Hot Docs heat Canada
100-film slate to open with 'Murderball'
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The last 18 months have been a watershed for docs, says Andrew Herwitz, founder of the Film Sales Co., who will moderate the Toronto Documentary Forum, a pitch fest skedded for Wednesday and Thursday that has become the fest's centerpiece.
" 'Fahrenheit 9/11' had a tremendous effect," he said, noting that the industry is now benefiting, as less-obviously commercial films like "Born Into Brothels," about children in India's brothels, are finding an avid international theatrical audience.
This year's 100-film slate from 23 countries will open with "Murderball," about a take-no-prisoners wheelchair rugby team, from Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro.
There's also an international showcase, Canadian Spectrum, Spotlight on Israel, an Errol Morris retrospective and a focus on Larry Weinstein.
But it's the market that's creating the most buzz these days. TV commissioning editors and film buyers used to be wary of one another, Herwitz noted, but that has pretty much evaporated as they realize they are in a complementary, not competitive, position.
"A lot of these films are going to end up in movie theaters, which was not the case three years ago," he said.
TDF director Michaelle McLean said the forum has grown from 220 delegates to 370 and maintains a three-to-one ratio of sellers to buyers.
The difference, she noted, is that buyers are getting in earlier and responding more eagerly to invitations.
In 2000, the TDF had 53 broadcasters and distributors; this year, there will be close to 100. Attendees this year include Magnolia, Lions Gate and Discovery Documentaries.
