Industry Market & Conference
North America's essential event for the international documentary industry, this year Hot Docs offered a hybrid program of incomparable online market opportunities and invaluable in-person knowledge sessions and networking activities. Close to 3,000 registered delegates from 75 countries participated live in Toronto and online from around the world.
2,298 delegates,
including 215 Decision Makers
Over 1,600 curated 1-on-1 meetings
$50,000 in pitch prizes
This year’s LIVE conference program focused on uniting the documentary community and supporting the filmmaking ecosystem. The nine LIVE knowledge sessions included a keynote conversation with filmmaker Christine Choy, discussions about racial equity and documenting the war in Ukraine, and a chat with ESPN's Marsha Cooke and ABC News's Marie Nelson. All sessions were recorded live and made available on the online industry event platform, along with pre-recorded Micro-Meetings and Close Up With… sessions.
The LIVE program also offered exclusive access to two Forum Talkback sessions, two Works-in-Progress Screenings of projects by Hot Docs alumni, and networking events including the Opening Night Party, the Awards Presentation and Reception, the Industry LIVE Celebration, and lunches and coffee breaks.
The online Hot Docs Forum saw 20 pitch teams from 19 countries present their projects to a virtual roundtable of more than 50 key funders and decision makers. A total of $50,000 in cash prizes was awarded to outstanding pitches including $40,000 in first look prizes awarded by participants of Hot Docs' curated access program for philanthropic supporters and investors.
Hot Docs Deal Maker and Distribution Rendezvous matched filmmakers with decision makers for an estimated 1,610 meetings to pitch 163 documentary projects.
Fourteen Doc Accelerator fellows participated in Hot Docs' industry activities and a bi-weekly remote filmmaking lab from April through September. Aimed at providing skills training and career advancement to foster an inclusive new generation of Canadian documentary filmmakers, Doc Accelerator labs welcomed expert industry speakers and filmmakers.
