Spain), Rake Films (USA)
The Most Important Prisoners
Director: Zakaria Rahmani
Producers: Arne Birkenstock, Michael Mallie
Production Companies: Fruitmarket Arts & Media GmbH (Germany), Ard Mhacha Productions (Ireland)
The Sandbox
Director: Kenya-Jade Pinto
Proucers: Shasha Nakhai, Kenya-Jade Pinto
Executive Producers: Rich Williamson, Jennifer Baichwal, Bob Moore
Production Company: 1000543880 Ontario Inc. (Canada)
The Soldier's Journey
Director: Helena Maksyom
Producers: Adrian Privu, Yasmin C. Rams, Renko Douze, Dea Gjinovci
Production Companies: Privu A. Adrian PFA (Romania), Perennial Lens GmbH (Germany), Een Van de Jongens (Netherlands), Astrae Productions (Switzerland)
Together (working title)
Director: Yasmin Mistry
Producers: Yasmin Mistry, Thu-Huong Hoang
Consulting Producer: Jin Yoo-Kim
Production Company: idesygn creative LLC (USA)
Until Our Hearts are on the Ground
Directors: Dawn Lavell Harvard & Pam Palmater
Producers: Jeanette Vivian Corbiere Lovell, Mark Peachey
Executive Producers: Dawn Lavell Harvard, Alanis Obomsawin Pam Palmater (producer),(producer)
Production Companies: Warrior Life Studios, Inc. (Canada), The Digitalist (1044667 Ont. Inc) (Canada)
Untitled Eitaro Project
Directors: Koodae Kim, Teruhisa Yoshida
Producers: Michael LaPointe, Koodae Kim, Teruhisa Yoshida
Consulting Producer: Doug Block
Production Companies: Pointe Media, LLC (USA), TenFrames, LLC (USA)
Untitled Chilean Documentary
Director: Carola Fuentes
Producer: Rafael Valdeavellano
Executive Producers: Simon Kilmurry, Ina Fichman
Production Companies: La Ventana Cine Ltd. (Chile), Drymen Pictures, LLC (USA), Intuitive Pictures (Canada)
Untitled Middle East Project
Directors: Janay Boulos, Abd al-Kader Habak
Producers: Sonja Henrici, Janay Boulos, Abd al-Kader Habak
Production Companies: Habak Films Ltd. (UK), Sonja Henrici Creates Ltd. (UK)
The Noble Half (working title)
Director: Khaula Haider Malik
Producers: Afnahn Khan, Brit Fryer, Khaula Malik
Production Companies: Forest Ave Films (USA), Third Cousin Pictures, Inc. (USA)
War on Women
Director: Maris Salumets
Producer: Elina Litvinova
Co-producer: Volia Chajkosukaya, Tereza Nvotova
Production Companies: Three Brothers OÜ (Estonia), Allfilm OÜ (Estonia), Talking Stones s.r.a (Slovakia)
Wild Gleaming Space (Luminoso Espacio Salvaje)
Director: Mauro Colombo
Producers: Abner Benaim, Arturo Méndiz, Isabella Gálvez
Production Companies: Apertura Films, S.A. (Panamá), Bastian Films 2 S.L. (Spain)
Will They Ever Come Back?
Director: Ángela Carabalí
Producers: Sandra Tabares-Duque, Ángela Carabalí
Productions Companies: Sandelion Productions S.A.S (Colombia), Carabalí Films & New Media S.A.S (Colombia)
XiXi
Director: Fan Wu
Producers: Fan Wu, Venice de Castro Atienza, Sona Jo, Yoonsoo Her
Production Companies: Svemirko Audiovisual Art Productions (Taiwan), Svemirko Film Productions (Philippines), Sona Films (Republic of Korea)