Hot Docs Film Festival reopening Toronto theatre on limited basis

The beleaguered Hot Docs Film Festival says it will reopen its flagship Toronto theatre on a limited basis as it embarks on a search for a new leader this fall.

Canada’s largest documentary film festival says the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema will open for third-party rentals and select partner screening events later this month.

The festival says it will gradually welcome back staff who were temporarily laid off over the summer after the theatre was shuttered in May due to “urgent financial challenges.”

Hot Docs says it will also be seeking a new executive director with leadership experience in the Canadian non-profit arts sector.

The organization’s president Marie Nelson stepped down in July after just one year in the role.

Nelson faced much criticism during her post at Hot Docs, with some observers questioning her commitment to the organization given that her primary residence was in the U.S.

Hot Docs says it has been addressing its deficit by implementing plans to streamline the organization, cut operating costs and prioritize core programming and strategy initiatives.

The struggling organization is currently led by interim executive director Janice Dawe and managing director Heidi Tao Yang.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.