Documentary festival returns with 115 films in Toronto
Published March 24, 2026 at 3:17 pm
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival returns to Toronto with 115 films from 51 countries.
The 33rd edition of the festival is from April 23 to May 3 in Toronto.
From 2,820 film submissions, this year’s slate will present 115 documentaries representing 51 countries across nine diverse programs and will feature 52 world and international premieres, Hot Docs said in a press release. The films will be screened at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor. St. W. and the TIFF Lightbox at 350 King St. W.
In addition to documentaries, the 2026 Festival will offer an extensive lineup of industry programs and events, including the return of the popular Hot Docs Forum international industry pitch event.
“Documentary filmmaking offers a way to engage more deeply with the world around us—through stories that are thoughtful, complex and deeply human,” said Diana Sanchez, executive director of Hot Docs. “This year’s Hot Docs Festival celebrates documentary filmmaking through 115 globe-spanning films, connecting this important work to audiences and bringing us together in ways that deepen our understanding of the world we share.”
This year’s lineup of 80 features and 35 shorts will share stories of humanity’s struggles, courage, and ambition, as well as the increasingly evolving world of technology.
A total of 30 Canadian films will screen as official selections, and 14 films received support from Hot Docs’ film funds and market programs, including the Hot Docs Forum and Deal Maker.
The 2026 Hot Docs Festival will open with the world premiere of Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions, directed by Canadian filmmaker Michelle Mama, on Thursday, April 23 at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. The Canadian film spotlights queer rock icon Carole Pope as she reclaims her rightful place in music history.
The Special Presentations program, showcasing high-profile films, festival circuit heavy hitters, and renowned subjects, includes the world premieres of director Shalini Kantayya’s Love Apptually, about a journalist’s exploration of dating app algorithms; director Dori Berinstein’s Kenny Loggins: Conviction of the Heart, which traces the life and career of the multi-award-winning singer-songwriter who soundtracked some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable movie moments; director Tommy Avallone’s Myspace, a portrait of the pioneering social networking platform; director Mark Myers’s The Tower That Built a City, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Toronto’s skyline-defining CN Tower; and director Raha Shirazi’s A War on Women, which traces 40 years of feminist resistance by Iranian women against the Islamic Republic.
New works by Canadian directors, includes the world premieres of director Sébastien Trahan’s Code of Misconduct, in which an investigative journalist’s duty to follow the facts leads to the trial of five Canadian professional hockey players charged with sexual assault; Ryan Ermacora and Jessica Johnson’s Concrete Turned to Sand, in which local oyster farmers ply their trade amidst a rapidly changing environment; Ree Wright and Meaghan Wright’s The Last Days of April, the courageous journey of a determined disabled advocate living with a tethered spinal cord and chronic pain; and director Rico King’s Nekai Walks, in which Nekai Foster defies all medical odds and relearns to walk after being shot while walking home in Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighbourhood.
For a complete list of films and more information, visit hotdocs.ca.