This year’s installment of Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is in full swing. I have previewed a few films already.

Below, I give you my thoughts on some of initial recommendations.

The World Or Nothing (Dir. Ingrid Veninger)
This is Veninger’s first feature documentary. In it, we come to know 29-year-old Cuban twin brothers, Rubert and Rubildo Donation Dinza. The have recently moved to Barcelona, Spain embarking on a quest to make their professional dreams a reality.

Veninger’s intimate film-making style shows the intimate bonds of sibling love, the challenges of building a new life while aiming to achieve international recognition for their dancing, singing, and performing talents. Relatable. Engaging. I always enjoy Veninger’s films for their authenticity to the human experience.

In My Blood It Runs (Dir. Maya Newell)
This film focuses on ten-year-old Dujuan Hoosan; a child-healer, a good hunter who speaks two Indigenous languages. Although he is ‘failing’ in school and risks juvenile detention, he is wise beyond his years.

Newell worked closely with the Arrernte and Garrwa elders along with Dujuan in order for them to have control over their own narrative. We hear from the community directly about their experiences, and their wishes to keep their language and culture alive. The result is an endearing film that is both informative and necessary.