Seven Music Documentaries Receive Funding via Hot Docs / Slaight Fund

We are happy to announce that another round of our music documentary fund has wrapped up, with a total of $170,000 being distributed to Canadian filmmakers – see the press release from our fund partner Hot Docs. The recipients of this year's funding initiative include the following films:

humanNATURE

humanNATURE is a feature documentary that follows virtuoso guitarist and composer Donna Grantis as she makes a genre-busting album of songs in collaboration with nature, environmental thought leaders and other celebrated musicians.

LHASA

A feature documentary on the work, life, and artistic vision of Lhasa de Sela, the internationally celebrated singer-songwriter who died too young at the age of 37 and left behind three remarkable albums.

SALOME BEY: FIRST LADY OF THE BLUES

Discover the extraordinary life of Salome Bey, from her musical roots in New Jersey to a transformative legacy within Canada’s cultural landscape. This charismatic icon’s artistry illuminates the screen, revealing the inspiring cultural gems of a soon-to-be lost generation.

LEE AARON: TEST YOUR METAL

Lee Aaron, a small-town girl with a big voice, became Canada’s pre-eminent and loudest female rocker while battling the sexism and misogyny of the music video age. So she pushed back hard and found her own way to rock.

SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE STILL LIKE ME: BERNIE FINKELSTEIN AND THE TRUE NORTH STORY

From 1960s Yorkville to more than 600 albums and a thriving Canadian music scene, Some People Out There Still Like Me recounts the history of True North, one of Canada’s most iconic record labels, and its larger-than-life founder, Bernie Finkelstein.

THE BLIND COUPLE FROM MALI

The Blind Couple from Mali is a feature documentary that captures the extraordinary journey of blind African duo Amadou & Mariam as they record a new studio album, reconnecting with their roots and redefining their legendary sound.

LAUDA, I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK

Inside a church basement in one of the oldest working-class neighbourhoods in downtown St. John’s, a neurodivergent-led ensemble makes beautiful music. Lauda, I like the way you think invites us inside this Shallaway Youth Choir’s creative process.

Established in 2020, the Hot Docs-Slaight Family Fund has awarded over $500,000 to 19 documentary projects. Dedicated to highlighting the transformative power of Canadian music on the global stage, the fund also embraces international stories told through the unique perspective of Canadian filmmakers.