The problems plaguing the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival are continuing. With the film festival’s financial challenges continuing, Hot Docs has announced a temporary hiatus of its year-round programming. The festival’s flagship venue, The Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, still known affectionately to many under its former name of the Bloor Cinema, is scheduled to cease operations on June 12, for at least three months.
This news comes less than a month after the conclusion of the 2024 edition of the festival, which may be the last if the festival can’t fully recover from its current financial situation. The festival is also still recovering from the mass programmer exodus from earlier this year, which was accompanied by accusations of a toxic work environment.
As the largest documentary festival in Canada and the second largest film festival in Toronto, second only to TIFF, it is sad to hear continued news of Hot Docs’ financial straights. There was salt rubbed into the wound a month ago when Hot Docs was left out of the 2024 Canadian Federal Budget, while TIFF will be receiving $23 million over three years, with that funding going towards the establishment of the festival market in 2026.
All I can do is hope and pray that Hot Docs will be able to recover and that the festival will return in 2025.