We're thrilled to welcome acclaimed doc filmmakers and intriguing subjects to our 2024 Festival, taking place in Toronto April 25 to May 5. Special guests include legendary Academy Award-winning film editor Thelma Schoonmaker, celebrated actress Emmanuelle Béart, iconic Canadian electroclash musician Peaches, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee’s Amy Hoggart, decorated Estonian Olympic freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru, founder of SiriusXM Satellite Radio Martine Rothblatt, Canadian Chef Sash Simpson, Ashford & Simpson’s Valerie Simpson, poet Staceyann Chin, and more.
The 2024 Festival will also host over 168 of the world’s top documentary filmmakers to introduce their films and participate in post-screening audience Q&As.
Featured guests are listed below. In most cases, the guests will be present at one or more screenings.
Amber Forte from FLY (D: Shaul Schwarz, Christina Clusiau | P: Christina Clusiau, Shaul Schwarz | USA | 2023 | 106 min) - Guinness World Record holder - Fastest Speed Parachuting by a Female.
Amy Hoggart from AMERICAN CATS (D: Todd Bieber | P: Grace Leeson | USA | 2024 | 88 min) - Writer, actor and comedian, most recently seen on the late-night satire show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.
Dawn Porter, director of LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH (D: Dawn Porter | P: Trish Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith | USA | 2024 | 101 min) - Award-winning documentary filmmaker of The Lary Bird Diaries, John Lewis: Good Trouble, The Way I See It and many other acclaimed films.
Emmanuelle Béart, director of SUCH A RESOUNDING SILENCE (D: Emmanuelle Béart, Anastasia Mikova | P: Emmanuelle Lepers | France | 2023 | 100 min) - César Award-winning actress (Mission: Impossible, Manon of the Spring, 8 Women) and producer, renowned for her work in film and television.
Kelly Sildaru from KELLY - SOMEONE ELSE'S DREAM (D: Helen Lõhmus, Leana Jalukse | P: Sten-Kristian Saluveer, David Lacote, Helen Lõhmus | Estonia, France | 2024 | 93 min) - Decorated Estonian Olympic freestyle skier.
Lana Wilson, director of LOOK INTO MY EYES (D: Lana Wilson | P: Kyle Martin, Lana Wilson | USA | 2023 | 105 min) - Hot Docs alum and celebrated documentary filmmaker (After Tiller, The Departure, Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields).
Lucy Lawless from NEVER LOOK AWAY (D: Lucy Lawless | P: Matthew Metcalfe, Tom Blackwell, Lucy Lawless | New Zealand | 2024 | 85 min) - New Zealand-born actor who became famous for her portrayal of the title character in the popular television show Xena: Warrior Princess.
Martine Rothblatt from LOVE MACHINA (D: Peter Sillen | P: Brendan Doyle, Peter Sillen | USA | 2024 | 97 min) - American author, entrepreneur, activist, one of the world’s highest-paid female CEOs and founder of SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
Molly Wickham and Freda Huson from YINTAH (D: Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano | P: Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano, Bob Moore | Canada | 2024 | 125 min) - Indigenous rights activists: Sleydo' Molly Wickham is a Wing Chief of Cas Yikh, a house group of the Gidimt'en Clan of the Wet'suwet'en Nation; Howilhkat Freda Huson is a Wing Chief of the Unist'ot'en people of the C'ilhts'ëkhyu clan of the Wet'suwet'en Nation.
Peaches (Merrill Nisker) from TEACHES OF PEACHES (D: Philipp Fussenegger, Judy Landkammer | P: Cordula Kablitz-Post, Robert Kreuzaler | Germany | 2024 | 102 min) - Iconic Canadian electroclash musician and producer.
Sash Simpson from BORN HUNGRY (D: Barry Avrich | P: Jay Hennick, Mark Selby, Barry Avrich | Canada | 2024 | 77 min) - Prolific Canadian Chef and owner of Toronto restaurant Sash.
Shiori Ito from BLACK BOX DIARIES (D: Shiori Ito | P: Eric Nyari, Hanna Aqvilin, Shiori Ito | Japan, UK, USA | 2024 | 104 min) - Prominent Japanese journalist and documentary filmmaker. Named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020.
Staceyann Chin from A MOTHER APART (D: Laurie Townshend | P: Alison Duke, Ngardy Conteh George, Justine Pimlott | Canada | 2024 | 89 min) - Poet, actor, performance artist and LGBTQ+ activist. She has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and 60 Minutes, and her work has been featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Thelma Schoonmaker from MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER (D: David Hinton | P: Matthew Wells, Nick Varley | UK | 2024 | 131 min) - Legendary American film editor, renowned for her prolific partnership spanning five decades with director Martin Scorsese. Schoonmaker’s contributions have garnered numerous prestigious awards, including three Academy Awards (Raging Bull, The Aviator, The Departed).
Valerie Simpson from LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH (D: Dawn Porter | P: Trish Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith | USA | 2024 | 101 min) - Singer and songwriter, one half of the beloved and legendary songwriter/producers and performers Ashford & Simpson.
Wilfred Buck from WILFRED BUCK (D: Lisa Jackson | P: Lisa Jackson, Lauren Grant, Alicia Smith | Canada | 2024 | 96 min) - Winnipeg-based Indigenous star knowledge expert, author and educator. A member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.