Previously: #2. (tie) IDFA and Toronto
#4. Hot Docs
Our take: The biggest doc-only fest in North America draws buyers, industry and doc community from all over the world. Even if you premiered at Sundance this may be the first time European buyers take a good look at your film. The fest takes advantage of its rich history and Toronto's notorious love of documentaries as screenings are usually packed - even a late night series instituted by the fest last year. Over the past couple years, the fest has sought to revitalize and re-think the panel format, leading to a feeling that the fest is on the cusp of doing something really different. Programmer Sean Farnel is a stalwart on the international documentary circuit and often is the first to shine a light on new and important international filmmakers and trends.
The downside: Like many fests, there's a big divide between the festival and the Forum, the latter of which probably needs the same re-imagining that's going on with the panels. The Canadian slate can be seriously uneven - approach at your own risk. Toronto is a great city, but it can take some time to get a handle on, which can be a challenge for a festival that is as spread out as this one.
Important recent premieres: ACT OF GOD, THE RED CHAPEL
Selection of US films screened at 2009 Fest: BIG RIVER MAN, OBJECTIFIED, WE LIVE IN PUBLIC, OUTRAGE, THE WAY WE GET BY, TYSON, 21 BELOW, FIXER: THE TAKING OF AJMAL NAQSHBANDI, BEST WORST MOVIE, SERGIO, WHICH WAY HOME
Our coverage of Hot Docs here.
Others:
Filmmaker:
"Still my favorite. Somehow Sean and co put soul into a cuty which is otherwise
pretty bland Sean and Chris somehow
manage to bring some life to those soulless Toronto streets, and that in itself
is a great feat. Very well run and organized I feel, and a very healthy dose of
high end seminars and talks alongside some great films…
Filmmaker: "Ridiculously good doc audiences. Had 1200 seat Bloor sold out and on it's feet. Best screenings hands down. Sean Farnel has a poster of Gummo over his bed, say no more."
Filmmaker: "great audience, great industry presence, also a sense of community/place but hindered somewhat by the forum, which (like at IDFA) creates this 2-tiered system where all the important industry people are off in the pitching area which is off-limits to filmmakers who haven't coughed up money for a forum pass, it's a silly two-tiered system i think & also diminishes audiences (no chance of getting commissioners/potential buyers to see your film in the cinema if they're at pitches all day & dinners/parties all night). But the audiences are amazing & the staff are nice & they are very nice to filmmakers."
Filmmaker: "loved it, thought the programming was very good and also the pairing of films. Great screenings, although some of the Q&A's weren't in particular well moderated (actually not really moderated at all, which doesn't really work when you have two or more filmmakers up there). Forum seemed to have a nice atmosphere, compared to IDFA. As IDFA, the market takes over from the festival though, and it feels the films are almost an afterthought for some of the week (at least for the attending industry, the general audience turn-out is great). Great for meetings, pitching, networking and meeting people. They paid for 3 nights hotel, no flights for short filmmakers. Good hospitality overall and some great parties. They also organised a dinner for filmmakers. Great experience, exceeded my expectations. Would definitely come back."
Filmmaker: "too spread
out. can never find the "center". can never find other filmmakers. i
just wander around this one mostly. good press though. good mixed selection of
films."
Filmmaker: "Audiences fantastic. Paid for all expenses."
Filmmaker: "It's
perhaps a little big and can feel impersonal at times but they have some smart programmers and show good films."
Filmmaker: "a great festival. Amazing audiences, well organized."
Industry: "Hot Docs is our bread and butter. The timing of the fest is weird for us to play films there somehow, we often premiere at a film in the fall, and it's usually played cinemas before hot docs starts so we can't play there. But of the films I've played they treat us well. The TDF is fantastic, the panels quite good. However I find the market overwhelms the "artistic" side of the festival."
Industry: "One of the big beasts, and a festival everyone knows they should attend. The film selection is normally pretty good, though the canadian element whilst understandable is often unwelcome. The forum is slowly moving towards a new model that works well in the marketplace, and Elisabeth is doing a good job in terms of form. The selection for the forum, though, is sometimes lacklustre and backwards looking."
Industry: "I don’t like the programming. They finally got away from such an emphasis on Canadian programming, which is good. I can’t stand that facility. I can’t believe that they expect us to do work there and there’s no place to get a cup of coffee. So now I go to the Forum and I spend all my time at the Forum. I don’t go to see films at the festival. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film at the festival. Buyers are there. But there’s the split because all the buyers are over with the commissioning editors at the Forum. It’s a good place to have your film, but it’s not a good place to have your premiere without just about starting your run."
Industry: "As an industry professional one of the two must
attend fests of the year because of the TDF Forum where all comm eds, producers
and directors gather. Its format has been traditional and moribund but
Elizabeth Radshaw looks set to give proceedings a much needed shake up.
Industry: "essential for doc
programmers
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