Hot Docs Archives - That Shelf

Hot Docs

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 335: Interview with Tommy Avallone of MySpace

by Contra Zoom | May 29, 2026

Jeff Bulmer had the chance to talk with the director of the film MySpace, Tommy Avallone, for Contra Zoom Pod after it played at Hot Docs.

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 334: 2026 Hot Docs

by Contra Zoom | May 23, 2026

The 2026 Hot Docs festival, celebrating the best in documentary cinema, has come to a close. Contra Zoom Pod discusses eight films that played!

Black Zombie Review: Hot Docs 2026

by Mel Valentin | May 5, 2026

Maya Annik Bedward's documentary, Black Zombie , offers abundant insights into Haitian Vodou and zombies.

tÉ™m kÊ·aÎ¸ nan Namesake Review: Hot Docs 2026

by Lauren Weiner | April 30, 2026

”¯tÉ™m”¯kÊ·aÎ¸”¯nan”¯Namesake delivers a heart”‘wrenching yet inspiring look at the Tla'amin Nation's push to reclaim the name of their region.

Ceremony Review: Hot Docs 2026

by Lyle Kruger | April 30, 2026

There is a moment, fairly early in Ceremony , when an animated bear hugs a human while a flock of seagulls gathers nearby. It is a watercolour memory of what the riverbanks of the Bella Coola Valley used to look like during ooligan season. When the small fish returned in such numbers that people, birds, […]

#WhileBlack Review: Hot Docs 2026

by Courtney Small | April 27, 2026

A thought-provoking and moving work, #WhileBlack challenges audiences to ponder what witnessing looks like in a digital age.

Love Apptually Review: Hot Docs 2026

by Courtney Small | April 25, 2026

An intriguing conversation starter, Love Apptually will have viewers wanting to swipe left on dating apps altogether.

Hot Docs Interview: The Sandbox Director Kenya-Jade Pinto

by Emma Badame | April 24, 2026

Director Kenya-Jade Pinto reflects on the urgent questions about power, AI, and human dignity asked by her new doc, The Sandbox .

Agatha’s Almanac Review: An Ode to Living Simply

by Lyle Kruger | April 1, 2026

Amalie Atkins' Agatha's Almanac is a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind documentary about a 90-year-old woman living off the land in rural Manitoba.

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 306: 2025 Hot Docs

by Contra Zoom | May 13, 2025

Hot Docs 2025â is over, and the podcast recaps 6 of the films they watched including â Ultrasâ , â Coexistence, My Ass!â and more.

Interview: Kevin Drew on Broken Social Scene Doc It’s All Gonna Break

by Rachel West | January 23, 2025

Kevin Drew talks friendship, music, and more with new Broken Social Scene documentary It's All Gonna Break, directed by Stephen Chung.

2024 Rendezvous With Madness Festival Line-Up Includes Docs, Fiction, Alan Cumming, Pete Doherty and much more

by Rachel West | October 16, 2024

Rendezvous With Madness Festival is back for its 32nd year, kicking things off with the opening night screening of the documentary WaaPaKe by director Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin.

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story Review

by Dakota Arsenault | May 17, 2024

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story remembers a trailblazing trans R&B singer who suddenly walked away from the industry in 1971.

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 276: Hot Docs 2024

by Contra Zoom | May 7, 2024

Six films from Hot Docs 2024 are discussed on Contra Zoom Pod

Metro Morning: Hot Docs 2024 Marches On

by Jason Gorber | April 28, 2024

Film columnist Jason Gorber stops by CBC's Metro Morning to discuss this year's beleaguered Hot Docs festival.

