Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary festival, offers an outstanding selection of over 200 films from Canada and around the world to Toronto audiences of more than 200,000.
ELIGIBILITY
All submissions:
- must have been completed after January 1, 2019
- features and mid-length films must be at minimum Ontario premieres (i.e. cannot have been screened publicly in Ontario prior to the 2020 Festival, including broadcast versions of any length or in any language)
- short films must be at minimum Toronto premieres (i.e. cannot have been screened publicly in Toronto prior to the 2020 Festival. Short films available online are considered Toronto premieres.)
- must not be available online in any form or VOD in any region (this includes DVDs for purchase in any region). Not applicable for short film submissions.
- must be in English, subtitled in English or English versioned (non-English language films may be submitted with an English transcript; however, if selected for Hot Docs, it must be subtitled or dubbed into English at the applicant’s expense)
- may not have submitted to the Festival previously in any stage of completion (i.e. films that were submitted as rough cuts will not be reconsidered)
PROGRAMMING CONSIDERATION
Hot Docs accepts Canadian and international documentaries of all lengths and subject matter.
All Hot Docs screening programs are curated and all submissions will be considered by Hot Docs’ programming team.
For the purposes of eligibility and awards consideration, Hot Docs uses the following definitions:
Film Length
- Feature-Length: 65 minutes or longer
- Mid-Length: 40 to 65 minutes
- Short: under 40 minutes
Country of Production and Submission Categories
Submissions to the Festival are divided into two categories:
- Canadian Submissions: All films produced in Canada and/or directed by Canadian filmmakers. The director must currently reside in Canada with permanent resident status or be able to provide proof of Canadian citizenship. If the film is co-directed, at least one of the directors must meet this criteria.
- International Submissions: All films produced outside of Canada and directed by non-Canadians
Hot Docs reserves the right to determine which submission category the film will reside in if selected.
Country of Production
The origin of the majority of the film’s financing and/or the film’s key crew members, which can also include the location of significant production support.
Rough Cuts/Fine Cuts
Rough/Fine Cuts: The Festival will only accept one cut of each film for programming consideration. If needed, Hot Docs will request an updated version and will contact those applicants directly.
More information at link:
https://hotdocs.ca/i/submit-a-film?utm_source=eBulletin&utm_medium=2019.12.04ind&utm_content=Film&utm_campaign=FestivalSubmissions
