Documentary on Toronto music icon Carole Pope to kick off Hot Docs film festival, Canada Reviews

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival has released its full lineup for this year’s event, marking the 33rd edition of North America’s largest documentary festival. Running April 23 to May 3, the festival will screen 115 films from 51 countries, selected from 2,800 submissions. This year features 52 world and international premieres, a new program focused on technology and surveillance as well as a $50,000 prize for the best Canadian documentary.

Opening night, on Thursday, April 23 at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, will feature the world premiere of Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions. Directed by Michelle Mama, the film follows Carole Pope, pioneering singer of Toronto band Rough Trade, as she reflects on her career and celebrated her impact on Canadian Music.

The festival program includes 80 feature-length films and 35 shorts, spread across nine curated strands. Thirty Canadian titles are part of the lineup, with 14 supported through Hot Doc’s own funding programs such as the Hot Docs Forum and Deal Maker. This selection highlights the festival’s commitment to Canadian filmmakers while offering audiences a diverse mix of international stories.

“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.”

Hot Docs 2026 includes several major programs: Special Presentations, featuring high profile premieres; the Canadian Spectrum Competition, highlighting domestic stories from emerging and established filmmakers; the International Spectrum Competition, showcasing global perspectives; and the World Showcase, presenting unique stories from around the world.

Standout features to watch out for include Canadian Oscar-nominated director Kim Nguyen’s Saigon Story: Two Shootings in the Forest Kingdom. As well as, the world premiere of director Sébastien Trahan’s Code of Misconduct, where an investigative journalist’s commitment to uncovering the truth sparks the trial of five Canadian professional hockey players accused of sexual assault.

A new addition this year is the Digital Witnesses program, dedicated to films exploring technology, surveillance, artificial intelligence, digital privacy and online intimacy. Other strands include Persister, spotlighting Brazilian culture and creativity; and Artscapes, highlighting artistic expression and cultural heritage. Together, these programs reflect the festival’s dedication to storytelling that is human, creative and socially relevant.

Audiences can also attend the Big Ideas series, where filmmakers discuss the issues and inspiration behind their work, offering insight into both the creative process and the social topics their films explore.

The festival will close with a free encore screening, where the winner of the Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary will be announced. The $50,000 cash prize is provided by Rogers, the festival’s Founding Partner, with support from Telefilm Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Canada Media Fund.

For the full list of the film, visit https://hotdocs.ca/news/media. Tickets are available at hotdocs.ca or at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema box office, 506 Bloor Street West, Toronto.