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ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO SEE #THESOCIALRECKONING! Inspired by true events and the whistleblower who started the social media reckoning we’re seeing play out today, this Aaron Sorkin original screenplay is a companion piece to the hit film The Social Network and a true David and Goliath story. Frances Haugen (Madison), a young Facebook engineer, enlists the help of Jeff Horwitz (White), a Wall Street Journal reporter, to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on the social network’s most guarded secrets. Follow the instructions below, and you'll be entered to win tickets to see the film when it hits theatres on October 9th, courtesy of @sonypictures, @thetarogroup and That Shelf! 📱 Follow That Shelf, 📱 Like this post, 📱 Tell us your favourite based-on-a-true-story movie, and, 📱 Tag the friend you'll bring with you to the movie! @TheSocialReckoning debuts exclusively in movie theatres on October 9, 2026. Giveaway closes on October 7 at 11:59 ET. Open to Canadian residents only. One entry per person. #giveaway #canadacontest #movietickets
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CONTEST: ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO BRAZIL FILM FEST That Shelf, and @brazilfilmfest want to send you and a friend to see the best of Brazilian cinema in Toronto! 🗓️ Film 1 - Malês (Oct 9, 11 am) 🗓️ Film 2 - Zico, the Samurai of Quintino (Oct 9, 2 pm) 🗓️ Film 3 - The Noise of the Night (Oct 9, 4:45 pM) 🗓️ Film 4 - If I Were You 3 (Oct 10, 11:15 am) 🗓️ Film 5 - The Crime Genius (Oct 11, 11 am) Here's how to enter: 🇧🇷 Follow us and @brazilfilmfest 🇧🇷 Like this post 🇧🇷 Tell us which film you'd like to attend, and 🇧🇷 Tag a friend October 9–11, 2026 📍 TIFF Lightbox | Toronto 🎟️ Tickets & festival details: brazilfilmfest.ca Giveaway closes on October 7. Open to Canadian residents only. Winners will be contacted via DM. 🗓️ Film 1 - Malês (Oct 9, 11 am) Malês is a powerful story of resilience and courage set against the vibrant backdrop of Salvador in 1835. Torn from their homeland in Africa during their wedding ceremony, two young Muslims are enslaved in Brazil. Separated by a cruel fate, they struggle to survive and find one another again as they become caught up in the largest enslaved uprising in Brazilian history: the Malê Revolt. 🗓️ Film 2 - Zico, the Samurai of Quintino (Oct 9, 2 pm) An original portrait of the life and career of Arthur Antunes Coimbra—better known as Zico. The Samurai of Quintino explores the many dimensions of one of football's greatest legends, revealing the unique personality behind the icon. Drawing on Zico's personal archive—made public for the first time—the documentary weaves together stories from his remarkable journey with Flamengo, the Brazilian National Team, and Japan. Featuring Ronaldo Nazário, Maestro Júnior, friends, and family, the film offers an intimate look at the man behind the legend, leading to a surprising encounter with the "Spirit of Zico": an identity as fascinating as it is paradoxical, forged in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, yet shaped by values and discipline that found their perfect match in Japan. 🗓️ Film 3 - The Noise of the Night (Oct 9, 4:45 PM) Sônia is a woman who has spent her life burying the wounds of her childhood, feeling unseen and forgotten by her husband
2 days ago
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Verity follows struggling writer Lowen, who is hired to finish the latest book in bestselling author Verity Crawford’s series after an accident leaves her unable to communicate. But while staying at Verity’s home, Lowen discovers a disturbing manuscript that forces her to question everything she knows about the author, her family, and the truth behind what happened. With Anne Hathaway clearly having fun in the title role, Verity embraces the pulpy spirit of ’90s psychological thrillers while balancing darker themes with a playful sense of humour. Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett add strong performances, but it’s Hathaway’s larger-than-life presence and the film’s twists that make this a fun, unpredictable ride. 📝 Full review by Rachel West now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
4 days ago
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Primetime takes a dark look at the rise of To Catch a Predator, following disgraced journalist Chris Hansen and the sensationalist television empire built around his “gotcha” investigations. Through the eyes of the people working behind the scenes, the film explores the blurred lines between journalism, entertainment, morality, and the pursuit of ratings. Robert Pattinson delivers a complex performance as Hansen, capturing both his commanding television persona and the contradictions beneath it. With its gritty late-2000s aesthetic and echoes of Network, Primetime becomes a sharp moral fable about the damage caused when sensationalism, ambition, and the desire for authority take priority over empathy and justice. 📝 Full review by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
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Forgotten Island follows best friends Jo and Raissa as their final night together before graduation takes an unexpected turn, transporting them to the mythical island of Nakali. There, they face memory-stealing creatures, magical obstacles, and the possibility that returning home could mean losing the memories of their friendship. Fast, chaotic, and packed with Filipino mythology and pop culture influences, the film embraces its sensory overload rather than slowing down. Its kinetic animation, vibrant visual style, and spirited voice cast make for an exhilarating adventure, while at its heart is a moving story about friendship, growing up, and holding on to the memories that shape us. 📝 Full review by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
1 week ago
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TRAILER PREMIERE! Catch the trailer for Toronto filmmaker @ajuniorgabriel s debut doc, #TheSickling. Badejo chronicles his personal and emotional journey with sickle cell disease–one of the world’s most misunderstood genetic diseases. Through intimate family moments, conversations with medical experts and fellow sickle cell warriors, and raw footage of Gabriel himself, the film reveals the massive invisible weight of chronic illness, the prevalence of systemic medical racism, and the personal cost of survival itself. The film opens in Toronto on October 3 @hotdocs_ and in Montreal on October 5 at @cinemadumusee, then airs on CBC later that month. Check out this exclusive look at the trailer now.
2 weeks ago
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Canadian doc GAIL has been a hit with #TIFF26 audiences. Here’s director @michaelmaxxis and Our Lady Peace’s @duncancoutts after today’s screening, talking about this cinematic story on their super fan from the Bronx.
2 weeks ago
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#Neverman director @roccocine , along with cast members (from right to left) @mxviv (far right), @zaibabaig_ and @evaevirv, take to the stage at the world premiere of the Canadian drama at #TIFF26! Head to the link in our bio for our review! 🎥 @rachel_is_here
2 weeks ago
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CONTEST ALERT! "Your best friendship is worth fighting for. " We're giving away passes to the VANCOUVER preview screening of Universal Pictures' upcoming title, FORGOTTEN ISLAND, a new original film from DreamWorks Animation (How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek, Puss in Boots). The film opens in theatres on September 25, but Universal is hosting an exclusive advance screening in Vancouver on Wednesday, September 23. To enter, just: 🫶 Like this post. 🫶 Follow That Shelf 🫶 Tag your best friend (the one who you'd like to go to the Vancouver screening with)! Grammy- and Academy Award®-winning supernova H.E.R. and Liza Soberano (Lisa Frankenstein, Alone/Together) star as best friends and high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who are about to embark on separate life paths. While celebrating their last night together, they stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with creatures they grew up hearing stories about in their Filipino families. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever. Forgotten Island opens in theatres September 25. The contest closes Sunday at 12 noon PT. One entry per person. Canada only. Winners will be contacted by DMs. #contest #vancouver #advancescreening
3 weeks ago
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