PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW FESTIVAL WEBSITE

On the heels of a landmark commitment by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) to gender equity in film production, the wealth of talent and diversity in women’s documentary filmmaking at the NFB takes centre stage at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, with four premieres of feature documentaries as well as four classic docs. The NFB selection at Hot Docs also boasts a newly acquired independent work, for a total of nine films.

Making its world premiere as part of the festival’s Big Ideas program is The Apology, a feature documentary debut by Toronto-based director Tiffany Hsiung that follows the personal journeys of three survivors of WWII sexual slavery in Japanese-occupied Asia. Won-ok Gil, a survivor and activist, and Mee-hyang Yoon, of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan, will both take part in a panel discussion following the screening.

Canadian Spectrum, the festival’s official competition for Canadian productions, is hosting three premieres of NFB feature-length documentaries, including the world premieres of Iqaluit-based filmmaker Alethea Arnaquq-Baril’s Angry Inuk (NFB/Unikkaat Studios/EyeSteelFilm), challenging well-established perceptions that have empowered anti-sealing activism, and Montreal-born, Nairobi-based filmmaker/journalist Anjali Nayar’s Gun Runners, the story of two North Kenyan warriors who’ve traded in their rifles to become professional marathoners. Making its Canadian premiere in Canadian Spectrum is Montrealer Zaynê Akyol’s Gulîstan, Land of Roses (Périphéria/Mîtosfilm/NFB), an up-close look at Kurdish women fighters waging war on ISIS.

Hot Docs’ Redux program, featuring acclaimed films from past years, screens Alanis Obomsawin’s 1984 film Incident at Restigouche, in which this master documentarian delves into the history behind two Quebec Provincial Police raids on the Restigouche Reserve in June 1981. Obomsawin, whose legendary NFB career is about to enter its 50th year, puts justice and government relations with First Nations on trial in this landmark documentary.

Hot Docs’ Focus On program will pay tribute to award-winning producer and director Rosie Dransfeld with a retrospective that includes three NFB films: Beaverman (2002), The Dogwalker(2007), and Who Cares (2012), a powerful cinema vérité look at women caught in a cycle of addiction, violence and prostitution in Edmonton’s sex trade. The NFB is currently co-producing Dransfeld’s next documentary, Memento Mori.

Completing the NFB selection at Hot Docs is Zimbelism, a Studio Shoot/Bunbury Films co-produced documentary about the work of humanist photographer George S. Zimbel, distributed by the NFB. Directed by Jean-Francois Gratton and George’s son, Matt Zimbel, this 90-minute film has its Toronto premiere in Artscapes, a dedicated celebration of the arts, creativity, music and pop culture.

Please Visit the NFB Website for more info on the above titles.