Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival returns this year with 113 documentaries representing 47 countries across 11 diverse programs and will feature 35 world, 14 international, and 26 North American premieres.
As it has become my custom, I have sharing some of my personal picks for you to add to your Hot Docs lists.
Hye’s Hot Docs Picks
Marriage Cops
Dirs. Shashwati Talukdar & Cheryl Hess
The film offers an unprecedented look at the Women’s Helpline in Dehradun, India, where marriage mediation meets law enforcement in the most unexpected ways.
A co-production between India and the U.S., the 80-minute, Hindi-language with English subtitles film follows Sub-inspectors Sandhya and Krishna, two dedicated career officers with very different styles and a nose for bullshit. They do their best to keep the peace in relationships that seem beyond repair—abusive spouses, deadbeat dads, cheating wives and interfering mothers-in- law. These officers see it all.
Screens as part of the WORLD SHOWCASE program on April 27 and April 29.
Ai Weiwei’s Turandot
Dir. Maxim Derevianko
The film follows the artistic journey of renowned Chinese artist and activist, Ai Weiwei, during his groundbreaking operatic directorial debut at the Rome Opera House. Drawing inspiration from Puccini’s renowned opera, Turandot, Ai Weiwei masterfully weaves together the opera’s timeless narrative with contemporary global issues, including the Ukraine war, the refugee crises, tyranny, freedom of speech, and more. The film not only reaffirms the enduring relevance of Puccini’s masterpiece but also serves as a reflection of Ai Weiwei’s life and artistic philosophy.
Screens as part of the ARTSCAPES program on April 25 and April 27.
#skoden
Dir. Damien Eagle Bear
In the early days of social media, a notorious image circulated of an Indigenous man with raised fists, ready to strike. The photo was initially shared to mock and reinforce stereotypes of Indigenous peoples, but one word added to the image would change it forever. SKODEN – an Indigenous shortening of “let’s go then” – ignited an instant Indigenous pop culture icon that spread like wildfire across Turtle Island and beyond. But underneath the viral fame was a kind and generous Blackfoot man from Kainai who faced immense challenges while living on the streets. This documentary seeks to reclaim Pernell’s humanity, offering a more personal and compassionate portrait of the man behind the meme.
Screens as part of the CANADIAN SPECTRUM COMPETITION program on April 29 and May 1.
Always
Dir. Deming Chen
The film is about Gong Youbin who was born into a poor Chinese family in the countryside of Hunan province, China. He has not seen his mother since he was three months old. During a poetry class in school, he embarks on an emotional journey by learning to write poems through his imagination and exploration.
Screens as part of the WORLD SHOWCASE program on April 26 and April 29.
MAMA
Dir. Ana Cristina Benítez
At 36, Ana recalls the images from her last trip to Chiapas as she faces a diagnosis of late-stage breast cancer. She finds refuge in her camera and family archive, drawn to the figure of her father, who emigrated from Ecuador to the United States. Through these images, she reflects on her journey, and in her scar, she discovers that healing reaches beyond the physical body.
The film is a first-person, unflinching documentary essay about healing and acceptance in the face of late-stage breast cancer. With an impressive level of filming access inside hospitals, Ana’s film ultimately becomes a celebration of both vulnerability and resilience.
Screens as part of PERSISTER program on April 27 and April 29.
Spare My Bones, Coyote!
Dir. Jonah Malak
For the last twelve years, Marisela and Ely Ortíz and the group of volunteers Águilas del Desierto have been roaming the US-Mexico desert. Their goal: to seek, find and return to their families the bodies of migrants who died while crossing on foot. This all-consuming calling takes a crushing toll on them, but how could they stop? The film follows their work, dedication, and difficult lives they have chosen to live.
Screens as part of the WORLD SHOWCASE program on April 27 and April 29.
Agatha’s Almanac
Dir. Amalie Atkins
Shot over six years by an all-woman crew on 16mm film, Agatha’s Almanac quietly observes Agatha (in her 80s) tending her ancestral Manitoba farm without a car, cell phone, or even running water. Her days are devoted to cultivating watermelon, beans, herbs, and flowers, and all entirely by hand.
Agatha’s story is a rare window into a vanishing generation and a quietly radical act of resistance to modern convenience culture. With a home untouched since the 1950s and a daily rhythm shaped by intuition rather than devices, Atkins offers a counter-narrative to the speed and disconnection of our times.
Screen as part of the CANADIAN SPECTRUM COMPETITION program; April 27 and May 2.
Hot Docs films and other special events will take place in Toronto from April 24 to May 4, 2025. Festival listings, schedule and tickets are available at hotdocs.ca.
