Hot Docs 2015: Wrap-Up

My coverage of the 2015 edition of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival has come to an end.  This was actually my fifth year attending Hot Docs, my third as media, and I have now settled into the groove of providing full coverage.  I ended up seeing and reviewing 53 films as part of this year’s festival, which is actually two higher than my count from last year.  The festival itself is only eleven days, but I typically begin watching my screeners about a month in advance.  I am happy that all of this hard work has now paid off and I can say goodbye to Hot Docs for another year. Without further ado, here is my full wrap-up of Hot Docs 2015: Top Ten Favourite Films

1. Raiders!
2. The Queen of Silence
3. Thank You for Playing
4. The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young
5. The Nightmare
6. Help Us Find Sunil Tripathi
7. Lowdown Tracks
8. Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
9. The Creeping Garden
10. Best of Enemies

Honourable Mentions

• The Anima Profile
• The Circus Dynasty
• Pervert Park
• Herders (DocX VR Showcase)

Least Favourite Film

• End of the World

Wish I’d Seen

• Unbranded (Audience Award Winner)
• Finders Keepers

Number of Films Seen

• 53
• 27 – Screeners and Press Screenings
• 26 – Festival Screenings

Review Split

• Sean Kelly on Movies – 48
• Toronto Film Scene – 5

Interviews Conducted

• 4

Interviews Published During the Festival

• 1

Theatre Tally

• TIFF Bell Lightbox – 7
• Bloor Hot Docs Cinema – 6
• Scotiabank Theatre – 5
• Isabel Bader – 4
• Hart House Theatre – 3
• ROM Theatre – 1