How to Hot Docs: A Guide to Getting the Most Out of the Fest

By Ilka de Laat, Posted On April 23, 2012

THE FACTS:
Hot Docs is North America's largest documentary festival, conference and market. From April 26 to May 6, Hot Docs' 19th edition will present a selection of 189 documentaries from Canada and around the world to Toronto audiences and international delegates. Hot Docs will also mount a full roster of conference sessions and market events and services for documentary practitioners, including the renowned Hot Docs Forum, May 2 and 3, and The Doc Shop.

MAKING YOUR CHOICES:
As a filmgoer, with all these films, how do you pick what to go and see? The thing with documentaries is that they often aren't accompanied by a lot of press, so you haven't heard of more than a handful of them before the festival starts. My strategy is to browse a few sources:

• Read the doc descriptions on the Hot Docs website - you can browse by subject, by date, venue or program;
• Take a scan of what is recommended by NOW Magazine The Hot Docs issue comes out the day the festival begins, April 26. It'll be loaded with reviews. The week before (April 19), look for a special feature on what's new at the fest and the big buzz films. And follow their Twitter feed @nowfilm;
• I also refer to Realscreen Magazine online - their reporters are industry informed.

Browse through all those sources, as well as any blogs you might Google up, but don't marry into any of them. In the spirit of documentary storytelling itself, Hot Docs is a time for exploration.

Thus my philosophy...

REMAIN OPEN
Let the universe guide you to a screening that happens to be available when you are. Don't bother reading the blurb or watching a trailer from your smartphone, just turn the corner and walk into the nearest participating venue, take a seat, and allow your mind to open to the skylight of images and stories presented before you. Believe me, some of the most memorable films I've seen at Hot Docs were complete surprises I knew nothing about. Remember: blurbs and trailers often misrepresent or under-sell a film. Trust the programmers. They spent the better part of the year selecting these 189 docs out of thousands of submissions.

BUYING TICKETS:
Tickets can be obtained by phone at 416-637-5150, or in person at the Hot Docs Box Office at 783 Bathurst St just south of Honest Ed's (Bathurst and Bloor subway station is closest TTC stop.)
Monday to Friday: 11 am - 7 pm
Saturday to Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm
April 26 to May 6: 11 am - 9 pm
Or buy online.

RUSH-ING IT:
The film is sold out. But ticket and pass holders don't always show up at the screening, so at the last minute, the screening venue will sell off the remaining seats on a first come, first serve basis. You may be lucky and snag a seat. My suggestion, get there MORE than 1 hour before the screening is scheduled to start. Don't set your heart on getting in (though the majority of rushers will get in), so do something fruitful with your time in line - call you mother for instance) and don't expect to sit with your friends. Bring an umbrella and snacks. (Note: rush means something entirely different for pass holders - it's that feeling of ebullition that one gets from breezing past the line to the box office to claim a ticket minutes before the screening begins.)

TIPS TO SAVE $$:
The most frustrating thing about Hot Docs is that you cannot buy tickets online, print them and have them scanned at the venue (I just tweeted that thought to Hot Docs!) You have to pick them up at the box office (and often there is a line-up there) or have it sent to the theatre ($2.00 per order) or mailed to your home ($2.50 per order, though deadline for mailing is April 20). An additional irritant is that you are also charged $1.50/ticket service charge for ordering online. To avoid some of this, you can Remain Open and skip over to the nearest theatre and get a same-day ticket for a random screening and let yourself be surprised (same day tix are sold 1 hr before the first screening of the day at that venue. No tix are sold at the box office for any screening the day of.)

TIPS TO MANAGE YOUR TIME:
Take a day off work - weekday preferred. If there's one film you absolutely need to see, pick its daytime screening and buy a same-day ticket. The best thing about Hot Docs is that the filmmakers are often in attendance at the screenings and often present their films and remain for Q&A's afterwards. So give yourself loads of time. Traveling between the 10 venues spread across the city only to stand in lines (box office, same day tix lines, rush lines etc) are additional reasons to give yourself lots of time.

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

• Bring an Umbrella - If you're prepared for inclement weather, you have a far greater chance of getting through a rush line
• Bring snacks - note that some theatres don't allow food or beverages (ie: Isabel Bader, ROM) while other venues do or have their own concessions (ie: Bloor, Cumberland, Tiff Bell LightBox)
• Quick meal tip if you are screening at the Bloor or Royal theatres: try Ghazale for amazing meat shawarmas, falafels and vegetarian food.

OUT OF TOWN VISITORS:

• For cheap accommodation, consider Couch Surfing.
• Get a TTC day pass for only $10.50 or a weekly pass is $37.50
• The festival also offers ticket and pass holders discounts to many restaurants and retailers.
• Also offers pass-holders discounts to car rentals.
• And hotels.

MY PICKS:

• "Meet the Fokkens" About two 70 year-old twin hookers from the Red Light District. Because I'm Dutch and it just looks so sweet and funny.
• "Dreams of a Life" Years after this once-popular woman dies, her skeleton is found in front of the TV. Because I'm curious about end-of-life.
• "The Invisible War" About rampant - and hidden - sexual abuse in the US army. Because this one was recently viewed by a colleague and recommended highly.
• "China Heavyweight" Rural Chinese kids are recruited to box to rise above poverty. Because the director, Yung Chang, is one of Canada's best.
• "Meanwhile in Mamelodi" Life for a normal family in South Africa with the backdrop of World Cup 2010. Because it's supposed to be gorgeously-shot and well-told.
• "Tchoupitoulas" 3 teens in New Orleans explore the night in the city. Because I eloped in New Orleans and the magical, rough city has a special place in my heart.

A final reiteration: remain open and let the world flood in. Enjoy the journey!