Hot Docs Fund

Now in its third year, the Hot Docs-Slaight Family Fund was established in the spring of 2020 to support filmmakers telling engaging, high-quality stories that embrace musical forms and artists and demonstrates Canadian music’s role in the world. To date, the fund has disbursed over $250K to 11 projects, some of which are described below.

REVIVAL 69

A behind-the-scenes story of how a little-known, but life-altering music festival came together — against all odds. Young, scrappy concert promoter John Brower puts his life on the line (literally) to turn his failing Toronto Rock n Roll Revival into a one-day event, later coined in rock mythology as “the second most important event in rock & roll history.” And it almost didn't happen. With John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band, Bo Diddly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, The Doors, Chicago and more.

Watch the film's trailer on Youtube. Listen to a podcast interview with John Brower and Director Ron Chapman.

BEAUTIFUL SCARS

The remarkable story of a rock star who, after a lifetime of searching, finally discovers his true identity. Famous for his bands Junkhouse and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Tom Wilson takes us on his journey of discovery into his past, present, and future; from his mysterious upbringing, self-destructive music career, to his current quest to explore his true identity as a Mohawk man.

View the entire doc on YouTube.

 

IN SEARCH OF…DIVINE STYLER

In 1996, a young writer from London, Ontario decides to launch a hip-hop zine to discover what happened to his favourite rapper who disappeared from the music biz. He ends up uncovering a story that unites hip-hop heads the world over.

D: Peter Mishara & Omar Majeed
P: Christina Piovesan
First Generation Films

 

YOUNG CANADIAN

Art Bergmann, the godfather of ’70s Vancouver punk, wrote songs about hookers, junkies and the victimized. But by 2000, Art was broken—addicted, and arthritic, unable to walk or play guitar. Now, Art must overcome his biggest challenge yet.

D: Alan Zweig
P: David York
52 Media Inc.

GODDESS OF SLIDE

A spirited musical journey of Ellen McIlwaine, a slide guitar virtuoso whose unbreakable faith in her talent propelled her into a rebellious life in rock and blues.

D: Alfonso Maiorana
P: Alfonso Maiorana, Agata De Santis
Soul Flicker Films Inc.

 

SMOKE & GIFTS

Filmmaker Stephen Chung pulls back the curtain on the community of musicians and friends centred around the trailblazing band Broken Social Scene. This stunning POV documentary features never-before-seen archival footage and pays tribute to the power of indie music and the artists who started out in Toronto bars before rocketing to global fame.

D: Stephen Chung
P: Ann Shin, Hannah Donegan, Michelle Mama
Fathom Film Group

LHASA

From Lhasa de Sela’s nomadic childhood in Mexico to her artistic life in Montreal, this film follows her life and career, as a woman and as an artist, until her untimely death from cancer at age 37. With Lhasa’s narration as our guide, this film is an intimate collage of her writings, drawings and paintings, alongside the family’s archives, visiting the places and people she loved. 

D: Sophie Leblond
P: Audrey-Ann Dupuis-Pierre
Metafilms inc.