Ryan McNeil
As the old saying goes – truth is often far more interesting than fiction.
If you possibly needed proof of this theory, I invite you to check out the 2010 slate at Hot Docs – North America’s largest documentary film festival now in its seventeenth year. Take the photo above for instance. That hep cat is Josh Dolgin, or “Socalled” as he prefers to be called. Says here he’s a cross between Woody Allen and Lil’ Wayne.
Yes, really.
Or then there’s the story of Furious Pete. Just years ago, Pete was diagnosed with anorexia. Now he is a world record holder in competitive eating.
Yes, really.
Their stories, as told in SOCALLED and THE STORY OF FURIOUS PETE are just two of the 170 documentaries that will be showing in Toronto between April 29th and May 9th. The subject matters range can be awe-inspiring or angering, the imagery can be stunning or sad. You never know quite what to expect…outside of real life stories that is.
After a few festivals in a row, I have been inexcusably absent from the Hot Docs festival for a few years, however that will all change this year as this site will become a hub of coverage. Expect reactions, reviews, interviews and opinions. I’m planning on providing as much coverage as I can muster, both in the form of written pieces, and special editions of The Matineecast. One thing I can tell you early on, is that the hardest part will be deciding on just how much of this bountiful list of films I can squeeze in. I already have a lengthy wish list, and haven’t even finished going through the selections!
The festival’s website has gone live and can be found here. In the weeks leading up to the festival, watch this space as I’ll be highlighting various programmes and events. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of screening decisions to make.
Interesting stuff, can't wait for your posts on it 🙂
I'm sitting here, green with envy. I'm in the middle of exams. Hot Docs is never at a good time. Thank god I'm graduating — I can go next year!
I will live the Hot Docs experience through your posts. Looking forward to it.
Last, uh, spring, I was out for dinner with some friends (Tracy and Don – you may have heard of them…), and they had some pals staying at their house while here from Europe, promoting their film at Hot Docs 2009. Damned if I can remember the name of their friends' film, but I DO remember Don's fascinating retelling of the documentary they'd screened the day before. It's called "Red Chapel," and it's about a couple of Korean-born Danish filmmakers who managed to get into North Korea, against every conceivable odd, under the guise of being the hired entertainment for Kim Jong-Il. I, obviously, am nowhere near as good a storyteller as Don, so I won't bore you with my words about the film, but I just had to throw that out there; the stuff they saw last year is enough to make me ready to lie, cheat and steal to get to this year's festival. (Hopefully I won't have to! I'll exploit my connections…hee.) If you haven't seen that one, though – the one Don calls the "masterpiece" of the 2009 Doc circuit – you ought to.
And if I get my stuff sorted out & know which screenings I'll be hitting this season, I'll let you know!